James had a set of walkie-talkies. We put one downstairs in the den and the other in my office. This made it easier for Sammy to reach me quickly.
?What would happen in a fire?? I asked Sammy one day. ?How would you get out?? I watched him rubbing his feet back and forth, repeating the few steps he?d just taken into the den.
?If there?s an emergency, it?s different,? he answered confidently, with barely a break in his motions.
?So you could open a door and get out?? I needed to know if I could ever leave the house again. Maybe I needed to ask my friends to do my grocery shopping.
?Yes,? he answered quickly, nodding, intent on his compulsions.