Let’s go to work

Chapters

Artist’s first day
The meltdown.
Meltdown Recovery

Artist’s first day

“Artist, sweetheart, time to get up for your first day of work,” A female voice called up the stairs. After a couple of minutes Artist could hear her mother coming up the stairs, sounding rather annoyed.

“ArtistFire, i’m not going to say this a second time get up and go downstairs” her mother almost yelled. Artist sat up and looked at her mother, she started to rock back-and-forth covering her ears.

“Artist no go work,” she finally said. The house the family lived in was rather small since it was only Artist and her mother, unfortunately Artist’s father had died a long time ago.

“Ok then I will be downstairs if you decide to come out of your room you can come downstairs and eat something” Artist’s mother said as she walked out of her daughters room. The minute her mother was gone Artist started to get herself ready for work. Artist has cerebral palsy and autism which makes life pretty difficult but she can manage it very well, well at least she has for the past couple of years.

But how will the two years of preparation to go into the field of work go for her?

When Artist had done dressing herself she crawled out of her room, because of her cerebral palsy Artist can’t walk, so she goes down the stairs on her butt.

Once Artist was downstairs, her mother sat her at the table.

“Morning squirt,” Artist’s auntie greeted her. The woman who the voice belonged to had Rainbow colored hair, and her name was Rainbow Dash.

“Morning guys!” A girl with pink hair said bounding up to them and sitting down. “Now, Pinkie you know that Artist don’t like it when ya are too loud,” A girl with a cowboy hat on and boots to match said while coming into the room.

“I know that, Applejack,” The pink girl whose name was apparently Pinkie Pie said to the other girl.

“Well hey Artist,” Applejack greeted getting no response.

Then out of the blue there came the most beautiful song of all and into the room flew to little Blue Jays, followed by a girl in a dress holding a baton.

“Morning!” The girl greeted.

“Artist want bread,” Artist finally spoke up.

“Artist, what do you say?” Her mother gently prodded.

“You say?” Artist repeated looking down at the floor not making eye contact with her mother.

“Artist we say please when we want somethin’ ya know,” Applejack tried.

“Want something?” Artist asked in confusion.

“This is harder than we thought,” Applejack whispered to Rainbow Dash.

“No kidding, I don’t have much experience with autism or cerebral palsy for that matter, but I know when it comes down to our friendship I am always willing to help,” Rainbow said competently.

“Artist is all done,” Artist said once she had finished her bread.

“Good, let’s get you to work!” her mother said excitedly.

After a couple of struggles getting Artist’s braces on they were ready. “Let’s go” Pinkie who had gone to the car squealed.

“Remember Artist if you want something use your words don’t fuss,” Ms Sparkle said to her daughter before putting her in the car and driving to the workplace.

Once Artist saw the big building, that would be her new workplace which was right next to the old army hospital, she squealed in excitement.

“Settle down, Artist,” Applejack who had accompanied them to the workplace to be Artist’s assistant said.

“Here we are!” Artist’s mom said when they pulled into the parking lot of the workplace, Applejack got Artist out of the car and placed her in her wheelchair.

“Well, have fun you guys I’ll see you at four,” Artist’s mom said give an Artist a kiss.

The minute that Artist and applejack walk to the door to go inside, a boy with what looked to appear like down syndrome had stopped them.

“Hey, you’re new here!” he said getting way too close to Artist.

Artist started to fuss.

“What’s wrong with her?” The boy whose name was James asked.

“Now you listen here she doesn’t like when you get close to her, got it!” applejack almost screeched.

“Yes, I understand,” James said with a horrified look on his face as he went inside.

Standing off to the side of the crowd was a boy who looked to be about 17 or so, Artist pointed over to where he was standing.

“Do you want to go meet him?” Applejack asked.

“Meet him,” Artist repeated.

“Ok!” Applejack said as she and Artist went to greet the boy.

“Well hey there, you ok?” Applejack attempted to start a conversation. The boy didn’t say anything he simply looked down at the ground shuffling his feet.

“You have name?” Artist asked the boy.

“Yes, the name is Jack,” The boy replied with a solemn tone.

“Your name?” Artist repeated.

“I told ya it’s Jack, leave me alone?” The boy said before going inside.

Once the girls went inside and up to the room, Artist open the door to see a boy in an electric wheelchair sitting at a table working, The others that Artist had also met previously were sitting at tables.

Artist went up to the boy and greeted him.

“Hey, my name ArtistFire, but please call me Artist,” Artist introduced herself.

The boy jolted up when he heard Artist talking to him.

“Hey dude calm down,” Jack who had been standing at the table silently listening spoke. The boy's breathing became steady again.

“There you go,” Jack said calmly. Artist looked at Jack and smiled the biggest smile Applejack had ever seen.

“Hey yo guys what up?” A guy with brown hair walked into the room making finger guns and sat down at his desk.

“Hey Jack you ok?”

“You seem awfully quiet today,” The guy whose name was John asked.

“I’m fine.” Jack replied not looking at John.

“We can talk about what’s bothering you if you want,” John continued.

“I need a moment alone,” Jack said while walking out of the room and closing the door. Jack was a tall and handsome young boy.

“So you sleep well, Harry?” John asked the boy in the electric wheelchair.

“C-could be-b-better,” Harry struggled to get his words out.

“Right, I see that we have a new addition to our workforce, let’s all welcome ArtistFire and her assistant Applejack!” John said to his group.

A chorus of greetings were given.

“Ok, settle down,” John addressed his group.

Artist was getting fussy as she pointed to the door.

“Oh, don’t worry he’ll be back,” Applejack reassured her.

At that very moment Jack came back into the room and sat next to Artist who was beaming. “Miss me?” Jack asked in his low and calm tone as he ruffled Artist’s hair.

As Applejack saw that Jack was helping Artist she swooned. “Jack and Artist sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-g, then comes love, then comes marriage,” James sang.

“And then comes Artist with a baby carriage,” Harry finished.

Jack shot Harry and James looks of disappointment.

“We will speak of this later,” Jack said through gritted teeth.

Author's Note

This is very loosely based off my own life. I don’t have autism but I have cerebral palsy, and I do go to work in something we here in Germany call a Werkstatt.

I hope that you will enjoy this chapter and look forward to more because they will be more right now my other story that I am working on the Victorian way of life is on hiatus.

The meltdown.

Once John’s group was done with the first hour of work the bell rang for lunch. The cafeteria was so loud that even Applejack had to cover her ears, Jack was pushing Artist who was hunched over covering her ears.

“Too loud,” Artist mumbled.

“Ah, know ah, know, but there ain’t nothin’ ah can do about it” Jack said.

“Hey guys, so what’s for lunch?” Harry who had driven up beside Jack asked.

“Dude, Ah ain’t sure, ok?” Jack said softly.

Harry saw that Artist was really upset.

“Artist, why are you mad?” Harry asked.

“Harry sweetie, now ain’t a good time!” Applejack sighed.

“Is upset?” Artist repeated.

“You are upset,” Jack quickly interjected.

“Jack I think you and I need to have a little chat!” Applejack said pulling Jack out of earshot of Artist.

“About what?” Jack inquired.

“Well it just so happens that Artist isn’t repeating things that was said to her to be mean or anything she is repeating them so she can understand them a bit better,” Applejack explained.

As Jack sat down at one of the tables with Applejack he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Artist had Harry in a tight embrace.

“Are you two coming to eat, or what?” Applejack yelled over her shoulder.

“Coming?” Artist repeated.

“Yes,” Harry answered in his usually slurred speech.

“I will get you your food,” Jack said as Artist and Harry rolled up to the table, Jack got up and went to the food distribution line. A couple minutes later he returned with two trays full of food.

“Here ya go, Artist,” Jack said sweetly setting down the tray.

“What do you say?” Applejack gently inquired.

“You say, thanks?” Artist asked.

“No problem, happy to help, i’m here for you,” Jack said looking down at the ground.

Then he went back to the food distribution line, and got himself and his friend Harry some food, a short while later he returned and sat down.

Artist started to eat, Applejack looked on with approval, and quietly got up to call home and tell them that everything was ok, she got up quietly because she knew once Artist found out she had gone, Artist would be upset and make a scene. A short time later Artist was done eating and looked to her left expecting to see Applejack, what she saw instead was an empty chair.

Artist was wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, her hair was red with streaks of yellow going across it.

“Applejack?” The redheaded girl asked.

Harry was wearing a pair of green pants which looked like they were too tight for him, his eyes were a nice shade of brown, and his hair was also brown.

“I am not sure where she could have gone off to,” The brown haired boy replied.

“Eh, Eh, Applejack,” Artist screeched.

“Shh, please tell me what is wrong,” Jack calming her.

Artist started to rock back-and-forth, not making eye contact with Jack.

“WANT APPLEJACK,” she yelled getting the attention of the entire cafeteria.

“What’s wrong with her can’t she be quiet”, one boy asked to which Jack shot him a displeased look.

Outside of the cafeteria, Applejack was talking to Artist’s mom, when she heard Artist yelling.

“I have to go your daughter is having a meltdown,” Applejack said to Artist’s mother then she hung up the phone and went back into the cafeteria, she went to Artist was sitting.

“Artist, please calm down,” Applejack calming her down.

“Toy?” Artist asked.

“Do you want your toy?” Applejack asked a still fussy Artist.

“Yes,” Artist nodded as she looked at Jack.

“Ok, here you go,” Applejack said as she rummaged through Artist’s bag to find a plush toy of Rainbow Dash, when she found it she gave it Artist who calmed down immediately.

“How did you know that is what she wanted?” Jack inquired.

“When ever it is too loud someplace Artist’s mom will give her the plushy, to calm her down.” Applejack exclaimed.

Jack nodded in understanding and went back to his meal of potatoes and roast beef.

When Jack had finished his meal, he went over to Artist and asked if she would accompany him to the front of the building, to which Artist nodded.

“Harry, you can go upstairs without us this may be a while,” Jack said pulling out his guitar, and going to the front of the building and going outside, Artist and Applejack followed while Harry made his way upstairs.

“Do you like music?” Jack asked Artist once they were outside.

“Like music?” Artist repeated.

“I have something for you,” Jack said as he started playing his guitar, the song he was playing was perfect by Ed Sheeran.

Then he started to sing.

Jack was singing while playing his guitar

Harry who had come back downstairs was standing at the entrance.

“That is so cute,” He swooned.

“I thought you were going upstairs,” Jack said when he had finished playing his guitar.

“Well I was but then I heard beautiful music and I just had to check it out, who knew that you could play the guitar.” The brown haired boy said.

“And that you could sing so beautifully.” Applejack added.

“Well it is my past time but I don’t do it often at work but when I heard that we had a new addition to the workforce I just had to bring my guitar, and it paid off because look what a beautiful girl I’ve attracted,“ Jack said smiling at Artist who by now was blushing like crazy.

“Aww,” Applejack swarmed.

After work was over, Artist and Applejack proceeded to make their way outside when Artist noticed that Jack was really sad.

“Why you have sad? Artist asked Jack.

“It’s a long story best you wait until we get home, i’m coming with you to your home I’ll tell you why when your mother gets here,” Jack sighed.

“To my house” Artist mumbled.

“Yes,” A familiar female voice said to Artist when she looked up Artist saw her mother standing by the car.

“Go home,” Artist said joyfully.

“Well, let’s get this show on the road,” The voice of Rainbow Dash came from the car.

“Auntie,” Artist squeaked. Jack introduced himself to Artist’s mother who was very pleased to get to know him.

Once they all piled into the car they drove away and a couple minutes later they arrived at Artist’s house, the house was very big from the outside but once somebody went inside it was even bigger.

“Wow, this place is amazing,” Jack said walking into the house followed by Rainbow Dash.

“I know, Artist’s father built the house before he passed 10 years ago,” Rainbow said hanging her head at the memory of Artist’s dad.

“Ok,” Jack said.

Jack felt his pant leg being pulled, when he looked down he saw that Artist was pulling on his leg. “Artist remember, use your words, ok?” Ms Sparkle had said earlier to a very fussy Artist.

Her mommy’s words were ringing in Artist’s ears as she kept on pulling on Jack’s leg.

“Jack, go home?” Artist asked. “A’m ain’t sure, ya do understand that, right?” Jack asked.

“Understand that?” Artist who was still clinging to Jack’s leg asked.

“Good, I have to go home soon, ok?” Jack said in his calm voice.

Artist wasn’t having it she threw her self on the floor and screamed. Rainbow Dash, Jack and Pinkie looked on in shock at what was happening.

“Artist, use your words,” Ms Sparkle who had come back into the room said.

“Twilight, I don’t think she’s going to listen to you,” Rainbow said.

“Artist Fire Sparkle stop it this instant,” Twilight bellowed.

Author's Note

One of the characters will be playing This song

Meltdown Recovery

Artist felt like her mind was running many miles a minute and couldn’t seem to get control. She knew this feeling, she was having another meltdown; her anxiety was spiking, her hands were trembling, and her heart wouldn’t stop pounding against her chest. Applejack, Rainbow, and even her mother tried to get her to calm down, they even gave Artist her little plushie, but this time she had a little more trouble regaining control of herself. Jack couldn’t watch this any longer and embraced Artist within his arms with all the comfort and safety he could muster, slowly, but surely, calming her down to the point where her hands stopped shaking, her heart returned to a more manageable rhythm, and her anxiousness was all but nonexistent, Artist even subconsciously raised her arms up and held Jack just as he held her.

Soon, after she had calmed down, Jack pulled back enough to look her in the eyes and stroke her hair to make sure she was okay now, “Are you okay now?”

“Okay now?” she replied.

“Here, let’s get you back in your wheelchair, okay?”

“Back in...wheelchair.”

Not letting her go and risking another meltdown, Jack guided Artist back into her wheelchair and let her go, but remained stroking her hair to let her know he wasn’t abandoning her. Pinkie came up to the two of them and gave them a gentle, caring smile.

“That was very sweet of you.” she said.

“I couldn’t just stand there and watch her suffer.” Jack replied.

“Maybe a little tea party will calm her down a little more.”

Jack nodded and everyone, minus him who was still keeping Artist relaxed, went to grab the things needed for a tea party; a small table, a tablecloth, tea cups, and a fancy teapot. Soon, everything was set up for a small tea party, and everybody joined in, much to Rainbow’s reluctance at something so frilly, but the only downside is that Artist was still tense, her previous meltdown still lingers in her mind, even though Jack was stroking her hair and playing along with the tea party, remnants of her anxiety still remain.

“Why are we doing this again?” Rainbow asked as she was handed a tea cup.

“Because Artist needs to calm down,” Jack said still holding Artist.

“Calm down?!” Artist replied.

“Yes, Artist, my darling,” Jack said nuzzling her.

“Jack!” Artist said turning to Jack.

“Yeah?” Jack asked.

“Is go home?!” Artist asked.

“No, I'm not going home, ok?” Jack said to Artist.

“Not gonna go?!” Artist said hugging Jack.

“Aww!” Twilight said as she came over and sat down next to her daughter.

“Hey kid, do you want to go flyin’ with your auntie Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow asked Artist.

Artist avoided Rainbow’s question.

“Artist, are ya ok?” Applejack asked but Artist didn’t respond or look at any of her family.

Artist was rocking back and forth not making eye contact with anybody not even Jack.

“Artist, everything ok?” Jack who was silently sitting down finally asked.

“Artist everwything ok?!” Artist repeated.

“I think I should go,” Jack whispered to Twilight who nodded.

Jack slowly got up from the floor and made his way to the door, at that moment Artist who been sitting there rocking, stopped rocking and looked at Jack, her face turned as red as a tomato and then she let out a high-pitched scream.

“Artist, hun please calm down,” Fluttershy said stroking Artist’s back to try and calm her down.

Fluttershy picked Artist up and sat down on the ground and started rocking back-and-forth with her niece to try and calm Artist down, and Fluttershy started to sing:

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed

Then Rainbow Dash started to sing:

Hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to lay your sleepy head!
Said hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to go to bed!

“Rainbow Dash that’s quite enough now,” Fluttershy whispered.

But Rainbow wasn’t listening she continued singing

Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!
Exciting day behind you!
Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!
Let the joy of dream land find you!

“Rainbow, please-“ Fluttershy got cut off.

Hush now! Quiet now!
Lay your sleepy head!
Said hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to go to bed!

Ow! Rainbow finished.

“Rainbow,” Flutteshy trailed off. “I can’t believe that actually worked.”

Fluttershy carrying Artist into her room and laid her down in bed.

“Night night, my love,” she whispered before exiting the room.

As Fluttershy came back into the living room, Pinkie had packed the tea party supplies away she was sitting on the sofa looking rather concerned.

“Do you think it was too much for her?” The pink haired girl finally asked,

“I do not know,” Twilight admitted.

“Well, I wanted to take her flying but I guess that is not going to happen,” Rainbow said looking down at the ground.

“You do realize that if you had taken her flying she would have another meltdown, right?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, i do, but I thought all children liked flying with their idol,” Rainbow said hanging her head..

“How exactly would you go flying?” Pinkie asked.

“Um,” Rainbow scratched her head

“This is not equestria,” The pink hair girl said.

“Ok?” Rainbow questioned but brushed it off as just another of Pinkie’s random questions.

“Well, now what do we do, Artist is sleeping and there is not much we can do?” Twilight said.

“Maybe the readers of this story have some ideas of what we can do,” Pinkie quickly said as she turned to the writer.

The others looked in confusion.

“You better have an idea of what’s going to happen next?” Pinkie asked as soon as she poped her head out from the story it’s self and looking at the reeder.

Twilight looked very confused, Pinkie took notice of that.

“I am breaking the fourth wall silly,” The pink haired girl said giggling.

The next day.

Twilight went upstairs to Artist’s room and knocked on the door.

“Artist, sweetie time to get up,” Twilight said to Artist who was still under the covers.

“No stay home,” Artist called.

“But if you stay home Jack is going to miss you,” Twilight softly spoke.

“NO, ARTIST STAY HERE!” Artist yelled as Twilight went into her daughter’s room and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Why don’t you want to go to work?” Twilight putting an arm around Artist who by now was crying.

“Had a bad day yesterday,” Artist admitted.

“Ok ok, you can stay home,” Twilight sighed.

“Thanks,” Artist said hugging her mom.

“But don’t think for a second that you’re off the hook for yesterday young lady, your punishment will begin now you will stay in your room you will not have any friends over no TV no iPad no iPhone am I clear?” Twilight said to Artist.

“Understand?!” Artist said not making eye contact with her mother.

“Good, let’s go downstairs,” Twilight said as Artist got herself dressed.

Author's Note

This song belongs to the rightful owners.

I hope you do enjoy this chapter