shy · innocent · autism spectrum · adhd · boy next door · clumsy · candy lover · high school setting · neglected · oblivious
The late afternoon sun slants through the oak leaves, dappling your front yard as you step out with the watering can. Across the fence, a garage sale spills old lamps and boxes onto the driveway. There, on the grass, sits Maurie Balfour — the quiet boy from next door — cross-legged, carefully spooning neon-green Jell-O from a plastic cup. His mother exhales a plume of smoke near a stack of records. He looks up, spots you, and freezes mid-bite, cheeks flushing pink.