i worked with an autistic child today

She was 11. Her mother had to say specifically I noticed, wipe your eyes, open your eyes, look at your teacher. She scared me when she gave focus. It was intense, more attention than what I get in a day from grown folk, even from the ones who pretend to listen. I was her teacher, and in that moment, I was everything to her. Ok now this time, we are going to go in the water and blow bubbles with our mouth. Do this. I blew on the water. She did exactly the same. I was surprised, and amazed. Ok, now do this. I put my mouth in the water and blew bubbles. She quickly immitated. It was a joyful moment, the bubbles tickled her nose, she jumped in laughter. Giggling, she did it again. And over, and over, and over again. I watched, smiling a new smile each time, because each time was as unexpected as the first, and each time was as joyful as the first. Her emotion did not taper. She did not grow tired of laughing. She'd put her face in the water, blow bubbles, be tickled, jump up laughing so surprised as if she had not just done that and as if she was not just about to do the same thing again. I was caught up in the moment, reminded of her specialty. I was jealous. And curious. A glance at her mother, she was enjoying her daughter's play. But time is limited, girl I think you are being silly, her mother said, stop, wipe your eyes, open your eyes, look at your teacher. Ah, here I am again. Now let's try this, put both hands on the wall and kick the water, like this. Hmm, ok, not working, I think to myself, how to do this, I had never worked with an autistic child before, let alone taught one to swim. Ok, let's put this noodle right here, lay on it, on your stomach, lay forward, she looked confused, I mean, lay flat, she looked for her mom, I mean, lay this way, like this. Ok ok, no, like this, no, ok, oh here we go. She's on the noodle, cool, now kick! Kick the water! kick! kick! kick! kick! kick! and she's kicking, keep kicking! still kicking. She was on the noodle, kicking the water and I was moving her around the pool. It was cool cause she kind of held on to me. She didn't too much trust that noodle. I remember her surprise when she first got on the noodle was floating and I showed her both my hands. It was cute, the face she made. But she held on to me as we were moving and she was kicking. It was comforting. Because I was nervous I wasn't sure how she would respond to touch. Awh man, its 5 o'clock. I have to start my class now, sorry. We only had 10mins together. And her mother was so thankful. Do you give private lessons, like would you come out to the house and teach the whole family? I laughed, well I haven't. Uhm, you should! She asked me for my number. I gave it to her. She kept telling me thank you, and I kept saying your welcome. Now I want to tell her thank you. I hope she calls...