My eldest son is autistic. He is now 55 years old and I live alone with him, but after so many years I understand his problems, and sometimes he even understands mine, although autists are very much I, me and myself. We had a small problem this week. My son lives to his rules, it is the autistic way and as long as he does not get confused, he sticks to the rules. However, this week he got a little confused. After work he had to get the local bus and that is where the problem started.

Imagine my astonishment when I received a letter from the bus authorities that my austistic son was caught by the bus inspector without a valid ticket. The result being a 100 Swiss franc fine. I phoned the bus company and they confirmed that this was the case. They also said because of his problem, I could send doctor’s certificates and they would examine the case. However, I took no further action, In the evening he came home after work and I explained the case. He knew it, as when an inspector discovers a so-called “black treaveller” they take immediate action. What actually annoyed me wa that son No. 1 did not tell me what happened and I had to find out by letter. However the fine is payed, with his money of course, with a warning from me that in future he must tell me when something like this happens.

And then I reflected to the past when it also happened to me. Yes, I was a “black traveller”. I was on the bus and the inspector called. Imagine how astonished I was when he discovered that my bus pass was outdated. I did not realise it. I travel very rarely by bus. The bus stopped at the local station which was my destiny and the inspector said I I could go with him to the station machine and we could deal with the fine on the ticket machine. I decided this was in order, and so we went together to the machine and I paid my fine. I suppose these things can happen, nobody is perfect.

My son told me he was in stress, and I suppose I was also in a forgetful stress. I just hope everything is now under control and my faith is now restored in my autistic son.