At dinner, Streax was talking with her parents.
"So, Streax," Wire said, "How was school today?"
"Okay. Not much happened," Streax said, absentmindedly.
"I spoke with Cheerilee," Plasma said, "She says that Streax is very bright, but has some attention issues and doesn't seem to acknowledge the ponies around her very easily. She even told the whole class that she has autism."
Wire nearly spat out the water he just drank.
"Streax," he said, "Why did you tell them that you have autism?"
"We had to say something about ourselves, and I couldn't think of anything else," Streax said without concern.
"Streax," Plasma said, "If you go out telling everyone that you have autism, they may not want to be friends with you. Many ponies with autism can't even speak."
"But I thought that you said that we should all like each other for who we are," Streax said.
"Yes, but sadly, many ponies don't," said Wire.
"Then I don't want to be friends with them," Streax said, "And besides, I think that it's why a pony wanted to talk to me."
"Who?" Wire asked.
"I... Can't remember," Streax said, "But she had a teal coat. I'd probably recognize her if I saw her."
"But she talked to you?" Plasma said.
"Yeah. I was playing in the dirt when she just walked up and started talking."
"What did you talk about?"
"I honestly don't remember. And I was digging in the dirt again, and she was gone before I knew it."
"This is why you need to pay attention, Streax," Wire said, "She may have thought that you were acting rudely. Is that what you want other ponies to see you as?"
Streax just shrugged, finishing the mashed potatoes on her plate. Then she yawned and went up to her room to go to bed.
"Do you think this will go well?" Plasma asked.
"She's never had a real friend," Wire said, "Hopefully this makes the first."