I Don't Talk to Earthlings

By R. J. R. Rockwood

Although diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, six-year-old Haley Haralson could read and write so well that he skipped the first and second grade. Before he was out of elementary school, he could repair computers and do complicated math problems in his head.

Before long, he had his own computer-repair business. In the evenings, he would stand by the streetlight and wait for customers to pick him up for repair jobs. At twelve, he slipped away from home and moved in with Fiona, a lady who ran a bordering house for college boys.

After his freshman year in college, he disappeared. His parents learned that Fiona had him declared of age and adopted him as her own son. He changed his name and severed all links with relatives, who never saw him again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514483770

R. J. R. Rockwood

Author Bio Robert John Remington Rockwood has a B.A. in English and German and an M.A. in English and Russian from the University of Miami; a Ph.D. in English and Linguistics from the University of Florida; and he has done advanced study in historical linguistics at the University of North Carolina. For the year 1973-1974 he was a Fellow of the Medieval Institute of Western Michigan University. Rockwood has studied the following languages and dialects: Latin, Greek, Gothic, Old Norse, Old English, Middle High German, Middle English, German, Russian, French, and Icelandic. Rockwood has served as a full-time faculty member at Florida Southern College, University of Florida, and Georgia Institute of Technology. From 1978 through 2001 he worked as an industrial technical writer, editor, and web designer at such companies as Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin), Unisys, and NCR. From 2002 through 2013 he taught online courses for the University of Phoenix. The Spirit of Alchemy (2017) is Rockwoods eighth book published by Xlibris. The others are: Leopardo da Gotcha (2002) The Passing of Merlin Zauber (2005) The Last Ant (2007) Dillons Rocking Bear Invisibility Chair (2013) I Dont Talk to Earthlings (2016) Too Often Beside Himself (2017) The Primrose Path (2017) Robert Rockwood lives in Roswell, Georgia, a northern suburb of Atlanta. His e-mail address is [e-mail]. For further information, visit his website at www.rjrrockwood.com.

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I DON'T TALK TO EARTHLINGS

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A novel by

R.J.R. ROCKWOOD

Copyright © 2016 by R J R Rockwood.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016905943

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5144-8379-4

               Softcover       978-1-5144-8378-7

               eBook            978-1-5144-8377-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 04/15/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

730450

CONTENTS

Foreword

Chapter 1 Red Flag for Haley

Chapter 2 Little Haley

Chapter 3 Haley's Computer Business

Chapter 4 Haley at Night

Chapter 5 Haley's Social Dilemma

Chapter 6 Haley's Christmas Visit

Chapter 7 Haley Runs Away

Chapter 8 Haley Rescued

Chapter 9 Haley's Second Chance

Chapter 10 Haley Finishes High School

Chapter 11 Haley Enters College

Chapter 12 Haley Declared Of Age

Chapter 13 Haley Disappears Again

Chapter 14 Haley Becomes Harley

Epilogue

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the parents of children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, which is a high-functioning aspect of autism. Despite the social inadequacies associated with this disorder, high achievement is possible, as exemplified by historical figures such as Michelangelo, Beethoven, Mozart, Shakespeare, Einstein, Franklin, and Jefferson who are all suspected of having Asperger's.

FOREWORD

W hat follows is about a run-away child, or perhaps a child snatch. Since I have managed to ferret out only some of the facts, I have filled in the missing information as best I could.

My speculations aside, some of this is indisputable. A special child slipped out of his parents' house and moved in with the lady down the street, like a stray cat finding a home that suited him better.

As soon as the child was legally declared of age, he changed his name from Haley Haralson to Harley Lipsit and then severed all links with his relatives on both sides of the family.

This is how it happened.

R. J. R. Rockwood

CHAPTER 1

Red Flag for Haley

T he Haralsons, Henry and Helga, lived in a middle-class neighborhood with large, beautiful trees. At least once a year, everyone in the neighborhood gathered for a cookout, to which all would contribute a delectable item or two. These annual get-togethers comprising all the neighborhood children and adults helped create a sense of camaraderie and harmony.

One summer, the neighborhood cookout was hosted by Johnny and George, a pair of gay veterinarians, whose professional services the Haralsons, who had nine cats, were regularly seeking. At this particular event, Johnny and George had houseguests from the southern part of the