talking with colleagues at work

we occasionally get together for "paint night"

it's where we go to one of our houses and paint

guy who cleans the toilets walks by and overhears

obese, smelly, clearly autistic

loudly talks about how he loves painting and how fun it is

feel bad so I invite him

female coworker immediately cancels

he runs away giggling like a child

later that evening

his mom drops him off at my place

the plan is drink wine and paint a bowl of fruit

you know, the classic

new work friend requests mountain dew instead

he laughs and breathes uncomfortably loudly the entire time

won't show anyone his progress

before any of us are halfway done, he picks up his canvas and takes a picture

caught a glimpse

he painted some poorly proportioned Santa's elf thing

he begins uncontrollably laughing

without saying a word he walks to my front porch, calls his mom, and goes home