Dannie's Dilemmas The Right Shoes

By L.J HALDANE

Can Dannie make the right decisions with your help?
‘Dannie’s Dilemmas’ is a series of books designed to show the difficulties that
children with Aspergers Syndrome face on a daily basis. These books are an interactive way
for readers to get involved with ‘Dannie’s Dilemmas.’ The reader has the ability to choose the way the stories end. This makes them unique in their own way.
Dannie is an eleven year old Aspergers child, she is smart, friendly and very
helpful, but due to the Aspergers she finds it difficult to assess situations, work out what people
think and really mean, make daily choices and understand emotions and sayings.
Like most Aspergers children Dannie does find herself in trouble quite a few
times for taking people literally, especially with idioms. ‘Dannie’s Dilemmas’ tries to explain as many idioms as possible.
Seeing life through Dannie’s eyes shows us all how emotionally difficult it is for
Aspergers children to understand the world that we take for granted every day.
In ‘The Right Shoes,’ Dannie has to go shopping for some new shoes for school.
Dannie hates shoe shopping as she finds it very stressful, therefore is not looking forward to
this shopping trip.
Although Dannie has many pairs of new trainers, she insists on wearing an old
pair of pink trainers that are falling apart. Dannie’s mother refuses to leave the house until
Dannie has changed her trainers. Dannie has to choose one of her new pairs of trainers to
wear which she does methodically and reluctantly. Dannie feels very uncomfortable in her new trainers but perseveres with them.
Outside the shoe shop Dannie’s mother tells her that she must behave and listen to
what the shop assistant tells her to do. Dannie does not approve as she believes the
only person who knows Dannie’s feet and what’s best to wear is herself.
While Dannie is waiting for the assistant, Dannie’s mother takes the assistant to
one side and explains that Dannie has Aspergers. She explains that Dannie may take a little
longer than other children to choose the right shoes and asks the assistant to show her a little
more patience.
While Dannie’s mother is looking around the shop for some shoes for Dannie to
try on, the assistant doesn’t show any patience towards Dannie but instead speaks down to
Dannie and treats her like an infant.
Dannie takes offence to the way she is being treated and retaliates against the
assistant. Dannie cannot understand why she is being treated this way and gets angry.
The assistant and Dannie argue back and forth until the assistant puts her foot
down and calls Dannie’s mother over to fix the problem.
This is when Dannie’s Dilemma begins, Dannie has to decide whether to tell her
mother how she is being treated or to keep quiet and say nothing. The reader will decide the
outcome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.J HALDANE
• Release date: Mar 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465900920

L.J HALDANE

We are two single parents who write childrens books.We have 2 books already published for autistic children and have started the series Cottage Farm.We have been writing together for almost 8 years and hope to do well with our latest childrens books.We have 2 blogs and an article in the eZine magazine and hope to continue writing more.

Book preview

Chapter One

I’m not looking forward today, mum said we have to go and get some new shoes for school because my old ones are looking a bit shabby. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them, I like my old school shoes they’re comfortable.

Dannie are you dressed yet? Dannie’s mum yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

Yes mum Dannie yelled back as she looked up and down her body to ensure she was dressed.

And got your glasses? Dannie’s mum questioned.

Yes mum Dannie sighed as she ran her fingers over her face again to double check she had indeed put her glasses on.

What about your coat and shoes? Dannie’s mum rolled her eyes as if she knew the answer but had to ask anyway.

Dannie stuck her tongue out in the direction of the stairs, and then looked around her bedroom for her favourite pair of pink trainers.

Now where did I have them last?

Dannie searched under her bed, in her wardrobe and under her window but she could see no sign of her trainers.

Bother, where did I put them, think Dannie think

Dannie banged her hand on her forehead several times.

I don’t know why I do that, it never helps me remember and I always end up with a headache.

Dannie looked above her bed where she had lined up all her favourite teddies in a neat row. She spotted something that shouldn’t have been there.

It’s my trainers; I knew I put them somewhere safe

Dannie reached up and pulled down a pair of dirty pink and white trainers.

My favourite pair of trainers, actually, the only pair of trainers I like wearing.

Dannie are you ready? Dannie’s mum called from the bottom of the stairs as she stared at her watch.

Almost, I’m just coming Dannie screamed as she grabbed her jacket and ran down stairs.

How many times do I have to tell you stop running on the stairs? Dannie’s mum scolded.

I’m not running on them, I’m running down them, you said hurry up. Dannie said honestly.

Don’t be smart Dannie it doesn’t suit you. Dannie’s mum sounded angry.

Dannie was just about to answer when her mum interrupted her.

Don’t even bother, I’d quit while I was ahead if I were you. Dannie’s mum said, wagging her finger as if she knew exactly what Dannie was about to say next.

Dannie thought carefully for a moment.

Mum only says that when she wants me to stop talking. I don’t know why she is getting so upset? And why doesn’t she want me to get smart? I thought that’s why we go to school is to get smart, so why wouldn’t it suit me? Does she want me to be dumb all my life?

Dannie could tell by her mother’s face that this was no