Chapter 5, Crossing the Bridge Summary and Analysis

Liane's AS traits fade but many pop up and return from time to time. She feels no shame about poor spelling or difficulty with auditory discrimination. Her community however has been crucial for coping. Liane is married but she never thought she would be. For years Liane's AS properties destroyed her relationships. Tom however, is a lot like her. For instance, they both love quiet and calm. Her husband is one of few words but Liane needs elaboration. During their first few years of marriage, Tom had no idea Liane was misrepresenting his thoughts. When the lack of mutual understanding arose, their conversations became convoluted.

Today Liane must struggle to tell if her lack of understanding is related to her AS or to something discrete. She will sometimes have to confess this to Tom in...