Chapter Two - The Boy and His Garden

Nathaniel Tobias Matthison was an afterthought. This did not mean that he did not receive familial love, he was really not neglected in anyway, but his parents, who had always put their careers first, didn't know what to do with him. As it happened, he was a quiet child and did not make things difficult when his mother decided after three months, to return to work and leave him in the care of a nanny.

Although Nathan was a quiet child, this did not mean he did not know how to speak, in fact he was quite able by the time he reached eighteen months, he simply chose not too unless he was answering a question. And even, then the person asking the question would receive a short and to the point answer.

He was a bright child who walk at eleven months and could read well by the age of three. His favourite pastime was not being plastered in front of a television screen like many children of his generation, but pottering around in the garden with the elderly gardener, who patiently taught him all about plants, flowers and growing vegetables. The old man also provided him with a couple books on gardening, which he read night after night until the corners were worn. His prospects, at this point, seemed undisputable.

The September after he turned four, he began school where he became pinned with a label; Autism. Although he had been raised in a very wealthy environment, his interactions with others had generally been limited to his parents, his nanny and the gardener and never all at once. All four had always been patient with the boy, so Nathan had never shown any signs of being 'different.' However, in the noisy, disruptive environment of a room the same size as his large bedroom with 20 energetic children and a couple of well meaning adults proved too much for the sensitive boy to handle. He threw his first ever tantrum.

The school, while having a very good reputation did not handle the situation well. The understanding of autism varied between teachers and even the teaching assistant especially hired found that her knowledge did not 'match' Nathan's personal case. This boy was smarter than his peers, he was already reading and writing at a level near twice his age and he had a vast knowledge about plants. But things like lying were beyond him, so he made other children cry with his too honest answers and was labelled a 'bully.' Then, he could not maintain eye contact for long, so when he was confronted, he looked away making him appear to be lying. So he was labelled a 'problem child.' That and with his inability to handle loud noises, he would often cover his ears and the teacher would tell him off for not listening!

His nanny and the gardener saw how closed off Nathan was becoming, no longer even able to enjoy playing in the garden as the teaching assistant had told him not to dig up the weed she mistook for a seedling in the school garden. After communicating with his teachers, his parents eventually decided to withdraw him from the school and hire a private tutor. The man they hired was exceptionally patient, although even he had his doubts about Nathan's condition. He came to learn that so long as he avoided the small triggers that distressed the boy, he was very intelligent. Nathan slowly opened up and in this safe environment, he was once again able to flourish.

The gardener eventually retired, but as Nathan loved the gardens so much, his parents allowed him to take most of the responsibility, simply hiring men to cut the several acres of lawn surrounding the mansion twice a month. The household came to enjoy the fruits of Nathan's labour, not only the fresh cut flowers, but delicious fruits and vegetables. Nathan's ability to communicate also improved, though he was still sensitive to loud noises and he struggled to understand the emotions expressed on people's faces and in their voices.

But as familiar faces left him and newer ones appeared, the changes in the main house were too great, so he opted to move into the small, two bedroom bungalow on the grounds that the gardener had once lived in. Its warmth and comfort was still retained, despite the layer of dust, but once it was scrubbed clean, it was perfect for him. He used the second bedroom to grow seedlings and indoor plants. He filled the small gardens about the cottage with small fruit trees and flowers. And in his small corner of paradise, away from the hustle of the house and secluded from other people, Nathan finally felt like he was home.

So when the apocalypse came, Nathan was completely oblivious.