美国国家公共电台 NPR 'You Would Always Have My Back': Brothers With Autism Navigate Life Together（在线收听）

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

All right. Today on StoryCorps, we are going to hear from two brothers. Russell Wadsworth is 28. Remmick is 27. They both have autism. As kids, they had trouble with social interactions, and they relied on each other a lot, and they still do. Here, Remmick talks about their first job working together in a coffee shop.

REMMICK WADSWORTH: You would always have my back - talking to customers for me, handle them for me while I make the drinks.

RUSSELL WADSWORTH: I was the cafe supervisor. I was overseeing things. And almost everyone that worked at that cafe had autism. And I remember there was this one employee. He was not very accustomed to talking with people. He would have this scowl on his face, but that was just how he was. And a customer came up and took his scowl the wrong way, just got so mad. He was about ready to punch his lights out. And so I pulled the gentleman to the side and explained to him, this employee is on the spectrum. And after I explained this to him, this man started crying because he didn't realize this. And so it really helped build my self-confidence up.

REMMICK WADSWORTH: What were you like as a kid?

RUSSELL WADSWORTH: Oh, it was really hard for me to talk because I just - I was always nervous, always nervous.

REMMICK WADSWORTH: What were you like as a brother to me?

RUSSELL WADSWORTH: Oh, golly. I always wanted to protect you, man.

REMMICK WADSWORTH: I appreciate you being my big brother.

RUSSELL WADSWORTH: You know what, Remmick? I don't know what I'd do without you, seriously, because I cannot stand being alone. That's actually my number one fear in life. I don't like being the last person to go to sleep at night. And for you to be there, I feel pretty blessed, man, to have a brother who shares something that you have, same kind of emotions. It's hard for me to explain that, but you know what I'm talking about, right?

REMMICK WADSWORTH: Mm-hm (ph).

RUSSELL WADSWORTH: It's just - I think it just means the world.

REMMICK WADSWORTH: Russell Wadsworth speaking with his younger brother, Remmick, at StoryCorps in Temple Terrace, Fla. Their story will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

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