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Frigg Magazine: Leroy Can Tell You When
by A.S. King

A.S. King delivers a tale told by John, a boy of Junior High School age, about his brother Leroy.

Leroy is 10 years old, and mentally handicapped, perhaps autistic. Leroy likes to count numbers, in every way, by fives, seventeens, twenty twos. In the tradition of what we used to call “Idiot Savant”, he is very good at it. John has always been amused and proud of Leroy’s ability with numbers, until Leroy shares a secret with John and John realizes that Leroy is counting more than just “numbers”.

This is a very short story, and as such, I think King has limited himself. He does a good job as John, a 12 or 13 year old boy thrust into the role of protector and caretaker of Leroy. We understand that Leroy is two years younger than John physically, but probably 6 or 7 years younger mentally.

John finds himself protecting Leroy against every adult character in the story, and he seems to accept this role as gracefully as a 12 or 13 year old can. King also lets us know that John is not a saint, and he feels the weight of his burden from time to time. We get the sense that John has had to mature more quickly than his age would normally allow, especially when he observes the relationship between his mother and Leroy.

There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to fully develop any of the other characters in this story due to the limitations of its length. There are times when Leroy’s mental acuity seems to fluctuate in order to serve the story. However, King does have his moments, as when he describes the boys’ mother for the first time. Unfortunately, all of the other characters are generic at best; characters that will spoil the story for you if I were to cite examples.

I find it interesting that Mr. King shares a surname with one of the most prolific horror genre authors of our time. This story reminds me of a work by Stephen King, alas, in genre only.

Read it for yourself and let’s talk.

About the Reviewer
I’m Ed. I’m a smoker, a social drinker, and I can knock out a New York Times crossword Monday through Friday. I’m ambidextrous when it comes to brushing my teeth, and I can parallel park in a way that makes some people weep at the very beauty of it. I can tap a keg, catch a fly ball, change the oil, and cut a straight line every time. I can make you laugh when you’re feeling down, and I can tell when you’re lying. I’m old enough to care, and young enough to do something about it. I’ve seen the Burning Man burn. I’m urban, I’m old school, and I’m Midwestern. And I know when it’s time to shut up.

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