---
tags: Ellie Cardoza
---

# Just Breath
Click to Create a new team note and copy this tempalte to start.
## Author
Ellie Cardoza

## Story Information

### Theme

### Character
#### Character: Matt-7 year old boy with autism
Goal: Become a Chef
Conflict: Breakdown
Attitude: belief in self
Change: attitude towards autism

#### Character: Large squiggly static mess monster and Protective Shell
Goal: Make Matt’s life difficult/Gain power
Conflict : power/influence
Attitude :

### Background
Matt is a young boy who has never been exceptionally good at anything. He gets c’s in school, he doesn’t have many friends, and gets bullied for being different. Matt is on the Autism Spectrum which means he has trouble picking up on others social cues, which makes him awkward and quiet. He also can get over stimulated in large environments which can cause him to breakdown. This overstimulation appears to him in the form of a large squiggly static monster which follows him and gives him tiny shocks. When this happens, he retreats into his protective shell which make him feel safe but also prevents him from growing or experiencing life. He has a distant father who works and travels all the time and seems to care more about money than his own son. His mother is a sweet caregiver who supports him. A few things make Matt happy, one is when he gets to play the game dragon explorers, and the other is eating and making food. He dreams of being good at something someday.

## Plot
### scene 1 :
The scene starts with matt being dropped off at his new school. He pleads with his mom to let him stay home. But his mother says he has to and that she hopes he can make new friends. Meanwhile, in the back seat we see the static monster appear, but only Matt can see him. When he gets out of the car and is exposed to all the noise and commotion of the first day of school, he feels the static monster begin to start shocking him.

### scene 2 :
Once inside the school matt sees a flyer with all the elective classes you can take. He sees there is a cooking class available. He decides to sign up even though he is nervous. Then we hear the bell ring (and the static monster shock him at the same time), which means Matt is late for his first day of class, he starts running towards class. Once in the room the teacher makes him introduce himself, but at this point he is so stressed out he has retreated into his shell. A protective covering that protects him from the outside world and the shock monster but also keeps him from speaking and making new friends. He tries but cannot manage to say anything. The teacher tells him to go take a seat, while a few of the kids snicker at him.

### scene 3 :
He goes home and begs his mom to let him join the cooking class, his mom thinks it’s a good idea, but his dad is against it and says he should take a math class so he can be successful in the future. His dad is about to leave on a long business trip. Matt decides to go against his father’s wishes and sign up for the class anyway. He changes the class name from math to cooking on the form his parents signed. He is determined to become a better cook.

### scene 4 :
Matt shows up to the class the first day and at the end of class the teacher calls him over to speak with her after class. She say’s that it has to be your parent that say its ok for you to take this class and before he can hear anything else he immediately starts panicking. The monster reappears and beings to shock him which causes his shell to come up. He begins to cry profusely. But the teacher say’s I’ll let you stay if you participate in this cooking competition in the coming months.

### scene 5 :
The next day the teacher makes an announcement that there is a cooking competition coming up and everyone must find a partner. This causes matt to freak out because he is very shy and doesn’t have any friends currently. The monster comes back because it starts seeing cracks in his shell and is about to seize on that opportunity. Right before the shock monster breaks his shell a girl comes up and say’s hey would you like to be my partner too. “ I noticed your dragon explorer shirt I play that game too!” Over the next few months they become friends.

### scene 6 :
During these months he learns to open up and work well with this girl. The comfort of having this made him abandon his shell. But the day of the competition during the prep he makes too many mistakes and starts to doubt himself which causes him to believe he’s not good enough. The static monster chooses to use this opportunity to attack him. Matt runs out of the class and goes home to cry.

### scene 7 :
When Matt arrives home his mom asks him why he is so upset. He ends up explaining everything. Even though his mom is upset at first because he lied. She sees how much this meant to him. She encourages him to keep going even though it is hard and a painful struggle. She drives him to the competition but as he arrives, he sees the static monster standing next to his teammate, waiting for him to arrive.

### scene 8 :
The stadium is full of people and lights and cameras which intimidate Matt and give the static monster more power. He looks at his mom who say’s “I believe in you” then he looks at his partner who is thankful he came back and shout’s “ I knew you would come back!” seeing that all these people believe in him he takes one deep breath and gains the courage to go out into the stadium. Seeing the courage that matt has displayed causes the static monster to lose some power and shrink in size a bit.

### scene 9 :
He begins to cook while the monster shocks him. Meanwhile his dad arrives from his trip and see’s his wife and son are missing. He calls his wife and she say’s to come see what Matt is doing. When his dad arrives he is furious that matt has lied to him. But seeing his son out there interacting with other people and looking happy while doing so softens his heart. He sees his son pull out a ruined souffle and about to breakdown. He goes up to his son and grabs him and tells him that he is very proud of him, and that he should do what makes him happy. The support from his dad gives him the strength to whip up another souffle. The monster shrinks into a tiny version that can not hurt him much anymore.

### scene 10 :
This souffle is what causes them to Win the competition by 1 point. Matt looks at the static Monster and puts him in his pocket. Matt realized that he will never get rid of this Monster but he is determined to live with it and not let it get the best of him. He decides to permanently get rid of his shell and live his life to the fullest.