the autism monster is sighted!

Yesterday, I decided to put away SJ's tank tops.  He loves them, but considering it is October it is time for them to be put away.  I made sure that I did this while SJ was at his bowling league.  When it was time to get dressed this morning, I heard the toe curling screaming coming from upstairs.  I wasn't 100% sure it was due to the disappearance of the tank tops, but I had a pretty good idea.  "Where are my tank tops?" yelled SJ.  "I have no tops to wear!" he added.  Now, I left about 15 short sleeve t-shirts in his drawer.  Plus, there is numerous short sleeve and long sleeve shirts in his closet.  After 10 minutes of crying and screaming, my husband went upstairs to try to talk to him.  He tried to pretend to wrestle with him.  He tried to get him to laugh, but there was nothing at that moment that was going to get SJ to be happy (except maybe a tank top).  He told him he had 5 minutes to get dressed in some kind of shirt or he was taking 5 plushies.  SJ didn't care.  He continued to yell about the disappearance of his tank tops.  "Why did you give them away, Mom?" he sobbed.  "I didn't give them away.  I put them away for next year," I told him.  After his 5 minute chance was over, my husband told him to go stand in the corner.  SJ did, but he continued to cry.  When his time out was over, I heard my husband ask him what season it is.  SJ answered correctly, so my husband told him that we only wear tank tops in spring and summer.  Eventually, he calmed down and put on a short sleeve soccer shirt.  (He did have to change his shorts to monochromatically match his shirt selection.)  The Autism Monster went back under the bed or in his closet.  Hopefully, he will stay there for a long time.  My guess though is he will reappear when the shorts have to be put away!