The Boys Next Door

Really make you appreciate the mentally challenge

(Edward Barbanell) Actor with down syndrome acting since 2000

Reading The Boys Next Door was truly a huge impact on my life. Some of the main characters in this play are Jack, Arnold, Lucien, Norman, Barry, Sheila, and Mr. Klemper. Out of all the characters in this play Jack was my favorite character. Jack is a social worker and he basically took care of the mentally challenged men. Jack was sweet, caring, and always willing to help. At times I feel like Jack gets overwhelmed taking care of these men, because it took over his personal life.  I can mostly relate this character because I had to take care of my Grandmother in high school. My Grandma is an amazing woman who did a lot for her kids. At the of 65 my grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. For those who doesn't know what that is, it's a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. My mom was not comfortable in putting her in a nursing home, so we took turns taking care of her. This might be a little different then being mentally challenged but you have to take care of her the same as you would with a challenged person. If my grandma wasn't watched 24/7, She would exit the house in the middle of the night or forget where she's at. I love my grandma but there are times when I get so overwhelmed. I think that is the same feeling that Jack felt in this story. The Alzheimer's has gotten worst and my grandma now doesn't remember me. She is now in the nursing home where there's people to take good care of her. Being mentally challenged or having some kind of brain dis function is hard thing, But if you really pay attention to their faces they are not sad. I trained myself to not feel sad for them but treat them like a normal human being. Because that is what they are.