by Hailey Sanibel

It is rare to find a story that is humanizing and glorious as well as politically hilarious. This story of a nine-year-old Minnesotan named Brandon deftly accomplishes both.

According to a report from The State, young Brandon went to a sensory-friendly rodeo experience in the Houston area during a Spring Break trip. For the special day, lights and music were dimmed and muted so as not to overstimulate guests.

While visiting, Brandon’s mother “noticed that her 9-year-old son, Brandon, who was diagnosed with severe autism at 3 years old, was fixated on something. At the moment, she couldn’t figure out what it was.”

The State then reveals the simultaneously hilarious and heartwarming tale:

“My baby kept saying, ‘Mom, these people love me here!’ ” Sheletta said. “And I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ ” 

“He said, ‘They’ve got my flags all over the place. They’re cheering for me!’”

Sheletta, Brandon’s mother, confessed she wasn’t quite sure what her youngest son was referring to yet. They continued exploring the grounds in a golf cart until he noticed more of the inspiring flags.

“Mom! There’s my sign!” Brandon said. 

“And when I looked up,” Sheletta said. “It was a Let’s Go Brandon flag.”

Precious. Absolutely precious. The child has no idea what the flag means other than that it means something to him. It was so touching that the moment inspired a children’s book, written by Sheletta as part of an ongoing book series shining a lot on her experiences as a mother of a child diagnosed with autism. This one is called “Brandon Spots His Sign.”

It gets better; The State continues:

“As the golf cart sat parked in front of the flags, where Sheletta captured a video of Brandon explaining what he saw, his two younger siblings, Cameron and Daniel, sat in the back of the cart repeatedly singing, “Let’s go, Brandon! Let’s go, Brandon! Let’s go, Brandon!” 

Brandon said the flags, signs, and cheers made him feel more encouraged, and have given him confidence as he battles social anxiety that is common for children with autism.

“It means having courage and trying your best,” Brandon said.”

As I said, this is funny and adorable. It’s hilarious and heartwarming. Sheletta knows full well what the chant means, and doesn’t necessarily support it. Still, like a mother watching her son celebrate life at the moment, she didn’t need to wreck it for him either.

“9-year-old Brandon didn’t understand the political implications of the sign, and Sheletta said she didn’t tell him. She doesn’t plan to any time soon. 

“He’ll be grown before he finds out,” she said.