A free autism aid app designed by a group of Ghanaians a couple of years ago was available, but no one had downloaded it onto any of the devices. Two tablets were almost out of battery power, so Emma plugged them in and began the download. The other two had enough juice for now, including the one with the pen. She set the latter where Kojo could reach it and at the same time tried out the stylus. At first, it was an odd experience drawing on the slick screen—nothing like sketching on paper. On the side of the tablet were several icons to change the thickness and texture of the lines. Emma valued these donations from the IGP’s wife, but she felt the drawing tablet was a little too advanced for any of the children here and she could see the stylus pen being destroyed in a matter of days.

Kojo made a noise and reached for the stylus.

“Okay, but be careful,” Emma said.

Left-handed, Kojo began scribbling a few lines, his head bent studiously over the screen.

Emma checked the other devices, where the pace of the downloads was agonizing. She was pretty sure the Wi-Fi at the center was still only 3G. She noted how still Kojo was sitting and how focused he was on his task. It was unusual for him. As the minutes passed, Emma followed the strokes of his hands in growing incredulity.

He had even figured out how to use the digital eraser. A head was taking shape, and then the body of a woman.

“Who is that you’re drawing?” she whispered.

He had found color on the app, which Emma hadn’t even yet discovered. She held her breath and slipped her mobile phone out of her pocket. She began to video Kojo as he was sketching a head of hair, large eyes, and a big smile. For thirty minutes, Kojo did his work and Emma recorded.

“Grace?” she called out, her voice cracking. “Grace!”

She ran in from outside. “What’s wrong?”

Emma pointed at the tablet. Kojo had put down the stylus and was rocking.

Grace came around to their side. “It looks like . . . It looks a little like Auntie Rose,” she said, looking at Emma and then at Kojo. “Who drew it? You?”

“No, he did,” Emma said.

His drawing was not an exact likeness of Auntie, but it was recognizably her. For a while, Emma and Grace stared at it in silence.

“But he’s never done anything like this before, has he?” Grace said.

“Not that I know of,” Emma said. “Auntie Rose would have talked about it if she had seen it before.”

“What about Abena?” Grace suggested. “Let’s check with her. Maybe she’s seen Kojo draw at home but hasn’t attached much significance to it.”