Part 1
In a factory somewhere in Lincolnshire...

"More, more, more. Ain't that right, Gary?" asked Emily.
"Yyip. Gotta serve our people."
"How's Production looking, Linda?"
"Gonna need a few extra people at 2pm to get it all done. 2 - 3 ideally."
"Who's available?"
"Hygiene have a lull at the moment."
"They won't later."
All of them laughed at that. Hygiene were always busy when Production Lines finished.
Emily, Gary and Linda were key people in the food chain for their site. Christmas was approaching and it was another mad rush to get quality to their extensive customer base. To remain commercially competitive, they had to provide something exciting each year which wasn't always easy but they always got it done.
Today wouldn't be any different.
They're gonna smash this.
Their customers would be spoiled for choice!

Part 2
Supermarket Sweep was the gift to TV.
Supermarket Sensory Hell was the gift to sadists.
How could anyone enjoy the colours blending together, the TANOY system blasting into eardrums, the personal space invaders otherwise known as 'shoppers,' the harsh choir of young children and dogs together in unison for my own intense discomfort and physical pain. And that was what you could reasonably expect!
This didn't include all of the variables.
Fire alarms, loud people in the aisle, potential theft and the panic that could always ensue. A spilled item in the aisle causing a stench, an audible crash on the floor, a customer slippage or maybe all 3 and more!

But perhaps most importantly for me, the 'range' of options as if that was something to relish in.

I spend hours, sometimes days, figuring out when the quietest time is to visit a supermarket, what my travel times are and the potential issues I am likely to encounter, how I might cope (or not) and whether it is all worth it. Today I wanted the Mega Crunchy Sriracha Stack, a delicate blend of flavours. Sriracha sauce, sourdough bread, lightly drizzled salad cream (all the S's!)
I know it will be in stock, I've looked at the online orders, tried calling them directly but I couldn't get through. Wouldn't matter though, I know it's there. Ready To Go area.

I arrived at the supermarket at 2pm in an attempt to avoid as many kids as possible with them being at school. And I knew to avoid 'lunch hour' (why did people feel they needed to eat at certain times? I had the tendency to snack on some bits around 3 - 4am and that was alright with me...okay I often forget to eat but whatever)

I see the difference immediately. The Ready To Go section is desecrated with the jolly old cheer of the big C; Christmas.
I think the traitors called it 'Festive.'

They didn't stop at Christmas though, people were always changing their minds and spicing up their supermarkets with all kinds of monstrosities to the senses.
What happened to good, reliable food?
I hate it.

The Mega Crunchy Sriracha Stack was nowhere to be found. I stood frozen and someone must've felt bad because I was soon approached with the insensitive questions; Are you okay there? Can I help you?

The gall to ask these questions in this situation quelled my instinctual reply; NO I am NOT okay! Instead, I stay quiet. Confused. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" I hear myself echo as the bristle of someone's claw scratches my skin.
I hear other noises but none of it is clear.
"Sir, calm down." "Sir, stop." "Help!" "Sir, you need to leave the store immediately."

I feel myself float and I feel the cold air of this particularly chilly night...day? Evening?

I feel really tired. Exhausted. Where am I?
Voices going off.
"They're autistic, please don't do that."
"Routine."
"Mega."
"Stack."

Cally? My sister knew about the Mega Crunchy Sriracha Stack. That must be her.

"He needs to go home, he's had a meltdown, he'll be distressed. I've got him."
"Tom...it's Cally. I've called Mum and Dad, they're coming to pick us up. You're gonna be okay."

And you know what? I was okay once I got home. In a week's time after that fateful supermarket visit. But all this Christmas chaos served as a reminder to myself and, hopefully, to supermarkets and food stores everywhere, that sometimes all autistic people want, need, is familiarity.
It isn't boring, it's predictable.
Yes, I know diets have to be balanced but it's not as 'simple' as 'correcting' us or punishing us for the comfort we find in foods.

Stock up on your favourite brands and textures, folks (if you can!) and know that Festive periods can be different for autistic or otherwise neurodivergent people (not less!)

Further reading:
https://neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/

https://laurahellfeld.co.uk/what-is-same-food-why-familiar-food-matter/

https://laurahellfeld.co.uk/context-eating-why-we-prefer-specific-foods-in-specific-situations/

https://www.flipsnack.com/F58ADDCC5A8/new-flipbook/full-view.html