Reality Vs. Fantasy

One difference I have noticed between my Aspie sons and my non-Aspie son is that my Aspie sons have a harder time differentiating between what is real and what is fantasy....what is fiction and what is non-fiction. My oldest Aspie son, in his precious innocence, believed that there really were trains that could think and talk living on an island named Sodor. I guess it didn't help that we took him to "A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS" for his 6th birthday. (I will  post a picture on the Pics Page.) At that point, he had not yet been identified as being on the Autism Spectrum and we had no idea he believed so whole-heartily. I will never forget the fateful night, at age 11, when he came to us in tears, facing the realization that Thomas and his Railroad is fictitious. He also believed that his Harry Potter Potions Set could accomplish REAL magic. Strangely, he figured that one out BEFORE figuring out about Thomas as he started to understand the chemical properties of the mixes and realized that they were mostly sugar water, baking soda and peroxide. Smart little guy!
Of course, when it came to the discovery of the
LARGER HOLIDAY-ORIENTED CULTURAL SYMBOLS......
it seemed CATASTROPHIC!
Our younger Aspie son plays games to understand the differences between REALITY and FANTASY. He especially likes playing the game FACT or OPINION.
He LOVES to read non-fiction and HATES to read fiction. He has no time for that which is not real.
Oh the drama......
I almost think that telling him about the holiday symbols might be easier. We can play a game, he will see it as black and white and will go on. Hmmmm.....this may be wishful thinking. We will soon see as he is now 10 years old and is quickly approaching THAT age.
Our youngest son, who is not on the spectrum seems to have NO PROBLEM with differentiating between reality and fantasy. If I act like a character from TV or answer a question posed by a character on TV....he simply says, "Mom, you are not in the TV."
Silly mom.......

I wonder which is really better. To be held captive to a predisposition, a universal understanding.....or to be open-minded, thinking out of the box.....dreaming that impossible dream.....
It seems to me "normal" kids are trying to work towards what Aspie kids already have....a mind of their own.
Another possibility....another gift.....