LEWISTON – Every child at the Margaret Murphy Center for Children has a new best pal, Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe.

The state’s top lawyer fulfilled a request made by a 10-year-old student named Alex. On a walk with his teacher, Dawn Simpson, the boy noticed something was missing from the Main Street school.

“We have three flagpoles and no flags,” said Alex, who has autism. He then wrote to Rowe, who Thursday brought a Maine flag and a U.S. flag to the school. The West Point graduate helped Alex raise the flags, which had flown above the State House. Then, Rowe toured the school.

“It’s something I love to do,” said Rowe, who has four children and two grandchildren.

Bending down to chat eye to eye with kids, the white-haired administrator shook hands and took names as if he were running for class president.

“Hello,” he said again and again. “My name is Steve. What’s yours?”

The school has about 50 students from preschool to grade six, most of whom have autism. Rowe walked into the padded occupational therapy classroom and the tiny one-on-one rooms, watched carefully as a boy strapped on a plastic pair of “moon shoes” for a walk down a hallway and answered lots of questions.

Rowe impressed Simpson, Alex’s teacher. He seemed unruffled by the kids, some of whom are learning how to speak or have a conversation, she said.

And he was game for whatever questions came along. There were inquiries about flags, the stars and stripes and lots of questions about the honored guest.

What does an attorney general do? one group asked.

“I deal with laws,” he said, describing how his position is one that is filled by election by the state Legislature.

One boy was a little put out by Rowe’s plain car.

“How come the president has a limo and the attorney general doesn’t?” he asked.

Another seemed puzzled by Rowe’s lack of a military uniform.

“Where did you get that suit?” a boy named Harrison asked.

“Boston; though I usually buy them in Maine,” Rowe said.

The boy paused.

“That would be a great suit if I was going to be the attorney general for Halloween,” Harrison said.