Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 07:31:44 -0800 (PST)
From: No Label <zero78245@yahoo.com>
Subject: Donny - Chapter 18

Its that time again.  Yeah, you know the drill.  If you are too young, or
too old, or just right, and if you live in a place that is too straight to
allow even itself, blah, blah, blah.  The rules don't change, and most of
you have already read them some many times you can recite them in your
sleep.  So you are warned.

Also as usual, my address hasn't changed since about chapter two.
zero78245@yahoo.com.  Ideas, suggestions, comments, whatever, send them on
in.  I promise I won't bite.

Again, many thanks to the Alienist.  This entire story deals with some very
real problems faced by children all over the world, and the Alienist
ensures that I do not misspeak in the education and advice contained here.
Without your guidance, I would not dare to post this story.


Chapter 18 (Tom's POV)


    What am I getting into here?  I have a sixteen year old acting a lot
younger than that curled up on my lap bawling his eyes out.  Over me
sitting down to have dinner with him and Donny.

    What was that?  What did he say?  It's so hard to understand with him
crying like that.  Did he just say daddy?  What now?  Don't hit me any
more?  Geez, what has been done to this child?

    Hold and rock.  Hold and rock.  Tell him everythings okay, and hold and
rock.  Ah, Donny has come out here.

    "Just put our plates in the oven.  We will get to them shortly." I
whispered.

    "Okay.  Anything else I can do?"

    "In a little bit, son.  Let me get him settled down more, okay?"

    "Yeah, sure Tom."

    Donny went back to the kitchen and I heard him putting our dinner in to
keep warm.  Luckily the oven had only been off for about twenty minutes
after baking the potatoes, so it was still warm enough.

    Donny then came back out and sat in the recliner, watching us, a scared
look on his face.  Lordy, don't let him get upset too.  I have my hands
full with this one.

    Hold and rock.  Hold and rock.

    Slowly Deke's sobs were losing their intensity and his body eased its
trembles.  I could also start to make out what he was saying.

    "I'm sorry, Daddy.  I'm sorry.  Please don't hit me any more, I'm
sorry.  I love you Daddy.  I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

    "Easy Deke.  Take it easy.  Everything's okay now.  Just take it easy.
Deep breaths now.  Take it easy and relax.  Slow and easy.  That's it, nice
and easy."

    I could feel the tension that had held his body in almost a fetal
position on my lap draining away as Deke relaxed his crying.

    Suddenly he looked up into my face.  "Oh, shit.  I'm sorry, Mr Parker.
Oh, geez.  I'm sorry sir."

    I guess he finally snapped back to the present.

    "It's okay, Deke.  It's okay.  Feel better now.  Here's some Kleenix.
Blow your nose and wipe your face."

    "Shit, I'm sorry.  I don't know why I did that.  I'm sorry."

    "It's okay Deke.  Here, Donny, take Deke to the bathroom so he can wash
his face.  Then get his supper out of the oven so he can eat, okay?"

    "Sure, Tom."

    Donny came ove and gently took Deke's hand, pulled him up and leading
him off.  As so as they were out of the room, I released the pent up air
that had built in my lungs.

    I don't know what to do.  Donny is a big enough handful, just starting
his recovery now.  What do I do about Deke?  I know, get some help.  Bob
should be able to point me in the right direction.

    I went back to my office and shut the door.  I knew Donny would stay
with Deke while he ate.  I didn't want to set him off again either.  I
called Bob's service and told them it was an emergency.

    Thirty seconds later the phone rang.

    "Tom, this is Bob.  What's wrong with Donny?  He have another fit?"

    "No, no Bob, Donny's fine."

    "You're not hurt are you?"

    "No, not me either.  It's Deke."

    "Deke Schiller?  He is at your house?  Did he run away again?"

    "Huh?  What do you mean run away?  No, he's here to spend the night
with Donny.  You know, a sleepover."

    "Oh, is that what he said?  Tom, I got to tell you.  Deke is trouble."

    "Why?  He seems like a nice enough kid.  And Donny likes him."

    "He has run away from home probably five times in the last few years.
Usually gone for a couple of days, then he shows up back home again.  Buddy
told me next time he runs away, he ain't going looking for him."

    "Well, he's not run away.  He's in my kitchen eating supper right now."

    "Okay Tom.  Just don't say I didn't warn you.  So what's wrong with
him?"

    "Well, you are not going to believe this, but he just had a breakdown
in my living room."

    "Huh?"

    "We had just sat down in the kitchen to eat, and Deke started acting
funny.  He seemed very nervous about me eating with him.  Then all of a
sudden he just broke down crying.  I thought I would never get him to stop.
While I was trying to get him to stop..."

    "Hold on Tom.  I have a call on the other line.  Just a sec, okay?"

    "Sure."

    It was a couple of minutes before Bob got back on the line.

    "Tom, that was Buddy.  He said Deke's parents just reported him run
away again.  I am going to conference him in, okay?"

    "Yeah."

    "Buddy, you there?  I got Tom with us."

    "Hi Tom.  Bob says Deke Schiller is at your house."

    "Yeah.  He is having a sleepover with Donny.  His mother gave him
permission he said."

    "Hmmm.  This is interesting, because she is the one that called me to
say he had run away again.  How long has he been there?"

    "Since about eleven.  He got a ride over with one of their hands, I
don't know his name.  But he drives a big red Ram Diesel."

    "Ah, that would be Clint Sherwood.  I'll have to give him a call.  Let
me get back to you in a little bit."

    "Sure, Buddy.  Bob, can you hang on?"

    "Yeah, Tom.  I'm still here."

    "Good.  So what is going on?"

    "I don't know, Tom.  But certainly more that we thought."

    "Yeah.  Especially after I tell you what he was saying during his
crying jag."

    "Oh?"

    "Yeah, he kept saying he was sorry, and asking his Daddy to stop
hitting him."

    "Hmmm.  Maybe I better come out there and take a look at him."

    "Wouldn't hurt."

    "Okay, be there in about twenty minutes.  See ya."

    "Yeah.  See ya soon."

    Now I knew that I was in over my head.  Good thing Bob was coming out.
He will know what to do.

    There was a soft tap on the door.  "Come in."

    The door opened and Donny stuck his head in.

    "Ah, Tom.  Deke finished eating.  What do I do now?"

    "Where is he now?"

    "In my room, just kinda sitting there.  Not doing nothing."

    "Okay, see if you can get him interested in a game, or a movie, or
something.  Anything to keep his mind occupied for a while.  Bob will be
here shortly."

    "You called Doctor Bob?  Deke's not sick, he's scared."

    Sometimes the insight of kids will surprise you.

    "Scared.  Do you know of what?"

    "Nah, not for sure.  But I think of his parents, but that's just a
guess."

    "I think it might be a good one.  But Bob will be able to help, I'm
sure."  At least I hope so.  "Better get back to him now, son.  And Donny,
thanks."

    "For what?  I didn't do nothing."

    "More than you know, son."

    "Ah, okay, Tom."

    Donny pulled his head back and shut the door again.  I figured I better
go eat my food now, because I will probably be too busy later.

    I had just finished when I heard Bob's car pull up out front.  I
quickly met him at the door.

    "Hi, Bob.  Thanks for coming out."

    "Hi.  How's Deke?"

    "So far so good.  He and Donny are back in Donny's room doing
something.  I haven't even stuck my head in to find out what.  Told Donny
to keep him occupied for a while."

    "Good idea.  Let him settle down some."

    "You ready to see him?"

    "Yeah."

    I called down the hallway, "Bob's here.  Come out a say hello."

    Donny flew out of his room.  "Doctor Bob."  Quick as a flash he gave
Bob a big hug.  Damn, kids sure change their minds fast.  But he was mad at
me, not Bob.  Hmm.

    Deke came out much more slowly.  "Oh, hello Doctor Davis.  What are you
doing here?"

    "I came out to visit some friends, Deke.  How are you?"

    "Fine."

    "Uh huh.  Hows your Mom and Dad?"

    "They're okay.  Home."

    "Yeah, figured that.  Tom tells me you had a little problem earlier
this evening.  Care to tell me about it?"

    "Nothing much.  Just acted like a baby, but I'm over it now."

    "Oh.  Okay.  Would you mind if I examined you a little?"

    "What for?"

    "Just my peace of mind, Deke."

    "Well, okay, I guess."

    "Use Donny's room, Bob."

    "Sure, thanks.  Come on, Deke.  This won't take long."

    Bob put his arm around Deke's shoulders and led him back to Donny's
room.  I sat down in the recliner, and Donny joined me.

    "Ah, Tom.  Does Doctor Bob think Deke's dad beat him?"

    "Don't know, Donny.  I think that is one of the things he wants to
check right now."

    "Tom?"

    "Yes, son."

    "Is Deke gonna be okay?  How do I act around him?  I never been in this
situation before."

    "Donny, you, more than anyone involved, can make a difference with Deke
right now.  Be his friend.  Just be his friend."

    "I can handle that."

    Donny sat quietly on my lap.  I thought he was thinking about Deke.  He
wasn't.

    "Ah, Tom?"

    "Yes, son?"

    "Ah, can I call you Dad?  It seems funny to call you Tom now, because I
love you so much."

    I thought my heart was going to burst.  "Donny, I will accept anything
you want to call me.  And I would feel very honored every time you called
me dad."

    "Good...Dad."

    We snuggled into my favorite position, and I hoped Donny's too, with
him half turned into me and a leg thrown over mine and head on my chest.  I
am sure he could hear my heart beating, because at that moment it was
trying to pound its way out of my chest.

    Bob came out of Donny's room and down the hallway with a frown on his
face, but as soon as he saw Donny and I in the chair, a huge grin broke out
on his face.

    Donny lifted his head, "How's Deke."

    "Physically he is fine.  But I do want to get a bone scan, his bones
seem a little small for his age."

    I knew that a bone scan was not used just to check size of bones, but
also for old breaks, but I kept my thoughts to myself for the time being.

    Donny started to climb out of the chair, "I'll go see what he wants to
do now."  But before he got completely out, he leaned back in and gave me a
little peck on the cheek.  "And thanks, Dad."

    He then left for his room.  I glanced at Bob and the look on his face
was priceless.  He then chuckled.

    "I take it you and Donny have settled your differences, and are having
no trouble bonding now."

    "Yeah, you could say that.  He just asked me if he could call me dad.
You can guess how that made me feel."

    "Probably like you were have a coronary infarction."

    "Huh?"

    "Heart attack."  Bob giggled.

    I laughed, "Yeah, and then some."

    "Well, I personally think it is just great.  You and Donny were made
for each other."

    I smiled, "Yeah.  So what's the prognosis, Doc?"

    "Many years of happiness is my guess."

    "I hope so.  But I meant Deke."

    "I know, but it just makes me so happy that you and Donny are together.
Now, for Deke.  I need to talk to Buddy and get some background, but a
quick diagnosis, and this is out of my field some, is there are definite
symptoms of neglect, in particular, emotional."

    "Is it serious?"

    "Emotional neglect is a hard bugger to pin down, simply because most
symptoms don't manifest themselves until much later.  Children tend to act
like children, and the symptoms tend to look like bratty childhood
behavior.  But it does lead to aberrant behavior as the the child grows
through puberty and into adulthood.  You got a dose of that today.  And the
self mutilation is also a common sign."

    "Self mutilation?"

    "Yes, the post in his eyebrow, the multiple earrings, tattooing.  And
some he keeps covered."

    "I thought that was childish rebellion?"

    "For most it probably is.  But for emotionally neglected adolescents,
it is a method of coping with the loss of emotional support and guidance.
And for a few, a cry for help."

    "Deke?"

    "Like I said, not my area of expertise, just a semi-educated guess.
Bill Patterson should probably be the next person to see Deke."

    "Yeah.  Donny has another appointment with him Monday afternoon.
Should I bring it up to him then?"

    "I will give him a call later.  After I talk to Buddy.  How long is
Deke supposed to stay?"

    "He hasn't said what time he is supposed to be home tomorrow."

    "Hmm.  If he has a time he is supposed to be home.  Well, he is safe
here tonight at least."

    "I don't know.  Donny might attack him.  I have a good idea that the
two did a little experimenting of the sexual type this afternoon when I
left them alone in the pool."

    "Oh?  Well, adolescent experimentation of that nature probably is good
therapy.  Wakens emotions he probably didn't know he had."

    "Yeah, wakes lots of things up."

    Bob smiled evilly, "Waken things in anyone else?"

    I looked at Bob, suddenly wanting to take him into my bedroom and do
some experimenting of my own.  "Ah, the boys are still up."

    Bob tried to look disappointed, but I could tell his imagination was
stirring also.  "Excuses, excuses."

    I walked over to him, took his face in my hands, and laid a good one on
him.  When I came up for air, I smiled.  "No, promises."

    Bob searched my face for any signs of teasing and found none.  "Oh,
goody.  God, don't let there be any babies tonight."

    I smiled and abruptly turned to the kitchen, yelling "Who's ready for
some dessert?"

    It sounded like a buffalo stampede.


TBC...