Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:36:15 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: The Beneficial 12

The Beneficial
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


12:  Sometimes, All You Can Do, Is Stand Your Ground

Tom was trying to concentrate on a complex ethical and technical problem
dealing with earthquake predictions.  If this is a tough task for a fellow
with two Ph.D.'s you can see how difficult it is to explain for people with
fewer academic credentials.  Tom looked out his window, Eddy and Conrad
were playing in the green space in the late afternoon sun.  He tried typing
again but it was no use.  Tom got up, went to the toilet, wandered around
the house aimlessly, trying to get his thoughts organized, looking for that
spark of inspiration.  Tom looked out his bedroom window, giving him a view
of the street that runs in front as the complex.  Something caught his eye,
he looked more closely to the east.  Sure enough something out of the
ordinary was happening.

About a block away he noticed a large group of people.  It looked like a
lager group chasing a smaller group.  Tom opened his cabinet and pulled out
his field glasses.  It was two boys being chased by 6 or 8 others.  He
recognized the Mendes brothers and could see blood on Jose's face.  They
would be coming through the lane next to his house, unless they were caught
before reaching it.

Tom shouted for Richard, "get your ass out side now, we got trouble!"  Tom
and Richard spilled out of the house just as the Mendes reached the head of
the drive.  Tom and Richard took up position in the center of the drive and
waved the boys on.  Eddy and Conrad saw the commotion and started heading
for the action.  As soon as they saw the Mendes were being chased Eddy,
punched 911 on his cell.

The attackers were almost upon them, as Tom and Richard rushed forward.
Before Tom or Richard could reach them, one of the attackers hit Jose
across the back with a stick, sending him to his knees.  Tom came into the
fray with his fits flying, sending the stick carrier crashing back into
several of his mates.  Richard used his hands and feet to dispatch three
more, while Michael turned to take on another, also carrying a club of some
sort.  Conrad rushed forward and kicked the club out of reach, while Eddy
garbed the stick, that had dropped to the ground, spearing one attacker and
braking it over the head of another.

Conrad helped Jose off to the side, sitting him on the grass.  One of the
attackers attempted to prevent this but Eddy jumped in the air, planted his
runner solidly in the fellow's mouth.  The force of the kick landed Eddy on
his ass and the attacker on his knees holding his now bleeding mouth.  One
of the attackers tried to run but Richard tackled him.  Michael was still
fist fighting another when the cops pulled up, hitting the siren to get
everyone's attention.  They also prevented several attackers from escaping
by cutting off that route.

By this time two more squad cars pulled up, Edith arrived from work,
rushing over to Eddy and Conrad and Peter pulled in on his motorcycle.  A
number of neighbors were also gathering around.  Tom explained the
situation while Edith got wet towels for the bleeding.  Eddy volunteered he
had made the 911 call from his cell.  The cops were going to haul everyone
in at first but Tom explained that the Mendes were being attacked, not
liking the 4 to 1 odds we just helped out a bit and yes we will gladly
press charges.

Why they were being chased and attacked Tom did not know, hadn't bothered
to ask and frankly didn't give a rat's ass.  These boys are our friends and
neighbors.  The cops bagged and tagged the weapons for evidence.  The
paramedics showed up and after looking everyone over decided the two that
Eddy had dispatched, need to be seen in the hospital.  They wanted to take
Jose and Richard too but Peter had already called Derek who would be over
in 10 or 15 minutes anyway.

Tom took the Sergeant aside and asked him to make sure these boys were all
brought before Judge Pauline and all together as a group.  The Sergeant was
not sure if he could do that.  Tom politely told him to check with Judge
Pauline and use his name if he had any problems.  He sent Conrad into the
house for his business card.

Edith took the boys in the house for clean up and to call Conrad's parents.
Tom took one of the officers into his kitchen so he could interview
everyone and get his statements.  Starting with Tom.  Peter had the
presence of mind to reassure the Mendes boys that they needed to be
complete and upfront with the cops and not try and protect their school
mates, "you know how Tom feels about intimidation".

Derek came and checked everyone out; except for several black eyes and
buries all fine.  They were hesitant to name the attackers but Peter
reminded them the cops already had their names.  Neither boy would tell
Peter or the Cops exactly why they were being chased and attacked and were
terrified about telling their parents.  Tom assured the officer he would
see to that as he not only spoke a bit of Spanish but knew the family.
Conrad and Eddy describe what they saw and how they helped their friends.
It was a late supper for everyone but some how Edith managed to feed the
lot.

"Okay boys, now that we are cleaned up, statemented out and the excitement
of battle has waned, it is time to explain just what the hell this is all
about.  We know who, what, when and where, now we need to know why, you owe
it to us, the truth, all the truth."  The brothers looked at each other.
Jose spoke first.  "They attacked us because they think we are gay," he
blurted out.

"Are you?"  Tom asked.  They looked at each other again for a long time.
Should they trust Tom and the other?  "It's okay with us if you are or not,
we will not judge you, we are friends remember and friends don't judge."

"We are not sure," Michael said.  Edith quickly realized they did not want
to talk in front of her.

"I think my presence is making you uncomfortable, so I'll go up to my
office and study but I want you to know, it makes no difference to me.  Tom
told you we are your friends and friends don't judge."

"No, Ms Strong, this is you home,"

"Thank you Jose, but I'm also the only girl here and some times girls can
only talk freely to girls, I think sometimes boys can only talk freely to
boys."

Peter spoke next asking some general questions and than more specific ones
drawing out the boys.  The story went like this.  They had been fooling
around with each other, like lots of boys do since they were 12.  Their
father walked in and found them having oral sex.  He freaked, their mother
freaked, They call the priest and he lectured them about sin and so on.
That was about a week ago.  Since that time every day at school the priest
would call them in for more talks and wanting to know if they had confessed
their sin and sought absolution.

"Since he also hears our confessions we could not just lie about it."

The priest was demanding they repent and promise never to sin like that
again.

They did not believe it was a sin and refused to admit to that.  Suddenly
after school today the "father's gangue" approached them and started
calling them fags, and perverts and sinners in front of the other students;
well things escalated.  Tom asked a few questions about this priest.  It
like his name and so on.  The boys outlined everything the could about how
the school was run.  Tom began to put the pattern together.  He sent his
boys out of the room for a bit.

"Now you boys need to be 100% up front with me.  Have you been having sex
with Jack?"  They nodded.  "Does anyone else know this?"

"No"

"I take it Jack is working right now?"

"He gets home about nine tonight," Jose said.

"This priest, he was educated in Japan wasn't he?"

"Yes, we think so, how did you know that?"

"In Japan some of the high school teachers use some of the boys as
enforcers, to make sure other kids follow the unwritten cultural rules.
These enforcers are often the cops and military types in later life.  I
figured if Father Sunto was educated in Japan he just may uses some of the
cultural tricks he was brought up with, that's all.  You called those boys
Father's Gangue" I assume intimidation of students by them is not
uncommon?"

"Yes Sir., it happens all the time.  He has a group of girls too."

"Did he make any threats against you two.  Have they ever used physical
valiance before?"

"Only that if we didn't confess and repent we would go to hell, and could
face separation from the family of Christ.  Jack told us that what we do
between ourselves was our own business and that it was only a sin if we
believed it to be."  Tom called the others back.

"What you and Jack do is between yourselves, the others do not need to know
about it, okay."

"If they beat up any other kids we are not aware of it," Jose said.

"Are any of the lay teachers at the school friends of yours, people you
trust" Tom asked?

"No, but the history instructor seems to be afraid of them."

"What are we going to do now?  We can't go back to that school, If we go
home our parents will make us go back.  They think the priest is right and
we are sinners, our mother just prayers and father lays on punishments."
Michael was saying they both began to sob.

Conrad and Eddy were first at their sides followed by Edith.  "Michael and
Jose have been doing what all teenage boys do when alone and sharing the
same bedroom.  I think they maybe have been doing well just a little more
and they are not sure one way or the other about preferences between boys
and girls.  If they are gay they have not chosen to come out."  Tom
announced.

Edith and all the boys piped in their unconditional support for them.

"Now we need to prepare for the events of the next few days.  I want Peter
to take Conrad home, and Richard to put Eddy to bed.  I will take Jose and
Michael to Jack's house.  You four have school in the morning.  We did good
today, be proud, we stood our ground and if the cops had not arrived when
they did, a few more would have had trips to the hospital.  Jose and
Michael you did the right thing by running, faced with those odds.  Both
the Mendes' and the Anderson-sen's have long proud traditions of resistance
to intimidation, we do not believe in starting a fight but we sure know how
to finish it."

"Edith, my plan is to put this priest out of the intimidation business once
and for all, get these boys in some kind of rational foster care until
their parents get enlightened and see to it, the gangue of misguided middle
school students are taught the true meaning of being a Christian," Tom
informed.

Edith did not ask for details, she did not want to know.  In fact, she had
never seen Tom so angry as he was right at that moment.  Tom took the boys
over to his house and typed out their account of exactly what transpired
from the time they were caught in the bedroom until the fight.

"High Jack, please come in," Tom said.

"I got your message and came as fast as I could, are Jose and Michael here,
are they all right?"

"Yes, watching TV, a bit tender and lots of hurt pride.  Before you talk to
them you and I need a brief and highly confidential word.  They told me you
were their friend and sexual mentor.  Now don't get excited, I'm not
interested in what goes on in your bedroom or theirs, if anything.  They
will not mention you to anyone, nor will I in that context.  I am going to
ask you to take the boys in as a temporary, unofficial foster parent.  Are
you up for that?"

"I don't know, I have never done anything like that but I guess."

"I don't want to embarrass you or them or hurt your relationship with them
Jack, it might be for more then a few nights.  If your not sure than I
won't ask you.  I think it best, if we keep social services as far away
from this situation as possible.  I can keep them here but I'm guessing
they would be more comfortable at your house.  It will probably cost a fair
increase in your food budget too."

"Yes, I'm sure, I'll do it."

"Good, read this and I'll get the kids, they should be in on our plan of
action."

Tom went down and got the boys who almost trampled him in getting to their
friend.  After Jack finished reading the narrative, he embraced both boys
holding them tight.  The boys related a few of the graphic, not fully
described details; like Eddy's runner in the mouth of the boy trying to
attack Jose while he was down.  Jack was quite upset by the whole incident.
Tom made the call to the parents, telling Mrs. Mendes that the boys had
been attacked by a gangue from the school and that they were safe and not
badly hurt but would not be coming home tonight.  He told Mr. Mendes about
the fight and reminded him of why he had come to the U. S. as a refugee.
Mendes did not see the connection until Tom mentioned to him it was
resistance to intimidation.  In the mean time the boys were under his
physical and physiological protection.  He insisted they come to a meeting
with him, Father Sunto and a few others, at the community center 4:30
p.m. the next day.

Tom outlined his plan.  1. Boys to stay with Jack until a full
reconciliation with parents.  2. Shut down Father Sunto and his gangue.  3.
Move the boys to public middle school.  4. Make sure they are never hassled
by that group or any other group connected to their present school or
church.  5.  Jack and the boys to report here for 9 am in the morning.  Tom
then faxed copies of the narrative to the cops, his lawyer and following
that a late night phone call to the Archbishop.

Just as he was getting ready for bed Tom heard the door being unlocked.  He
continued to brush his teeth until he could see Eddy's smiling face
reflected in the mirror, standing in the door way.  "Couldn't sleep," he
asked, as he swept the PJ clad boy in his arms?

"I kept thinking about that boy and his bleeding mouth.  I didn't want to
hurt him but he was trying to hurt Jose."  Tears were beginning to form in
his eyes.

"I know, Eddy, but you did the right thing.  You defended your friend who
was hurt.  You did what you thought was right at the time, in the
circumstances you found yourself.  Sometimes that's all you can do.  If
everyone was reasonable and rational than none of this would have happened
but they are not.  You did good, you did the right thing.  You should be
proud of that.  You do not need to take pride in the fact that both those
boys were hurt.  Do you understand the difference?"

"Yes sir, I understand.  Dad, can I sleep with you tonight?"

Tom carried Eddy to his bed and tucked him in.  Eddy was sound asleep by
the time Tom crawled in all of 4 minutes later.

At 8:30 am he showed up at the Mendes' home to get fresh clothing for the
boys and leave a copy of the narrative for Mrs. Mendes to read.  At 10 he
went with Jack and the boys to the police station, to file a formal
complaint as a hate crime.  This did not surprise the cops who had seen the
narrative, which matched the statements given at the scene, but provided
more context.

The mothers of the two boys Eddy had dispatched were also there, with
lawyers in tow, complaining about excessive force, hospital bills and for
one, orthodontic care.  But when the cops reminded them Eddy was only 9 and
their sons had brought a weapon with them.....  Tom offered to assist them
in making their complaint but he suggested they might want to consolidate
their resources in defense of the hate crime situation, "which is, shall we
say a bit more serious".  He then made sure their lawyers were introduced
to Fred, should they wish to waste money on a civil suit.  Fred also filed
complaints against Father Sunto, the school, the archdiocese and the
parents, on behalf of the boys, telling the clerk he would have no problem
if she were to, "loose them on your desk for a few days," pointing to a
large stack of papers.

...............

"Your excellency, I think it is you that does not quite understand.  I am
giving you and the church an opportunity to make this situation right, in a
more or less privet setting.  Sure your priest is being asked to admit his
approach was inappropriate and sure you are being asked to move him to
another position, immediately; but that is a small price to pay for us
withdrawing our hate crime charges and having those boys beg the mercy of
Judge Pauline's court."

"But Thomas, you know I can not let the church be black mailed."  Tom knew
full well the long and often convoluted history of the Church and how often
it has blackmailed others.  He just rolled his eyes.

"Come on John you know me better then that.  I am offering you an
opportunity to do the right thing.  I am not asking you to make any kind of
statement or admission, relating to theology, only secular matters.  In
return. I will see to it that none of this gets into the press by making it
look like a school yard squabble.  In addition, you get the chance to give
your faithful a lesson in atonement and forgiveness."

"But why are you asking me to punish the priest, he broke no cannon law?"

"I am not asking you to punish him as such, perhaps he broke no cannon law,
but he did abuse his authority and used methods not seen since the days of
the inquisition.  All I am asking you to do, is make him take ownership of
his transgressions and perhaps overzealous application of faith.  John let
the punishment fit the crime.  Sure it will be a little humiliating for him
but if I remember correctly, humility is one of his vows."

"I should know better then argue with you Thomas.  Are you sure Judge
Pauline will go along with all this?  Yes I am sure, Jack Handson, the
Mendes boy's temporary guardian, will suggest as a friend of the court that
the 'gangue of eight' be assigned community service hours, at Father
Richard's' gay and lesbian youth support group, which you can arrange I am
sure.  St. Francis is not that far from this community and I think the
experience will teach a very valuable lesson about being a Christian.

You know Pauline, she and I were both in your comparative religion course
and she sure liked my treatise on restorative justice.  I'll fax you a
copy, I think you will like how I treated some of Aquinas' ideas."

Later that afternoon Father Sunto apologized to the boys and parents.  He
even suggested they go along with Tom's plan of making Jack temporary
guardian of the boys, until a family reconciliation could be mediated
through Father Richard's.  That done, Tom had Fred withdraw the serious
charges.  All the gangue of eight had to do was plead no contest to
fighting, listen to Father Richard and Judge Pauline's mini lectures and
complete their community service.  At the hearing some weeks later, the
Mendes boys told Judge Pauline they harbored no ill will toward their
attackers and hoped she would be as lenient as she had been with them.

Tom hoped the boys and Jack would find their way together, through the maze
of sexual exploration and come to some terms with themselves and their
faith.  He was certain they would come to terms with their parents.