Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 21:37:03 -0400 From: Homer Simpson Subject: Devon's Lie 9 "Perhaps so. But what did the author of the song that you wrote the music feel when he wrote the words? He must have felt something at the time" "He did or at least he said he did. He just gave me this poem he'd written. I took it, read it, put it in my pocket and basically forgot about it at the time. When I got ready to get my clothes for the washing in the middle of the next week I found it. I tinkered around with it for some time. I spent some time in the church playing around with the piano and the music slowly just came to me. I remembered the words like they burned into my memory. It seemed like the music just came to me at the time" "That's how many songs start out. Sometimes the music first and words next or the other way around. I used to listen to a radio broadcast when I was in Japan. The host was interviewing some famous singer. I remember him saying that you should pick out one incident and just keep writing about it. You can do a poem or a small story. Then the words. You've experienced a lot since you've come to the institution. I need to take you back there soon" "Can't I just stay here for the one night? I'll go back tomorrow without a problem. Pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssseeeeeeeeee?" Cher and Sonny started barking. Paul told him that he could but he himself was probably just gonna sit with a book and fall asleep. Paul showed him where he could sleep, shower and relax. Paul then just left him. He knew that the boy wouldn't run off anywhere. They were in the middle of nowhere and he had no where to go. Devon roamed around the house aimlessly. The dogs were right beside him. Occasionally one of them would either growl at him or bark at him when Devon went and did something he wasn't suppose to. He thought to himself how lucky he was to have two pets like this that looked after him. Eventually he found himself in the music room. He plunked around on the piano while the dogs sat at his bare feet. Devon would roam around the room picking up a wind instrument here and there. He eventually plunked some of the strings on an old wood guitar box. He decided it was greatly out of tune so he didn't play with it much. He went over to this big cloth covered machine. He peeked under it to see what it was. Cher's cold nose goosed him a couple of times and Devon would move abruptly. The dog did it enough to get the boy with an erection. Sonny barked at him a couple of times when he was hiding it. Curiosity got the better of him as he uncovered the machine altogether. He was mystified at it. It had lots of knobs on it. He dusted off the small seat. He could read various knobs that were written by someone or thing. The handwriting was cursive or something that was hard to read for him. He unconsciously stroked himself but eventually went limp. Looking at the machine he noticed that it had a full piano keyboard on it. He pushed a couple of keys but nothing sounded. Devon looked the funny looking piano all over. He noticed a pedal at the bottom that he could barely reach. He pumped it a couple of times but nothing happened. While he was trying to get a better reach on it, he rested his arm on the keys and pumped the pedal. He fell on his butt from the shock of the music that emitted from the funny piano. Cher licked his face while Sonny was gently pulling his legs to stand up. Devon giggled a couple of times though before he stood. He looked at the machine again and readjusted the seat he was sitting on. Over the next hour he pulled and played with the keys and knobs learning what they did. Paul found him asleep on the floor amidst the two dogs in front of the Organ. Paul remembered the machine from his grandmother. It hadn't been played in many years since his grandmother's death 20 years ago. He sipped on his coffee while looking the machine over. He didn't even know if it needed tuned or if that was possible. Paul noticed that the guitar had been moved so he figured that Devon must have tried that also. The cover was folded up nicely on the top of the musical machine. Paul studied Devon. He had a peaceful look on his face. He was actually hugging Sonny and he laid there all sprawled out. Devon looked like he needed lots of sun since he had farmer's tan on his arms and neck still. His bare feet were still dirty so Paul figured the boy never made it to the shower. The boy looked like he needed so more meat on his bones since his belly was showing his ribs but Paul also thought it might be the way the boy was laying. His thighs were known as runner's thighs. Not thick but not skinny. The boy's circumcised erection was strutting straight up towards his belly button. Paul sipped his coffee when he noticed that the boy's ball sack looked strange. Paul bent down to look closer and Cher's tail began to thump thump on the floor. Paul smiled and petted the dog as Devon started to stir. "Good morning Devon. Sleep well?" Devon's eyes darted open and he braced himself quickly. "Am I in trouble sir?" as he started to get up. Paul quickly patted him on his leg "no, no. I was just watching you" "Oh" as he settled back down against the dogs. "Looks like you need to go pee" Devon reached down to himself, squeezed and let go. "It's always hard like that in the morning. Sometimes it doesn't go down right away even after I pee" Paul had stood back up and sipped his coffee. "Devon, uh, have you ever thought if you were normal down in your private area?" Devon looked at Paul strangely. "Well, I'm just like Shorty and dad I guess. I've got some hair there though" "hmmmm" sip sip "well I think I'm gonna have the doctor check you out more" "Uh, your the doctor but I need to go bad" as he disentangled himself from the dogs and stood. He walked off to the bathroom and came back to the Organ where Paul was sitting. "This is a really neat Piano" "Well it is an 1862 Reed Organ that my Great Great grandfather had bought overseas from Europe and had it shipped here. I'm assuming you've learned how to play it as the cover is still off of it?" "Am I in trouble? I didn't hurt it, I promise" Devon expounded quickly. "Oh hell no! I'm glad that someone can enjoy it. I don't have the tenacity for it" "Oh, I thought I was in real trouble" "Well, we need to eat and leave for the institution so I'll go and look for breakfast" "Yes sir. Can you call me when you're ready please?" "yep" and Paul left the room. When the cereal was ready, Paul came back to get Devon. He found the most striking thing. Devon had covered the Organ back up and was sitting hugging on the dogs. Paul caught some phrases like 'I don't wanna leave you but I have too' and the dogs were thumping their tails. He thought he could hear some sniffles which got to him a little. He backed up to the door and shouted "Breakfast was ready" Devon shouted back "Ok, be there in a second" Paul noticed that Devon had red eyes when he came back for the cereal and sat down. He just looked at the food and ate in silence. The dogs had put their noses in his lap. Paul got a towel and they both walked to his SUV. Devon hadn't said anything since breakfast and it was bothering Paul. They drove in silence while Paul listened to the radio. Arriving the employee parking lot, Paul gave Devon the towel to wrap around himself. Devon followed Paul into the building and stood behind Paul in silence. Paul checked with the head nurse who was watching Devon in silence. Satisfied, Paul turned around and told Devon to come with him. They went into his room where the bed had been made but his clothes were laid out on the bed. "Devon, Look at me. «Devon did» I know you had a good time yesterday. I got some thinking to do like you do. I want you to take a shower. I want you to get dressed then. I want you to sit at this desk with this paper and a pencil and write down anything you want. I have to take care of a few things and then I will be back for you. Do you think you can do all this for me please?" Devon nodded and looked off to the bathroom. "Yes sir" he said quietly. Paul saw him walk off and the door shut. Paul then shut the door to the room and left word with the nurse not to bother Devon for an hour or so but to come and get Paul by 11:45. Paul then went to his office and about his business. Paul approached Devon's room at 11:45. He knocked and got no response. He knocked again and heard something but he couldn't make it out. He turned the knob and entered. Devon was sitting at the table quickly gathering up pieces of paper that had lots of things written on them. He was shuffling them altogether as quickly as he could while taking quick peeks at Paul. Paul froze on the spot. "Easy partner, Easy. No one's gonna take anything nor look at them unless you want them too. Just take your time" Devon froze, then slowly starting putting them together. He took a couple of peeks at Paul to make sure he was still standing there. Devon put them together in a nice pile and then folded them up. He put them all in his back pocket and turned around. "Thank you" "Why you're quite welcome. Now it is time to eat but until then come with me and make sure those papers in your pocket stay there. I'd like for you to just carry them for a few minutes" Devon took the papers out of his pocket and held them tightly in his hand. He followed Paul out into the hallway and soon discovered that they were headed to his office. Devon watched Paul unlock the door and enter leaving the door open. Paul went to his desk and opened up the bottom drawer on the right side. He removed an accordion folder with a rubber band on top of it. He handed it to Devon. Devon looked at Paul mystified. "Put your papers in there, close the flap and put the rubber band over it" Devon quickly did that. He clutched the folder like it was his prized possession. Paul led Devon over to a safe and put his fingers on a pad of some type. The safe opened. "Put your folder in there. The safe won't open until I open it since I'm the only one who can open it OK? Trust me one more time Devon" Devon didn't even hesitate but instead handed Paul the folder. Paul put it in the safe and closed the door. He tested the door and it didn't open it. "You can test it if you want" "I don't want" "Ok, let's go eat" They went down to the cafeteria and spent the next 45 minutes eating while Paul tried to make small talk. Devon wasn't talking much. About 1 pm Paul led Devon back down the hallway but stopped at someone else's door. Devon kept looking down the hall towards Paul's office. Paul walked into the room while Devon was following but at a slower pace. Paul noticed it all. Once Devon was inside Paul sat in a chair. Devon stood fidgeting beside him. Paul suddenly reached around and grabbed Devon by his arms. Devon's eyes got real big looking at the doctor. "Listen to me boy and listen good. You have trusted me before so listen. No one, no one can open that safe. Your stuff is safe and I am with you. I've been with you since you put it there. No one can get into it" and he let go of the boy. Devon had tears starting "I'm sorry. I, uh, well, uh, got some private things written down and I don't want no body to see" "I figured as much" "You won't give it to my parents will you?" "Should I?" "No sir, please. I'd be so embarrassed if you did" "Than I shant" Devon plopped down in the chair relieved. "Anything else I need to know?" Devon was quiet for a few moments. "Well, you'll probably think I'm weird" "And why's that?" "Well, after I got dressed, I sat at the table and started thinking about things. I started writing down stuff, ya know, different stuff and then different stuff on different pieces of paper and then more on various pages when I thought about them and then" "So you're telling me that you wrote down your thoughts about various things that has happened to you like those writers did?" "Uh, yes sir but they are kind of private, ya know?" In a southern dialect Paul rarely used "Why sonny, I don't have the foggiest idea what you're talkin about!" Devon giggled and the nurse called his name. Devon went white.