Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 13:15:33 +0200
From: Harry Anders <harry@harryanders.com>
Subject: Little Harry-9

Chapter 9. Busted! But now I am the legal guardian of both boys.

I woke up from the sound of the doorbell echoing in my ears and both boys
stirring in my arms. Little Harry yawned and stretched himself; John left
the bed and went to the window, uttering something that sounded like a
curse.

"Dad, there's a police car in front of the house!"

Again the doorbell rang, and somebody started to pound on the door. I also
heard a couple of voices outside. Was the house on fire or had something
horrible happened? I jumped out of bed and dressed in a hurry, followed by
two agitated boys. Together we descended the stairs, and I opened the front
door. Two frowning police officers awaited us by the door. On our driveway,
two other policemen were watching us, standing next to their car, looking
bored.

The officers identified themselves by showing me their identity cards.

"We want to ask you a couple of questions. Please follow us to our car, and
where is the third boy?"

"Third boy? There isn't a third boy! What's the trouble sir? Did we do
something wrong?"

"You will hear soon enough, and, of course, you will allow us to inspect
your house?"

"Of course, you can inspect our house, we have nothing to hide! But why?"

They didn't answer and guided us to the police car.

One of the policemen opened the door, and we entered the car with mixed
feelings. What the heck was happening? The police car drove off, and in the
distance I saw the two officers enter our house. John looked around with a
furious expression on his face, ready to defend us with his life if
necessary. Little Harry slumped down onto the seat with his head in his
hands, apparently feeling horrible. Perhaps he remembered the witch hunt
when he was a six-year-old gypsy boy? I myself didn't feel too well
either. Why did those officers ask us about a third boy? Did they mean
Davey?

The car drove to the police station and entered through a heavy iron
gate. The gate automatically closed behind us, and the car stopped. John
tried to open the door, but the door appeared to be locked. Why did they
lock the car door, as if we were criminals? The policemen opened the door
on the outside, and politely asked us to follow them. They guided us to
another heavy door that opened on our approach. We entered a long
passageway and the door closed behind us with a dull bang. At the end of
the passageway we turned to the left and entered another passageway. One of
the policemen stopped us and opened a heavy door with a small pane in the
middle.

"In here sir, and you will have to wait for a moment."

Little Harry tried to follow me, but the other policeman stopped him.

"You will go to the next room and wait there."

"DAD..." Harry exclaimed, wide-eyed, his voice trembling with fear.

"It's okay son, nothing will happen to you!" I tried to reassure him.

The first policeman closed the door, and suddenly I was all alone.

Outside the door I heard the echoing voice of little Harry who started to
scream, and the lower voice of John who tried to calm him down. Another
door shut with an echoing bang, and everything went silent. I looked around
at a square room, containing a small table with four wooden chairs. Through
a barred window I saw a small back yard surrounded by a heavy
fence. Everything was surrealistically silent.

I slumped down on one of the chairs and waited. What had happened? Why did
they arrest us and bring us here? Did Davey tell them something about us?
But what? Perhaps Thomas or his parents told the police about him and John
playing with each other? But why should they arrest ME?

My head was in turmoil. I thought and thought, but nothing seemed to make
any sense. After awhile I tried to calm down and concentrate on my inner
peace. I didn't do anything wrong, and I had nothing to hide. But why did
they separate me and the boys? Were they afraid I would instruct them about
what to tell and what not? I waited and waited... and waited... and
waited. Nothing happened, and I started to feel very uncomfortable. Did
they forget me?

After what felt like an eternity suddenly the door opened, and the two
police officers entered the room. They took a seat across from me and
stared at me.

"May we offer you a cup of coffee?"

"Yes please, with two sugars and no milk."

One of the officers left the room and returned with three cups of
coffee. In silence we drank our coffee, while they continued to stare at
me.

"Of course you know why we brought you here..." one of the officers opened
the conversation, intently looking into my eyes.

"I really don't have the slightest idea. I have nothing to hide, and I did
nothing wrong. Why am I here? And where are my boys?"

They both looked at me with piercing eyes, trying to read whether I was
sincere or not.

"Both boys are okay; they are being questioned in the other room by a
trained interrogator. But we will tell you why you are here. A few days ago
we received an anonymous report, mentioning a male living alone in a big
house. He seemed to collect a lot of neighborhood children, so we traced
him down. You are a divorced male with two daughters both living on their
own and no grandchildren. Am I correct so far?"

"I am divorced, and I do have two daughters. But I certainly am NOT
collecting children!"

"We drove past your house a couple of times, but we couldn't detect
anything suspicious so we let it go. Two days ago we received another
anonymous report, stating the male suddenly hosted two boys from the
neighborhood, living in his house and spending the night there. This time
we consulted the public prosecutor, and he decided to let it go again but
to keep a close eye on your house for awhile. Yesterday we got a phone call
from a very disturbed lady, who suddenly saw a nearly naked and crying boy
leave your house in a hurry. This time the prosecutor decided to start an
investigation. That's why you are here. Who was that nearly naked and
crying boy?"

I was totally thunderstruck. Who... what... An anonymous neighbor sending
reports to the police about my conduct? A woman calling the police about
Davey leaving my house in a hurry? In what kind of a world did we live?
This wasn't big brother watching, this was the whole neighborhood peeking
through the windows! I had to calm down and try to answer their
questions... What were they up to?

"I only know his first name, Davey. He's a friend of my boys, and he helped
us by carrying some purchases upstairs. He was suddenly scared by something
that happened and fled my house. After awhile he returned, together with
his mother who explained certain things to me. Davey seems to be a very
vulnerable and damaged boy."

"Yes, we know. He was abused by his father for a couple of years. But this
child is the third vulnerable and damaged boy we found in your house. The
first one, a gypsy boy, is also a vulnerable child that lost his parents
and was damaged by a fire. The second boy was left by his father a few days
ago. We think that you are particularly attracted to young boys who are
left, victimized, or damaged..."

Again both officers looked at me with piercing eyes, as if trying to look
into my soul.

What should I do now? Could I tell them the truth; that the late Jack, the
former owner of my house, brought those boys to me? That little Harry and I
knew each other from our past lives and that he once was my own son? That
John once was our best friend? That Davey desperately needed me, to
discover how a real dad behaves with his own children? Should they really
believe me? Or would they immediately phone a madhouse and put me into a
straitjacket?

I decided to defend myself from their accusations.

"That's totally nonsense. Those children approached ME! I didn't do
anything to lure them or to force them into my house."

"So now you are blaming those innocent children for your interest in them?
But YOU are the grown-up! YOU should know better!"

"But what should I know better? I didn't do anything wrong, I only cheered
them up and tried to help them."

"Well, for example, tonight you let two children share your bed, and they
are both complete strangers to you. Yes, we found a lot of evidence, and we
took a couple of pictures as proof for the prosecutor. We also did a quick
search for child porn in your house and on your computer, but so far we
didn't find anything criminal. As you see, we are totally open to you, and
now we expect you to be totally open with us..."

Again they looked at me with piercing eyes.

"I AM totally open with you. A few days ago I moved into my new house and
was sitting on my porch, when all of a sudden five neighborhood children
neared me. They told me about their little friend, Harry, who used to be
there all the time with his big friend Jack, the late owner of the
house. They also told me that little Harry was severely burnt, and they
asked me to be friendly to him and not to chase him away. I promised them
that little Harry would always be welcome in his former home. His eldest
friend, John, suddenly became very emotional, he threw his arms around me
and cried his heart out. I comforted him as well as I could.

"After awhile the children told me their story about Jack taking care of
little Harry, comforting him, visiting him in the hospital, and tutoring
him for a couple of hours every day. Half an hour later they brought the
little fellow with them to my house, and in a way we connected. I think
little Harry needs a grown-up in his life, he just can't cope without. I
presume that in a way I am replacing his former big friend Jack.

"Yesterday John, little Harry and I went downtown, and they made little
Harry a beautiful mask to cover his burnt face. I made an appointment with
a clinic that specializes in severe burns, and little Harry has to be there
tomorrow. I will spend everything I have on him, to help my little friend
to regain a normal appearance. Now all of a sudden we are arrested, and you
brought us here and separated us. Why are we here? What did we do wrong?
And where are my little friends?"

"Don't blame us, we are only doing our work! Let's have a look at you from
another point of view. A total stranger enters our village and immediately
connects with a whole bunch of children. A vulnerable and severely burnt
child suddenly stays with him during the night, another child that is left
by his own father stays with him another night, and a third child that is
severely abused by his own father leaves the house in a hurry, nearly naked
and crying.

"What would YOU think of that stranger? His behavior certainly doesn't
look, let us say, 'normal'. On top of this we have evidence that at least
two of those children were sleeping next to him in his own bed tonight,
probably all of them naked. How would YOU react?"

Again they closely observed me...

"I told you the truth. I can be proud of everything I did. I did nothing I
should be ashamed of. I only tried to help my boys, with the full consent
of their parents, or in the case of little Harry, his wardens. I talked
with all parents, they know me and they all are glad I am helping their
children."

"But why did you, as a grown-up, let two vulnerable boys sleep with you in
your bed, presumably naked? And please don't come up with the story that
they wanted it! You are the grown-up, you are responsible for them and for
their welfare as long as they are in your house. And I am sure you KNOW
society doesn't exactly approve of strangers sleeping with little children
in the same bed!

"Another question: why do you call those boys MY boys? They are not your
property. They are nothing to you. You aren't their father or their warden,
you are NOTHING to them. You are just a stranger who seems to be attracted
to vulnerable little boys. And fortunately our society protects those boys
from men like you. This time we couldn't prove you did anything improper
with them; but next time you will be in prison for a very long time. As for
us, we are going to make sure there will not be another time! You will have
to get your rocks off on someone else who's your own age, and not on little
boys.

"The prosecutor ordered us to hand the little gypsy boy to a juvenile home,
where he will get the proper guidance to overcome all troubles he got
into. The other boy will be sent to his mother, who for the moment is
living in another town. We already phoned her. And you sir, we will keep a
very close eye on you! The very moment a child enters your house we will
arrest you, so be prepared.

"That's it for now. You are free to go. We will show you to the exit."

Both officers rose from their seat, and without another word they guided me
to the exit. The door closed with a bang, and I blinked my eyes in the
bright sunlight.

Suddenly I was alone, in an unknown part of a village where I only lived
for a few days, and I didn't know the way back home. I wasn't even sure
whether it was the same village or not. In the police car I hadn't paid
much attention to where they brought us. I was totally numb and incapable
of thinking or feeling. Everything was a blur.

I started to walk, hoping to come upon something familiar, with only one
feeling pounding through my chest: I had lost my soul mate. Nothing else
mattered. Mechanically I moved my legs, without looking where I went,
avoiding most trees and lampposts on autopilot.

I walked for hours, and eventually I recognized the surroundings. Ten
minutes later I opened my front door, and I was home.

Home was no longer home. Home felt more like a prison. A very empty
prison. Where were my boys? Where was my little soul mate? What had they
done to him? I slumped down on the couch and suddenly I broke down. The
room started to turn around and everything went black.

The room was dark when my consciousness slowly returned. I had a pounding
headache, every muscle in my body ached, and the world slowly turned around
and around. After a few minutes the turning stopped, but the realization
suddenly returned... today I had lost everything in my life that was worth
living for. I had lost my little soul mate and my best friend. My heart
ached with a nearly unbearable pain.

I started to sob but that aggravated the headache, so I forced myself to
suppress my emotions and went to the kitchen to take a couple of aspirins
and a glass of water. Back in the living room I looked around. A lot of
drawers were partially open, the computer wasn't in it's normal place, a
couple of boxes were opened and the contents littered the floor. Those
officers seemed to have looked everywhere, even on my personal computer.

Suddenly I became angry and I cursed. This is MY house, dammit. This is my
private room, and nobody has the right to nose into my belongings! And the
boys are MY boys... but I have lost them. I will never see them again. From
now on my life will be totally empty, with only the memories of my boys to
live with. I slumped down on the couch and again everything went
black. This time I welcomed the darkness. I had lost my will to live.

I returned with the vague memory of a bright light. The headache was gone,
and I realized I was hungry. Cautiously I got up, but the dizziness seemed
to have gone. I went to the kitchen and buttered a few slices of bread. The
memories of little Harry boiling the eggs and getting his herbs from the
back yard crossed my mind, and again I started to sob. I forced myself to
eat some bread and cheese. I brewed myself a cup of coffee, but it tasted
like sewage so I threw it away and drank some water instead.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Many times I thought I heard my
boys, chatting, teasing each other, playing games on the computer, but from
now on that was impossible. They were gone forever, and I would never see
them again. I looked at a greenish model with a flesh-colored face,
standing on a corner of the dresser, proudly looking into the room. Little
Harry's mask...

Finally I went upstairs, but even the shower reminded me of my boys. The
floor was littered with plastic cups and paperclips, a couple of wet towels
roamed the ground, wherever I looked I detected pieces of clothing, soap
and tooth brushes.

I looked at the water bed and clearly detected the three imprints where the
boys and I slept together. In an outburst of despair I smoothed the
sheets. It felt like wiping out all memories of the boys. Now I was really
alone. I would never see them again.

I crawled under the sheets and tried to sleep. One time I heard the
telephone ringing downstairs, but who would phone me at this hour of the
night? Probably some assurance company trying to sell me something I didn't
need at all... slowly I drifted off into a restless sleep full of dark
nightmares.

The next morning I woke up with the bright sun shining through a crack in
the curtains. At first I expected to see two bright deep blue eyes peering
into mine and to hear a cheerful voice say: "I thought you would never wake
up silly!"

But nobody looked into my eyes, and the silence was deafening. Again I
started to sob. Where was Jack now we needed him? Or was everything a fake,
a product of my own imagination? Did that ghost Jack never exist, but did I
make all those things up in my own fantasy? Was everything I imagined to
remember about our past lives one big illusion, no more than a wishful
dream?

Again I heard the telephone ringing downstairs. Why didn't they leave me
alone? I didn't need a mortgage or a subscription. I needed my boys...

After awhile I pulled myself together, took a long shower, slowly dressed,
and went downstairs with aching muscles. I forced myself to eat something
and again slumped down on the couch in the living room, my sanctuary of the
past evening. I tried to block out all emotions and to only think about my
future. What am I going to do? Am I going to sit down on this couch for the
rest of my life? But what else could I do? I thought and thought, but all I
could think about concentrated on only one thing: I wanted my boys back.

And that was impossible... The very moment the police should detect a child
in my house, they would arrest me again.

Again that damned telephone rang! Why didn't they leave me alone? I started
to curse.

"Shut up with your daily newspapers! I don't need your sales promotions. I
don't need anything any more. I am going to end my life. This time it has
been enough. My life is over, I am NOT going to sit on the porch of my
house for the rest of my life in total solitude and desperately longing for
my boys. I am out of here..."

How should I end my life? Throw myself under a train? Jump off a flat? Eat
some deadly pills? Slash my wrists? Hang myself? It had to be fast and
painless, for I was a coward. "Jack, where are you?
JACK.......... JACK.........."

Nobody answered. And I was too scared to kill myself. Chicken...

Again that damned telephone rang. This time I was going to smash it!
Furious I went to my desk, ready to release all my anger and frustration on
that poor object. Suddenly I could hear the panicking voice of Jack
somewhere in my head, shouting: "Stop! Don't do that! You have to listen
first..."

I didn't believe myself any more. Again I was making up those voices in my
head. I was so stupid! But I reached for the receiver.

"Hello..." I snarled into the telephone, ready to smash it against the
wall.

"... Sniff... DADDY... Where were you? I phoned you yesterday the whole
afternoon again and again and even in the middle of the night, but nobody
answered and I was soo afraid they would keep you in that prison... I
trembled over my whole body and couldn't sleep the whole night. This
morning I phoned again and again you didn't answer... I can't miss you
daddy, I NEED you! Where were you?

"HARRY!!! My poor little boy, where are you? My darling, what did they do
to you? I missed you so badly...."

"I missed you too daddy! I missed you terribly! I am here, with John and
his mother. Will you take me home please? I need you..."

"Where are you? Of course I will take you home! Can you give me the
address?"

"Here's John's mother..."

Half a minute later I was on my way to my boys, a paper with the address
clamped in my hand and my heart pounding in my chest. I was so nervous that
at first I hardly could start the car, and then I nearly crashed a
lamppost. I forced myself to calm down and to drive carefully for awhile,
and fortunately that helped.

I had to drive about fifty miles to the town where they were now, and I
remembered driving that same road two days ago, with my two boys in the
back seat singing along with the music. I switched the radio on, and by
chance that same song filled the air: "You are soooo beauuuutifuuuullll..."

I grinned, despite my nerves. This had to be a good sign. Silently I
thanked Jack, and somewhere in my head I heard his voice, grinning: "You
are welcome".

After an hour of driving I entered the town and inquired where the address
was. I parked the car in the street, got out, and looked for the house
number. Suddenly a door opened and two boys literally flew through the air
and landed on me. I lost my balance and all three of us landed on the
sidewalk, giggling, sobbing, kissing, rubbing faces to faces, and fighting
for the best place. I had my boys back!

After awhile I wrestled from beneath them and slowly got up, both boys now
hanging on my arms. Trudy smiled broadly from the doorway, with tears in
her eyes and her arms invitingly outstretched.

"Welcome, and please come in! I hope you survived the attack?"

I entered the house with both boys still hanging on my arms, and we sat
down on a couch in the living room. Little Harry climbed onto my lap, and
John forcefully pushed himself into my left side with a contented
sigh. Trudy smiled and dried her eyes with her handkerchief.

"Shall I make you a cup of coffee first?"

"Yes please, that would be wonderful."

"With two lumps of sugar and no milk mom," little Harry immediately added.

I ruffled his hair, and he completely melted into me with tears in his
eyes.

"I missed you so badly, and I was so afraid I would never see you again..."

While I sipped my coffee, Trudy started to tell her story. Yesterday a
police officer found her telephone number, after some searching, and
informed her they had started an investigation concerning a male newcomer
in town, her own child, John, and a small gypsy boy who was in her
custody. Both boys were found in the newcomer's house and had obviously
spent the night with him in his bed, while a third boy had fled his house
crying and nearly naked.

At first she was totally dumbstruck, but after a few seconds she recovered
from the initial shock. She told him in very clear words that both boys
were there with her total consent, and she demanded both children back
immediately. Both officers tried to convince her otherwise, but she
threatened them with a lawsuit.

She phoned her brother, he rushed her to the village in his car, and she
reclaimed the boys. There was no legal way the police officers could
refuse, so five minutes later they were on their way back, with two
distraught boys crying in the back seat, very concerned about me.

The moment she was back in her mother's house she contacted a lawyer. He
told her he couldn't do much for me at the moment, but he assured her she
certainly had done the right thing. He also advised her that the best way
to prevent the police from further actions against me was to grant me legal
guardianship of both boys. But to transfer legal guardianship the father's
permission was also needed...

She went to Eric's office and made an enormous scene, until he surrendered
and signed all the necessary papers. She explained that now the lawyer only
needed a couple of signatures from me, plus an official document stating I
had never been sentenced. She had already made an appointment to bring me
and all needed papers to his office this afternoon. Her only concern was:
was I willing to pay the lawyer, for she didn't have that much money
herself?

I was totally speechless. Trudy was willing to grant me legal guardianship
over little Harry AND over her own child John? Just like that? The only
thing I had to do was to sign a couple of papers? I could hardly believe
it... And of course I would pay the lawyer, and everything else!

Suddenly I remembered Jack's words: "There will be a difficult time for all
three of you, but you will come through and in the end there will be
victory!"

"They were so mean dad!" little Harry said while leaning into me. "They
kept telling me you were a bad influence and you did improper things with
us by letting us sleep in your bed. I told them I wanted that myself and
that I was afraid to sleep on my own, but they just wouldn't listen. They
went on and on, and sometimes I heard John crying and shouting in the other
room. They kept asking me about the shower and where you washed me and what
you did with my body and with your own body. Until I started to scream and
told them they were crazy. Suddenly they were called away, and after awhile
mom and an uncle entered the prison cell and rescued me."

John nodded: "I told them to go to hell and that I wanted to help my little
brother. But they kept asking the same questions over and over."

Trudy made us sandwiches, and after another cup of coffee we went to the
town hall to get my document. I had to show them my identity card, and
after twenty minutes they returned with an official document stating I was
a trustworthy person. Subsequently we went to Trudy's lawyer, who had me
sign a couple of papers and advised me how to act the next time the police
confronted me. I learned a lot but hoped I never had to use his advice!

He had already contacted DCFS and, by exception, this time they were
willing to change little Harry's custody within a few days. For the time
being they granted me temporary custody.

As the legal guardian of both boys, now I was also responsible for their
welfare and upbringing. And from now on nobody could take the boys away
from me without a court order.

I asked the lawyer about little Harry's origination, and suddenly he became
very interested. He took a little cassette recorder and started the tape.

"Harry, please will you tell me everything you remember about your youth,
even the smallest details?"

Little Harry nodded and told him everything he remembered, about the
campfires, the police raids, the witch-hunt, all the screaming, and about
his parents fleeing with him into the darkness in a small caravan attached
to an old car. And that he probably was of royal herit...something.

"You mean you probably are of royal HERITAGE?"

"Oh yeah, that!"

"Well, that could make things a lot easier. Do you know in which country
you lived?"

Harry didn't have the slightest idea, except where he used to live they
spoke a different language.

"Please could you pronounce some words in your own language for me?"

After some thinking little Harry spoke a couple of words I couldn't
understand into the microphone, but the lawyer seemed very pleased.

"Thank you! I think we have a case, and I will do everything I can to find
your relatives as soon as possible."

I thanked the lawyer and promised him a retainer with enough money to cover
his expenses.

We went back to Trudy's temporary home, where we were greeted by Trudy's
mother, Mark and Marrie. They had been shopping to give us some
space. Again we had to tell them our story, and they reacted with
astonishment. We really lived in a strange world, didn't we? But
fortunately now everything turned out for the best.

After awhile I thanked them and we went home, with both boys giggling in
the back seat and singing along with the radio. Our special song didn't pop
up this time. Within an hour, I parked our car in the driveway, and we were
home.

Home felt strange, you could feel the desperation of the past events still
hanging around. First we opened all windows to let fresh air enter the
house, second we went into the shower to free ourselves from all negative
energies. Third we cleared out all evidences of the police visit. We tidied
the drawers, emptied all packed boxes and stowed the contents away. We
cleared the floor and cleaned the furniture and the windows.

Little Harry put his mask on with a little help, and both boys went into
the village to buy us a bouquet of flowers, a couple of candles, and some
incense. Within half an hour they were back and soon the house filled with
a nice aroma. Feeling content, we sat on our couch and enjoyed each other's
company. Both boys were still very cuddly and clung onto me, sighing
deeply.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Little Harry jumped toward the ceiling and
started to moan.

"NOOOooooooo..." he cried desperately, looking around wide-eyed.

He slumped back and curled up like a threatened animal.

John balled his fists and stormed to the door. A moment later we heard a
familiar voice, and Davey entered the room with a broad smile on his face.

"Smells good here," he complimented the incense while he sat down on a
chair.

"I was here a couple of times before but nobody was home. Mom told me the
police phoned her yesterday, and they wanted to ask me some questions. But
she refused to let them talk with me. She told them everything about my
sudden panic in the shower and leaving the house with nearly no clothes
on. Did they really arrest you?"

This time John told us his version of the story, how two officers took us
with them and separated us into three different rooms. How they started to
ask questions about my conduct, but he told them to go to hell. How all he
wanted was to help his little brother, who they all could hear sobbing and
screaming in the other room. But they didn't allow him, until they suddenly
were called away. After awhile his mother rescued him and little Harry. And
now I was his legal guardian, and nobody could ever take him or little
Harry away from me without at least a court order.

All of us were silent after John's story, until Davey suddenly asked me:
"Can you be my legal guardian too? Please?"

He looked at me, and I saw such a longing in his eyes...

"I don't know Davey, I think you will have to ask your mother first."

"But I want to call you 'dad' too. Will you allow me that? Please?"

"Sure thing Davey. I will allow you that, but only with your mother's
consent."

He threw himself onto my lap, beaming, with tears in his eyes. "Thank you
dad, I love you! Now I have a real dad too!"

We decided to go downtown and eat Chinese dinner this afternoon. First we
went to Davey's house to inform Mary, and again we had to tell the whole
story. Mary listened with open mouth. Now she was really glad they didn't
interrogate her vulnerable child! I also conveyed her Davey's wish to call
me 'dad', and I could feel her relief and joy. With tears in her eyes, she
thanked me for being such a wonderful friend to her son. I promised her to
send Davey home around nine o'clock.

We went back home where little Harry put his mask on with a little help,
while Davey looked at him with wide open mouth.

"Wow man, you really look NORMAL now! I can hardly recognize you!"

Little Harry beamed and proudly led the way to our car. We went to a nice
Chinese restaurant and parked the car in the underground garage. With some
hesitancy little Harry told us this was the first time in his life he was
in a real palace like this... causing John and Davey to snigger.

"Wait till you visit a REAL palace, this is just a place where we can
eat..."

Little Harry still looked very impressed, and at first he was rather
quiet. After arrival of the different cups with spices his curiosity took
the upper hand. Soon he started to ask questions about the spices, like a
real head cook befits. Carefully he tasted everything, compared the
different flavors, and put a little bit of everything he liked onto his
platter. With a serious look on his face he mingled a few things with a
spoonful of rice, savored, and suddenly he beamed.

"That tastes really good dad, you should use that reddish powder over there
and mix it with that stringy greenish snot."

John and Davey nearly fell from their chairs with laughter, and I nearly
choked on my first mouthful of rice.

We really enjoyed the tasty Chinese meal, but decided to decline on the
dessert because we were too stuffed. Content and satisfied, we went home,
singing along with the music of the car radio. First we took Davey home. He
hugged all of us and kissed me twice, while his mother looked at us from
the doorway with tears in her eyes. Before he shut the door he looked back
with beaming eyes. He waved until we drove away and disappeared from his
vision. My third son...

We decided to call it a day and went upstairs. Little Harry and John wanted
to shower again, and of course I joined them. Little Harry got the first
boner, and poor me the second one, so this time John won the competition
with a broad smile on his face and of course a boner. We created a slide on
the floor with water and lots of lathered soap. The slide was a lot of fun,
but after awhile all three of us had various bruises so we stopped. We
carefully dried each other and went to bed, now really tired. Again both
boys crawled onto my stomach, fighting for the best place. Soon we all
drifted off into a deep sleep.

In the middle of the night I suddenly woke up from a loud scream,
reverberating through the house and waking up the birds outside in a tree.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo..."

Little Harry started to fight, screaming at the top of his lungs, wildly
swinging his arms, crawling all over the bed. John clicked the lights on,
and I desperately tried to take the delirious child in my arms. He kept
fighting to free himself, with a frightened expression on his face and his
wide-open eyes staring into nowhere. We couldn't calm him down. He just
continued to scream and fight.

I trembled all over; my heart pounded in my chest. That poor little boy,
was this really how society PROTECTED this child, saddling him with this
kind of a nightmare? I felt so angry and frustrated that I started to curse
all police officers in the world, soon joined by a raging John.

Eventually little Harry calmed down, closed his eyes, and fell asleep in my
arms, still trembling from exhaustion.  "Goodness dad, Harry was fighting
US. Look at what those bloody bloodhounds did to my poor little brother..."

Still cursing, John switched the lights off and put his arms around his
little brother from the other side. We were completely exhausted and almost
immediately fell asleep.

Next morning I woke up with two yawning boys on my stomach, both lazily
grinning and fighting for the best place. We decided to dress in a hurry
and go downstairs for I had to phone the transplantation clinic with
excuses for not canceling the other day. I would try to make another
appointment for today, if possible.

I went to the desk, stretched my hand out, and the telephone
rang. Surprised I glared at the bewitched thing that promptly rang
again. Suddenly I started to laugh. Obviously someone else was trying to
phone me at the same time! I picked up the receiver.

"Hello..." I grumbled into the phone, hoping that it wouldn't be someone
trying to sell me something I didn't need at all.

"Escuse sir, you do... small boy, Harold Janovski Romany, live you house,
speak me, yes?"


Harry AnderS, alternative writer.


Thank you for reading my stories and thanks to Nifty for hosting them.
The rewritten story is available on http://www.harryanders.com
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I could use more proofreaders...