Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:34:48 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Of Man and Boy 14

Of Man and Boy
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


14: The Strange Case of Manfred Mahn

"Hello, I'm Dr. Strum."  Paul greeted the boy laying on the bed.

"I'm Manfred, they call me Maney most of the time," he said, extending his
left hand since his right was bandaged.

"Ok Maney," Paul sat in the chair, lifted his butt placing his left hand
between his legs took the chair and drew it up to the bed side.  "You gave
my staff quite a scare, didn't you?"

"Yes, I guess I did but it was not intentional.  I just wanted to drift off
into never-never land for a while, you know just drop out for a bit, not
kill myself.  My family uses peyote and few other things in religious
ceremonies.  You know, I don't remember anything much about it though."

"Shall I fill you in or has someone else done that already?"

"Mr. Trogier Thodberg told me that I was found laying in the street, almost
hit by a bus and that the driver called 911.  He said the driver gave me
CPR until the paramedics arrived and brought me into the hospital."  Maney
winced at the pain in his chest.

"Yes, I'm sure it hurts too.  The young physician that met your ambulance
climbed right on the cart and continued the CPR, perhaps a bit more
vigorously than the others as they brought you in."

"Is he the one who kept saying things like: `stay with me kid and no you
don't, not on my watch'?"

"Yes, Dr. Paull.  His philosophy is broken ribs are temporary, dead is
permanent.  Be thank-full my partner and I hired him and convinced him to
move from Chicago to Charlotte Amalie.  He just hates to loose a patient."

"They told me he was a GP are you the shrink?"

"No, I am a Pediatric Specialist.  This is a small facility and we don't
have a resident `shrink'.  There aren't many in this town that deal with
children and adolescents.  My partner Sid will be working with a
physiologist on your case."

"If your not my physician why are you here?"

"Because it is obvious you need a friend."

"I told Thodberg I didn't need his or anyone else's help, especially Social
Services.  I don't need you either.  All you people want to do is control
and use my ass for your own pleasure."  He turned away to face the window.

"Maney, I am a medical doctor not a social worker, I am a father too."

"Big deal doc, my dad has fucked me on a daily basis since I can remember.
You just want my ass."

"It saddens me to learn you have suffered such profound abuse.  If you
can't trust your parents, you can't trust anyone.  If my son were here he
would tell you Paul Stum Junior keeps his word and his promise is as good
as it gets.  Maney, I am not here to bullshit you or to get in your pants.
I am here because you need a friend.  You need to learn some adults are
trustworthy."

"That sounds good but your like all the rest of them.  All you want me for
is making money and your own pleasure."

"No son, not the case.  I don't need you to make money, got plenty as it
is.  Don't need your ass for my own pleasure either.  I get all the ass I
can handle."

"What's the matter don't you like what you see?"

"I like what I see and I'm sure your butt is very nice too.  Not the issue
and not what I said.  I said, I got all I can handle.  I promise you this:
no one will ever physically, emotionally or sexually abuse you again.  I
make that promise because as long as I am present I will prevent it.  With
my help and the help of the others here, you will be so well prepared that
you will be able to stop or prevent it ever happening again."

"What is in this for you, my ass?"

"Several things, the prospect of sex with you is not one of them.  First, I
get a new friend.  Two, I get to do the right thing, something that comes
with its own built in reward.  Helping someone to achieve his potential.
Three, my son would never let me rest if I failed, in his absence, to help
a child in need."

"I'm no child, I'm thirteen, almost fourteen and I can take care of my
self.  I don't need your help or anyone else's for that matter."

"My boy, you do need help, the fact that you are in this hospital bed
demonstrates that fact.  You have not achieved the age of majority, you are
still a child before the law.  You are right to be skeptical.  We all need
help from time to time, that is the way life is."  Paul placed his right
hand on the lad's shoulder.  Maney pulled away.  "Don't take my word for it
or anything else.  Ask around, check me out.  Your a bright young man,
you'll figure it out."

"I'm not bright and you don't want to be my friend for any reason except my
body."

"Maney you are grossly mistaken.  You are bright, otherwise you would not
have been able to run away from New Mexico and get to the Virgin Islands on
your own.  You are bright enough to realize your situation was untenable
and to do something about it.  That is the kind of person I want to have as
a friend.  You are a beautiful boy, your body is highly desirable as a sex
object.  That is true, you must already realize it.  Would I find you
attractive as a sexual partner, yes but only if I am in the market for an
underaged male sex partner.  Unfortunately I am not.  So your out of luck
on that score.  You are in luck however, because I am in the market for the
friendship of a youth like yourself."

"But if you don't want my body why would you want a "youth" as a friend?"
Paul did want his body.  The kid has the nicest ass and a lithe frame among
the best he had seen on anyone in a long time.  He was experienced too, his
medical exam indicated that.  He seemed to know all to much about being
used as a sex toy by adults too.  Paul could not bring himself to even try
with his boy.  Grant would be less than impressed for one and the last
thing this boy needed was the sexual attention of an adult.  He was
beautiful and charismatic that was for sure.

"That is a good question.  The simplistic answer is I am lonely since my
son is with his grandfathers in Montana for the summer."

"You will not like me much once you get to know more about me."

"That is a risk I am prepared to take.  You may not like me either, that's
your risk.  I figure anyone who has taken the kind of risks you have
recently is enough like me to take on a few less dangerous ones."

Paul had to leave promising to be back again in the evening.  Maney could
hear all the children greeting him as he went from room to room.  That got
him thinking a bit.  When the grandparent volunteer visitors came to see
him he learned a bit about Paul and his "wonder boy" Grant.  It seemed
everyone thought Paul was god's gift to sick kids.  He also realized Paul
did not indicate an ego anywhere near that big.  He did check him out with
the nurses and other doctors, social workers and Thodberg.

Maney did not yet realize he was in a somewhat difficult position.  He was
an admitted run away.  The New Mexico Social Services did not know he was
even gone.  When Thodberg pressed them for more information they seemed
unable or unwilling to supply any.  Thodberg's experience told him all was
not right.  The kid's story did not make sense, to many gaps, either he was
hiding something or was afraid of someone.  He called an acquaintance with
the N. M. State Police, someone he met at a convention.  The word came back
that the boy was obviously missing, since he was where he was but no
official report had been made.  His contact thought it strange that no one
had made an official report.  "There is something funny going on in that
county.  Give me a few days.  Is the boy out of hospital?  Good, can you
get the doc to kind of drag his feet on releasing him?  Excellent.  I'll
get back to you."

Thodberg called Paul and asked if he would join him for a drink after
office hours.  Although Throdberg didn't indicate what he wanted to talk to
Paul about, he figured it must have to do with Maney.  Usually once Social
Services got involved the cops back out, if no crime had been committed.

All the boy had done was OD on common "feel good" pills.  Granted they were
prescription drugs but since there was no evidence of theft, no chargeable
offense and it's no crime to try and escape from an abusive situation.
From this boy's comments he must have been in one too.  Every time Paul
thought about any child being harmed by an adult his blood would boil.  He
did not believe that adults having conceptual un-coerced sex with children
was abuse in and of itself.  He sure did believe that forcing that
situation was.  No caring parent would stand by while a child went missing
without looking for him or her either.

"Tell me does Grant still see that boy swimming with the dolphins?"

"Yes Trogier and riding the range in Montana too."  Trogier smiled a kind
of sardonic kind of half smile.  The kind you see and wonder is that
knowledge or question.

"It must be hard when they go away from us for so long.  I mean once we get
accustomed to a child in our lives it must be lonely when they are
suddenly, if temporarily, gone?"

"Oh yes, you have little ones at home don't you?"

"Yes three girls, I don't think I would like it much if even one of them
was away from me for more that a few days.  I can't even imagine for all
summer.  I guess they will leave home some day, like we all must but that's
so far off, I can't yet imagine it."

"Gentlemen, can I get you something to drink?"  Paul ordered a scotch on
the rocks and Trogier a draft beer.

"Paul are you officially Maney's physician?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"I think there is a lot more to his being in your hospital than he is
telling us."

"That may well be true, since he is under our care for an apparent OD we
can keep him as long as we like, within reason of course."

"I think that will help.  I don't want to get social services involved just
yet."

"Just what do you suspect?"

"I'm not sure I suspect anything specific yet.  It is just that he has been
straight up with: his name, where he is from, how old his is, he has run
away, how long ago and is not about to go back under any circumstances.  No
one fact is all that unusual but to be honest on all counts raised my
suspicion.  He traveled from New Mexico to here in under three weeks, but
won't tell us how or who helped him.  He won't tell us why he ran away.
Who gave him the pills or the money he had.  When I checked with New Mexico
they told me he was not reported missing.  He was also able to give us
information that only he would know such as names of his cousins and
neighbors."

"He was not all that cooperative when I talked to him but I got the
distinct impression he was being abused.  No marks on his body so the abuse
must have been sexual and or emotional.  He has had anal intercourse and
lots of it, that is for sure."

"I think he had some kind of help in running away and is attempting to
protect that person.  At least that makes sense and frankly we don't need
to know either, since he obviously was not kidnapped.  What we need to
figure out is what he was or is running from and why he is so adamant about
not going back.  One more thing when I checked with the New Mexico
authorities they suggested something funny was going on in his home county.
My friend will get back on that.  In the mean time I will try and keep him
out of social services clutches because they will send him back."

"I would think the psychologist will finish up in a few days.  Since he did
not intentionally try and kill himself.  Could you put him in some kind of
protective custody or something?"

"Not unless he is a real threat to himself, others or is in danger from
someone else.  Now if he was a witness that needed protection I could
probably do something."

"I will continue to try and make friends with the boy maybe I can learn
what you need to know."

"That was what I was hoping you would say, Paul."

"Why did you pick me?"

"Four reasons, first when I visited your yacht I sensed a connection
between you and Grant that went beyond a father and his previously
estranged son.  Second, your reputation for what ever medical it takes on
behalf of a child.  Third, Maney has been qualifying your offer, he trusts
you already.  Fourth, you are the only man I know who will put it all on
the line for child in trouble."

"I'm flattered Trogier but I'm no super hero."

"Grant knows and I'm damn sure, you did before and will again, this time
keep me in the loop, that's all I ask."  Paul was stunned and for the first
time in a hell of a long time had no glib retort.  Trogier drained his
glass and Paul did the same. "A child no matter how they come to us is a
gift from God.  God's gifts must be honored.  It is always sad for me to
report a child missing and presumed dead.  Once in my tenure I was
privileged to write, with a glad heart and smile on my inner face, missing
and in the arms of his father.  This time I want to write found, safe and
well cared for."

They chatted on for a bit longer another beer and scotch worth.  Paul would
not engage on the idea that Grant was not his biological son.  Trogier gave
no indication of wanting any kind of explanation, justification or
information.  He was content in expressing his feeling or suspicion and
that was that, no judgment given or suggested.  No accusation made, no
defense needed.  Thodberg gave no reason for his interest in Maney or his
case.  He did make it clear that at this point his interest was unofficial
but very real.  Paul assumed or perhaps wanted to believe, it was a
positive reaction to his example of doing what you think is the right thing
to do, rules and regulations set aside.

It was now almost seven pm as Paul stepped off the elevator.  He entered
Maney's room after giving a gentle knock on the door and being warmly
greeted.  The lad's attitude was certainly different than it had been
earlier on.  Paul had purchased a copy of Huck Finn on his way to the
hospital.  He had no idea if the boy had ever read it.  He did not know how
well he could read.  He did not know if he even liked to read.

"I brought you a book."  Paul handed it to Maney as he sat down.  Maney
took it out of the plastic bag and examined it.  Huckleberry Finn by Mark
Twain, it had a drawing of the Mississippi River and a raft with two
figures on it.

"Thank you, Dr. Stum, it looks like a good one."

"Do you know who Mark Twain was, ever heard of it before?"

"No sir, we are only allowed up to grade eight and from what I can see even
that was very limited."

"Your command of English is very strong, living in New Mexico you probably
speak some Spanish?"

"I know English, Spanish and Navaho.  Is it true you live on an island,
your son was adopted by a pod of dolphins and you told the head lady to
stand on her head?"

Paul answered those and many other questions from the boy never once asking
him anything except simple information requests like his favorite foods and
things of that nature.

"I told that cop, Thodberg, that I never wanted to go back to New Mexico
again and I'm serious too.  I will only run away and this time I won't get
almost hit by a bus."

"I can't make any promises until I know a lot more facts but if you don't
want to go back, I'll do what ever I can to support that.  What did Trogier
say?"

"He said about the same thing, he said social services would have to find
me a foster home if I stayed here.  He also said you could probably do
anything you put your mind to."

"Oh, he did, did he."

"Yes and so did everyone else I asked.  You told me remember.  You know,
check you out.  They told me you made everyone learn sign language when you
had a deaf child in the ward.  Did you really break a man's arm for beating
his child?"

"Yes I did those things.  I also told that man if he ever harmed a child
again I would cut his balls off and stuff them down his throat."

"What would you do if someone raped a child?"

"That depends who got to him first me or Thodberg.  Trogier would see he
got very long prison term.  Me, he would be eating his balls with no second
chance."  He could see tears beginning to form in the boy's eyes.  "Rape is
a violent crime and any adult that rapes a child forfeits his right to be
treated in a civilized way.  Remember rape is physically forced sex, it is
a power trip."

"What if it is one child or adolescent being made to have sex with a
younger child by an adult?"

"That adult should be punished, it is still a power play by the adult.  The
adolescent is no more responsible than the child.  Is that what happened to
you?"

"Not exactly, I mean I was made to have sex with younger children but they
were willing.  I guess they were like me when I was younger, they didn't
know any better and just went along.  I liked it at the time, I mean I
liked the sex not being made to do it.  See you don't want me as a friend,
I'm not a good person."  He was sniffling and beginning to cry.  Paul
slowly rose and sat on the bed placing his arm around the lad.

"You did nothing wrong Maney.  You are not a bad person so stop punishing
yourself.  As I understand what you are telling me you have had sex with
adults and with children.  You liked the sex but you resent being made to
do it.  You feel used, because it was something you did not volunteer to
do.  It was not a shared experience but done from training, guilt and
obligation."

"But I knew it was wrong and did what I was told."

"Exactly you did what you had to do not what you wanted to do.  Sex is
pleasurable that's why we humans do it.  That part is hard wired into us.
If you are told you must or should have sex with a younger person and that
person is not fighting you off, you don't have all that much choice in the
matter.  You may get physical satisfaction, ejaculation in your case from
it.  That's the built in part.  You may feel bad about the experience
later.  That's the guilt part.  You are not a bad person because you
received pleasure and your are not a bad person for not having guilt
feelings if you haven't been taught it was wrong.  You are only a bad
person it you do those things from a position of power.  A position few
children are ever in."