"He's been here five years." Doctor John Stone sighed and removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. "He was never convicted of a crime, and he's a juvenile."

"Is he well?" wondered Alejandra Mejias, a caseworker for the Texarkana County Department of Child Welfare.

Again, Doctor Stone exhaled ponderously. "Yes… and no."

Ms. Mejias pursed her lips. "What does that mean, Doctor?"

"It means, Ms. Mejias, that we cannot treat this particular case. He is as well as he will ever be, but he's always going to be sick." "Why is that?"

"He has many personality disorders, and I believe he is clinically deviant."

"Then keep him until he's twenty one," returned the caseworker flatly. "This is within the parameters of his judgment."

"Yes, well, ah-" squirmed the doctor. "You see, Ms. Mejias, we don't want him, any more. It's time that he… move on." The old man's sunken eyes wrinkled painfully. "We can do nothing more for him, here, and he's sleeping in a bed that could better serve another patient. I mentioned all this in my correspondence."

"I read every word of it, doctor, and I reviewed the boy's case file. According to his standardized test scores, particularly the DSM and the PCL-R, the child appears to be perfectly healthy, psychologically speaking." Doctor Stone smiled sardonically. It was not a happy expression. Instead, it indicated his patient tolerance of a fool. "An interesting choice of words, Ms. Mejias."

"How so?"

"You used the word 'perfectly'. Take another, more cynical look at the scores. You'll find that 'perfect' is the only word to describe them." Doctor Stone sighed once more, and replaced his glasses atop his nose. Stooped over his large, cluttered desk, the doctor fished out a specific report. "He performs with the control group within standard deviation on the PCL-R, but his clinical assessments are abysmal. Five years of observation have labeled the boy as narcissistic, hostile, anti-social and aggressive. In short, he exists at the center of his own private universe. The rest of us are merely props."

Without pausing to review the doctor's informal assessment, the caseworker rejoined, "I don't understand your dilemma, Doctor Stone. Our staff weights the standardized test results heavily, and often disregards the clinical assessments, altogether. If you want to be rid of the boy so badly, why don't you just submit his scores to the juvenile offenders' review board, and have the kid released?"

Doctor Stone dropped his reports, and squirmed unhappily. "I wish the solution were so simple. You see, unlike the patient in this case, we have a conscience, collective and individual. I have discussed it with the staff, and we all agree. Nobody wants the child here, any longer, but, at the same time, none of us want to just release him into the general population." "You can make recommendations to the review board, regarding his eventual placement."

The old man shook his head, and rubbed his chest delicately, where it covered his limping heart. "Oh, we will, but recommendations just aren't good enough in this case, I'm afraid."

Ms. Mejias sighed. "You can't have it both ways, you know. You can't cast the boy aside, and then attempt to determine where he should go."

Grimacing, he replied, "I had hoped to do just that."

"Why release him, at all? If he's such a challenge, why not confine him in isolation, until he's twenty-one?" "Please!" retorted the doctor, "your proposal is monstrous, Ms. Mejias, because that is precisely what it would create within this child – a monster. He's already dangerous. We believe further isolation will only enhance his narcissism and promote his anti-social tendencies. Instead, we recommend that he be immediately re-socialized in a carefully controlled, yet public, context."

Ms. Mejias rolled her eyes, and jotted hurried notes into her case file. "For grins and giggles, let's say that you were, hypothetically, capable of discharging the boy this way. What would you recommend?"

Doctor Stone shuffled up another report from his desk, this one a single page. "First, we believe he may thrive in a small social group, which means he should be placed in a rural setting, a small country town, perhaps."

Ms. Mejias raised her pen to interrupt. "Do you have a list there? Can you support your recommendations with specific logic? Thank you."

"We feel that the rural setting is best for two reasons: first, the boundaries of shame and sanction tend to be rather narrow and clearly defined in such closed communities, and, second, we expect the child to act aggressively, at least in the beginning, and a closed setting will more readily expose his future… transgressions." "If any," supplied the caseworker, automatically.

Doctor Stone surprised her by lowering his report and his gaze to address her sternly. "Ms. Mejias, let us be very clear. This boy will act aggressively in the future. He is certain to commit voyeuristic, mischievous, and possibly violent crimes. No matter where he goes, no matter when he goes, he will act on his narcissistic fantasies. As responsible citizens, then, we can only hope to limit the impact of his crimes, while protecting ourselves."

"Is that the other reason for the rural setting, doctor? To get him as far away as possible from you and your staff?"

The doctor's face remained flat and impassive, when he returned to his report. "Also, we recommend that he be placed with an educated, childless couple. They should be basically, but not zealously, religious. We believe they should be childless, because the boy has a history of harming his siblings, and we believe the religion might help instill within him a sense of morality, of right and wrong, however superficial it may be.

"Further, we recommend that all his caregivers should be fully informed of his deviant nature and violent past. He is an accomplished manipulator. As professionals, even our staff is hard pressed to resist him. The general public would be defenseless, if they were not told he is very, very dangerous." "Two very, doctor?"

"If I could add superlative and hope to convince you, I might even say that he is very fucking dangerous. Does that help?"

She smiled thinly, and scribbled for a time. "We will inform his adoptive parents regarding his special needs, but the rest of it is their responsibility. If you release him, and we manage to place him, Doctor, then we can only supervise the adoption process. We generally don't intervene in family matters, except where the child's needs are criminally neglected."

"I understand, but you have a file on the boy. So, write it into his file in big, bold marker." When she appeared not to seriously entertain his assertions, the doctor added emphatically, "Young lady, lives are at stake, here. I MUST release this child, otherwise, half my staff will resign in the next six months. He's that problematic. I don't have the resources to deal with that sort of unnecessary turnover, so you MUST be prepared to deal with this problem. Otherwise, some innocent person will pay the price."

Ms. Mejias sighed and rolled her eyes, again. "What do you want from me, Doctor? You want me to take this problem child off your hands, but you want me to tell you that everything is going to be fine. I can't do that. If you release him, then he will be treated the same as any other child in his condition. I can't make a special case of him." "This boy IS a special case."

"I've dealt with eleven-year-old rapists and a twelve-year-old killer. One kid I handled a few years ago had attempted to murder his entire family by poisoning them, and we later found out that he had been poisoning neighborhood pets for years. How bad can this kid really be?"

"Much worse than you can probably imagine."

Ms. Mejias pursed her lips, frustrated. She flipped through her case file, and read from it. "Let's go back to his too perfect psychological test scores. You imply that he's manipulating the results, but cognitive tests reveal a slightly, below-average intelligence. Can he really be so clever?"

His expression earnest, Doctor Stone retorted, "Yes. He is, I think, very intelligent. Indeed, I believe him to be something of a child prodigy. If he were to perform truthfully on his intelligence tests, he would likely score higher than one-sixty. He might score in the top one percent. Hell, he might be number ONE." The caseworker arched her eyebrows. "Really?" It was a deadpan statement, more than a question.

"He's smart enough to know that his ideal psyche-tests will be better believed, if he is thought to be of only moderate intelligence."

"If that's true, then why wouldn't he perform like a moron?"

"He's too clever for that. Anyone that talks to him for one minute would quickly see that he's no moron. Sometimes he uses clinical jargon so proficiently that I think he could pass for an intern, were he physically more mature."

Accepting the doctor's assessment as fact, Alejandra raised her hands. "So, he's faking his standardized tests to appear perfectly normal. He wants to get out of here. You want him gone. I can clear him through to an adopted or foster home in six weeks, all you have to do is release him." Genuinely perplexed, she asked, "What, exactly, can I do for you?"

"Officially," said the doctor, "nothing. It is our intention to start the paperwork on the boy tomorrow. We will release him to your department, or the court, whichever the judge prefers."

"The judge will pass him on to us ninety five percent of the time."

"Of course. This is the reason why I have asked for your personal attendance in this matter. I know you will ultimately be responsible for his placement, and I just wanted- that is, ah, WE, the staff, wanted to- to-"

When the doctor fell silent and shifted his gaze to his hands, which fidgeted nervously in his lap, Alejandra prodded with, "Well? What, doctor? I'll help, if I can."

"We just wanted to warn you, Ms. Mejias… you and everybody that might come into contact with the boy. That's all." The doctor swallowed with difficulty and was ashamed, "I must admit our absolute failure here, you see. We have used every therapeutic measure, including an array of drugs, to manage the child's development, all to no avail. He responds to nothing.

"As awful as it is, this is only a small part of our failure. Professionally, we like to believe that we can separate ourselves from our patients, but this is not possible with the boy. Frankly, Ms. Mejias, he scares liquid shit out of us." He paused to gulp and blink owlishly behind the fish-eyed lenses of his large spectacles, apparently surprised by his own use of profanity. "I can't find a qualified professional willing to treat the kid for longer than six weeks. They know he's deviant, but they also know about his test scores. As soon as he becomes a problem, they recommend his discharge, and bow out of the case. He has a way of insidiously manipulating his caregivers, you see.

"In fact, the first professional to treat the boy ended up in prison serving a six year term for aggravated sexual assault of a child. We are certain she did nothing wrong. Needless to say, her life, personal and professional, is a shambles, but she's one of the lucky few. She'll live. Perhaps after years of protracted and expensive legal efforts, she may even clear her name."

Ms. Mejias was skeptical. She made a smirk of her brightly painted lips. "He was six years old at the time of his committal. Surely you don't think a child so young could be capable of murder."

The doctor's response was a flat, convincing gaze. "We know he is not only capable, but guilty of such crimes. And worse. We believe he caused the death of at least four patients here on the ward, maybe as many as a dozen." When the naïve young bureaucrat seemed skeptical, he added, "We believe he killed both his parents, a young friend, and countless animals, before he was incarcerated for the double manslaughter that placed him into our care. Further, we have gathered statistical evidence that indicates he may have been responsible for scores of home burglaries and perhaps a half-dozen non-penetrative sexual assaults in the communities where he lived, prior to coming to this hospital."

Alejandra's eyes and mouth remained open. She could think of nothing to say, except, "You're not supposed to be telling me all this. Officially, or otherwise." The doctor made a dismissive gesture with his right hand, "Oh, to hell with standard protocol, Ms. Mejias! You must know, this kid is dangerous… lethally dangerous."

"But you still can't keep him."

"No, I can't. I've done all I can for him, more than I should have done, perhaps. God knows I've paid a heavy personal price for it. Lately, this case demands more than I can give," the old man paled, and gently massaged his chest, again, "So I have to admit defeat, before it kills me. This is the worst part of the case, you see. I have allowed it to affect me personally to such a point that my health is in question."

As if to pontificate, he groaned softly, and fished a plastic bottle of pills from his coat pocket. He popped one of these beneath his tongue, and sucked on it with a grimace for a time, before the color returned to his face.

"I might have released him four years ago, when he began to falsely exhibit clinical improvement, or three years ago, when he cleverly mastered the psyche-evaluations, but I didn't do this, because I knew he was sick. I knew he was dangerous." "What changed in the meantime?"

"I, Ms. Mejias. I have changed. Times have changed. The staff and faculty have changed. They have lost their liberal values. Their hearts no longer bleed, especially not for this case. They demand the child's release, not for his sake, but for theirs." He sighed, and sat forward to gather his file on the case into a semblance of order, before he added. "His standardized scores allow for his discharge. The staff demands it. Only my clinical assessment has kept him here for the last twenty four months, although I long ago surrendered any hope for his improvement."

"Then why keep him, at all, doctor? You can't solve all the world's problems by yourself."

"Indeed, not. I didn't do it for altruistic considerations, however, Ms. Mejias. I did it, simply because I felt we were best qualified to deal with the child. Like a deadly serpent, professionals handle him with a reduced risk, but he is never safe. The lay public is at his mercy. You, Ms. Mejias, are at his mercy, except that I warn you now."

Alejandra smiled with lips pressed thin. "Unofficially, what would you suggest that I do, once you release this ten-year-old monster to my jurisdiction?"

I would suggest that you be very careful, Ms. Mejias. Choose his caregivers well. Caution them to watch the boy diligently. Tell them he is dangerous." Doctor Stone stacked and shuffled the documents of his case file together, and closed it for the last time. "When, not if, he does something awful, and they come looking for a scapegoat, they will find me, because I released him. Fortunately for the hospital, if not for me, I will be long gone and professionally beyond reproach. Where will you be, Ms. Mejias? Where will you be?"

"I see."

"Perhaps. Only time will tell, I think." Now the doctor leaned forward, and made an official steeple of his fingers. "Once he departs these grounds, you must eventually come into personal contact with the child, as your profession demands it. As you interact with him, you will, like all of us, mistake him for a perfectly harmless, if oddly articulate, little boy. Do not be fooled, Ms. Mejias. Remember, the most dangerous offender is the individual that we never suspect of offense."

"Surely you didn't call me all the way across town to tell me something I already knew. I am rather experienced in this field, doctor, though I admittedly lack your educational background."

"This case is not a matter of learnedness, Ms. Mejias. Worldly and common knowledge is what we require here.

"His demeanor and circumstance will demand sympathy and affection, for he plays his various parts cannily well. Having never met you in person, I could not assess your character. As you doubtless know, many social workers enter into the profession with the idea that they're going to change the world. You have probably learned how these idealists quickly burn out, since the world generally does not require salvation. Before they do so, however, they cause much damage.

"Even though I fully intend to discharge the boy and retire within the coming weeks, no matter how well disposed your department may be to deal with him, I felt I must fathom your ability to manage this case. I hoped you would not be a young idealist, and that you would rather be a cynical old veteran." The doctor paused to review her form up and down with an appraising eye. "While you are not as old as I thought you might be, you do indeed seem to be experienced with such problematic children.

"Nevertheless, experience is not enough, when forewarned experience may serve better. Since you appear to be receptive to my needs here, Ms. Mejias, I further hoped to introduce you to the boy surreptitiously, before his discharge. I want you to observe him from a clinical perspective for a few hours, while he interacts with his peers here in this carefully controlled environment." He leaned forward intently, his eyes sparkling curiously, "Once you see how he behaves here, you will be better prepared to extrapolate his potential for deviance in the real world, and, I believe, you will be duly impressed with all that I tell you regarding his personality and character."

Alejandra sucked her tongue for a time, while she considered the doctor's words. "I always schedule a post-discharge interview with the children, doctor."

"Yes, well," hedged Doctor Stone, "These are formal interviews, are they not? Yes, I thought so. We require informality in this matter, Ms. Mejias. I could not tell you all that you need to hear in such a setting, and what I would say might jeopardize his release, which I cannot contemplate. In fact, as you know, I am in serious breach of protocol by merely contacting you." He laughed, "I could lose my job! I should be so lucky." Relaxing a bit, the social worker lowered her eyelids and purred, "Don't worry, Doctor. Your secret will be safe with me."

"Then you will agree to accompany me on my rounds through the boy's ward?"

"Why not? I'm already here, and you couldn't possibly prejudice my opinion any more than you already have."

"Yes, well, I apologize for that, Ms. Mejias. You must believe that this is the first time I have willfully short-circuited the chain of command, since I was a longhaired idealist, myself. Once you observe the boy, however, I'm certain you will understand."

Alejandra inhaled deeply, and said, "Perhaps. I have to tell you now, though, that you shouldn't expect to convince me of your opinion. Despite your attempts to bias my treatment of this case, I will keep an open mind and an open eye." Doctor Stone nodded, his tired jowls jiggling, as he stood to round his desk and lead her to the door of his office. "I expected nothing less. I invite your objective review of the facts, and I anticipate your assessment of its circumstances and special requirements."

She stood and preceded him through the door, when he indicated she should do so. After he locked the door behind them, he fished a yellow plastic badge from his coat pocket. It read 'VISITOR – SECURITY LEVEL A'. Alejandra fixed this to her lapel, and followed the doctor at a brisk pace along a gleaming corridor that reeked of urine and disinfectant, as all hospitals inevitably must.

"I will not introduce you to the patient," panted the doctor, as he hurried along, "Since he would interact differently with you, knowing that you must be informed as to his dysfunction. Instead, we will observe him in the dayroom, as he socializes with his peers. This is their free-style play period, you see, and they tend to be most exhibitive at this time."

After their heels tapped the cold, sterile tiles of the floor countless times, and once they had wended their circuitous way through a dozen turns and two elevators, they arrived at their destination. Huffing breathlessly, Doctor Stone rummaged in his voluminous coat pockets for a plastic key card, which he passed through a reader positioned near the doorknob. A buzzer sounded, and the door clicked open.

"Watch your step, Ms. Mejias," instructed the doctor, as he indicated she should enter into the heavily shaded room. "We must keep the interior dark, in order to preserve the effect of the two-way glass of the observatory." Inside, they crossed a narrow alcove furnished with a coat rack, a single table, and a wastebasket. Red lights illuminated this devilishly garish little room, which led to a second set of doors and the observatory beyond.

Inside this larger chamber, which apparently encircled the ceiling of a large, open play area, were four galleries of three tiers of theater-style seats, one for each side of the rectangular chamber below. Doctor Stone descended to the lowest tier, where they could sit directly in front of the two-way glass.

Alejandra saw perhaps thirty children of the same age playing below with various toys, large and small. She knew the doctor had purposefully failed to point out the patient to her, so she examined each child in turn, searching for a monster. They all appeared to be perfectly normal, save for the more obvious physical deformities among them. "Okay, I give up. Which one is he?"

"It's impossible to tell with a casual observation, Ms. Mejias, but look again. This time, try not to see their faces, rather, watch for the dynamic interactions among individuals and their various social groups."

At first, she could not detect a pattern in their behaviors. After many long minutes, however, a definite scheme began to emerge. She noticed that the most isolated and introverted of the children tended to linger near the walls and corners of the room, where they huddled over their obscure work or entertainment, while the center of the room was inhabited by the more outgoing of the children. Among this latter grouping, she counted a half dozen small cliques, among which circulated several children that appeared to enjoy multiple affiliations within the cliques. Among these individuals, several moved as a small… entourage. This was the only word that she could formulate to describe their collective behavior.

To Be Continued……..

THE TEMPLE OF STONE

So I admit I’ve had a rough start. I don’t know if it’s the nerves or what but I haven’t been on my game for a while now. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the ring so there may still be a lot of ring rust left to remove. This coming Monday I return to Brawl once again. This time, I face Anarchy. Anarchy, I hope you’re ready for the fight of your life. Because I have finally awakened and realized that it’s time to get on the ball and start playing with the big boys. A few years ago I was one of the up and coming superstars in this company. And I realize that I will have to work my way to that status once again. I get to do that by first getting through you! Once I get through with you, I will focus on my next opponent. I don’t care who it is and I don’t care what type of match it is. All I know is that I am ready, focused and determined. Anarchy, Monday night on Brawl, you will face the wrath of John Stone. And when it’s over, everyone will realize that I mean business and that I am ready to take on the world!