Julio – The Growing Years

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2006-2008 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

I came over and sat beside her. “You’re right love; children don’t ask to be brought into this world. Their parents chose to have sex and the kids are the end result. If they didn’t want kids, they should have put them up for adoption instead of tossing them out. This is the biggest reason I started this home because every child deserves the right to grow up safe, have an education and most of all, to be happy.”

The 4 of us continued to talk for about another hour then the travel and the events of the say started to wipe me out. I helped Guillermo secure the building then we called it a night.

Chapter 69

The next morning I was awakened up by Chad trying to wiggle out from under my arm. “Morning little one, how did you sleep?”

He smiled then quickly hopped down, running into the bathroom. When he returned he climbed back into bed then cuddled against me. “I’m hungry Papa.”

I looked at the clock and it was just past 7. I knew Hanna would be starting breakfast but didn’t think it would be ready yet. “Come on Chad, I bet Hanna has some fresh fruit out while she’s making breakfast.”

He jumped down heading for the door. I got a case of the giggles watching his antics. He stopped and stared at me. “What’s so funny?”

I finally managed to get my laughter under control. “Are you going out there like that son?”

He looked down and realized his just had on a pair of underpants. “I wear this at home Papa.”

I held my arms out to him then he scurried into my waiting arms. “Son, if there were just boys here that would be fine but remember, we also have girls here so everyone needs to be dressed when they’re not in their wing.”

Chad took me by the hand and I led him down to his room with Mikey and Shane. When we went inside, they were still asleep but they had kicked the covers down sometime during the night. Chad tugged my arm pointing at the two sleeping boys. “Look Papa, they’re naked.”

I picked him up so I could talk softly to him. “Sometimes the boys like to sleep like that.”

He giggled into my ear. “When I was with that lady, she seemed to like me naked.”

I didn’t let on to what he said but I would let Danny know this in case they apprehended her. “If you want to sleep like that it’s ok.”

I found Chad a pair of shorts and a tee shirt along with a pair of socks. He got himself dressed and even tied his sneakers. We were about to leave when Shane woke up. “Hi Chad, did you sleep good last night?”

Shane sat up and held his arms out. Chad quickly ran over so he could get yet another hug. “Un huh, I slept with Papa. If I sleep with you and Mikey, can I sleep like you?”

Shane realized he was naked but it didn’t seem to bother him. “If that’s how you like to sleep Chad, that’s fine but you can’t wander outside the room naked.”

Mikey woke up and gave Chad a kiss on the cheek before hurrying into the bathroom. He and Shane got dressed then we all went down to the dining room. Joey saw us as we came in. “Hi Chad, how are you today?”

The little guy has quickly become a favorite of everyone here. “I’m fine but umm, I can’t remember your name.”

Joey picked him up giving him a quick hug. “That’s OK Chad, my name is Joey and I think of you as my little brother.”

Chad broke out into a huge grin as the other children started coming in. Hanna fixed a special breakfast as she does for all new arrivals. Today she fixed a mountain of pancakes along with sausage and scrambled eggs. She fixed Chad a plate and set it in front of him. He looked at the food then up to Hanna then extended his arms up. “Is all this for me?”

She knelt down and hugged him. “Yes it is little one and if you’re still hungry, let someone know. We don’t want anyone to leave here hungry.”

Chad dug into the feast Hanna had prepared for him and the others quickly filled their plates and were joining him. I had a couple of pancakes then sat back watching the others fill up when Danny came in. He walked over then leaned down to my ear. “Miguel, can I see you in your office?”

He had a serious look on his face. “Sure buddy, would you like a cup of coffee?”

He shook his head so I refilled my cup then we headed down the hall towards my office. When we got inside, Danny closed the door. He pulled out a video tape then handed it to me. “Did you look at Chad for signs of abuse?”

I nodded my head. “When I gave him his bath yesterday, I looked at his back and butt for signs of physical abuse and didn’t see any marks on his body.”

“I think you should see that tape.”

I got a sunken feeling in the pit of my stomach. I turned on the TV then popped the tape into the VCR. I pushed play then sat down to see what Danny had found. When the tape started I could see Chad bouncing around in the nude. The shot changes into the bedroom and we could see a number of sex toys on the bed. The next thing we see is back into the living room where Chad was still enjoying himself. At that point, I had to put the tape on pause. “Danny, please tell me Chad wasn’t abused.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know Miguel. The tape doesn’t show that but it does show when he manages to get the door open and it closing behind him.”

“Ronnie asked him last night if anyone ever touched him where they weren’t supposed to and he told him no.”

I knew that hadn’t made Danny feel better because I was still worrying about what he might have had to do to himself. “The tape runs out in the living room.”

“Where was the woman who was supposed to be watching him and did you search the rest of the place?”

Danny sighed. “She was dead. There was a half empty bottle of liquor on a table near the body and nothing else in the place. After we removed the body, I had the room secured so we can go back there this morning and dust the place for finger prints.”

I felt my breakfast trying to repeat on me. I opened the door and hurried down to my room running into the bathroom then stuck my head in the toilet. I felt my stomach tighten then I began to vomit uncontrollably. Every time I thought I didn’t have anything left in my stomach, I’d have to stick my head back into the toilet. I don’t know how long I was in there then I heard a knocking on my door. I managed to stand up but my legs felt like they were made of rubber. They felt like they were about to give way when I felt 2 hands grab me around the waist. “Easy Dad, I got you. What happened?”

My head was spinning and it took me several seconds to get my eyes to focus so I could see who was holding me. “I don’t know son. Danny showed me a tape he found and then he started explaining a few things when I started feeling nauseated.”

Ronnie sat me down on the toilet then wet a wash cloth. I wiped my face then rinsed my mouth out. Ronnie had a concerned look on his face. “Man Dad, that had to be some news for you to get sick like that.”

I thought about what Danny had told me. “Yes it was son. Can you do me a favor please? Go find Chad and bring him down to my office.”

“Sure Dad, is something wrong?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know son. For Chad’s sake I really hope not.”

My stomach was feeling better so as Ronnie went to find Chad, I returned to my office. When I walked in, Danny had a worried look on his face. “Are you alright Miguel?”

I nodded my head putting on a weak smile. “Yeah, I’m fine now Danny. Ronnie’s going to look for Chad. Someone had to have been in a big hurry to clean out that room but leave that tape behind.”

Danny was nodding his head. “Yeah and what worries me if this wasn’t the only tape and whoever cleaned the room out has the one with…”

I started shaking my head. “Don’t even think like that man. I can’t imagine someone putting one of those things in Chad.”

Just then there was a knock on the door and Ronnie came in with Chad. The little guy came in and as soon as he saw Danny, he wanted to be picked up. “Did you come to see me Danny?”

Danny smiled as the little guy got comfy in his arms. “How could I come here and not see you son?”

I watched as Chad laid in Danny’s arms then tried to figure out how to ask him if someone had put anything into his bottom. Just then Guillermo stuck his head in. “Miguel, Judge Romero is on the phone. Also, have you done Chad’s physical yet?”

I shook my head but that was the answer as to how I could find out weather or not Chad had been molested. “Not yet buddy, that was one of the things I had to do today.”

Guillermo nodded his head then started to close the door. “Don’t forget Judge Romero is on line 1.”

I quickly picked the phone up. “Good morning Your Honor.”

“Will you stop with the formalities Miguel; we’ve been friends way too long. Now what’s this about a little boy who found his way to the home?”

“Yeah Javier, this is a sad story,” I started. “What’s weird is this boy has blonde hair and blue eyes which leads me to believe he’s not of Brazilian decent. Last night, one of Danny’s deputies came across 2 dead bodies over by the airport and their descriptions match that of Chad’s parents.”

I heard Javier gasp. “On God Miguel, for his sake let’s hope not. How’s the boy? Is there any signs of abuse?”

“Not physical that I could see. He was filthy so Mikey and Shane helped me give him a bath and I didn’t see any marks on his body. I haven’t examined him yet but I will shortly. Can you put him into the home’s care until we can find out what’s going on?”

“I’ll do the papers right now Miguel. Tell Danny to keep me informed as to what he finds out about those 2 bodies.”

“I will Javier and by the way, you’re invited to my house on Christmas. Before I forget, can you make Andrea’s adoption official effective December 25th? I’d like to wrap those papers as a gift to Andrea.”

I heard his giggling. “Sure Miguel, I’ll get them to you in time.”

I hung up the phone then took Chad from Danny. “Where are we going Papa?”

I carried him out into the hall and down to the clinic. “I’m going to give you a check up, is that OK?”

Chad’s eyes got big. “Are you a doctor?”

Ronnie was standing there with us. “Yes he is buddy and he’s very good.”

I unlocked the door then went inside with Chad. I sat him on the table then headed back outside. “Ronnie, can you help Chad get undressed while I talk to Danny?” I closed the door behind me then looked at Danny. “Do you have any fingerprint cards in your car? Also, I want to get his footprints in case his fingerprints aren’t on file anywhere.”

Danny nodded his head. “Yeah, I have some with me. I’ll go and get you a couple.”

As he turned towards the front door, we heard Guillermo's voice over head. “Danny, you have a phone call.”

While Danny answered his call and got me the cards, I went back inside to give Chad his check up. When I got inside, Chad was sitting on the table in his birthday suit. I looked at him then over to Ronnie. “Before I could do anything Dad, he was naked.”

Chad was giggling. “Don’t doctors need people to be naked?”

I stepped over then wiggled my finger into his tummy causing the little guy to squeal with delight. “Not all the times but I think someone likes to be naked.”

Chad was still giggling. “It’s something I had to get used to Papa. The people who’d watch me would take my clothes and this yucky man would sit and just watch me.”

Every time he’d say something, something new would come out. “Did this yucky man ever touch you?”

He shook his head then looked down. “Un un but he would always ask me to touch myself.”

Ronnie saw that upset him so he quickly hugged him. “It’s OK Chad, no one here will ever make you do that.”

He looked up at my son then over to me. “Some times it was OK because when I did it, my peepee would get hard and it would feel good but then the man would just stare at me more so I’d stop but that would make him mad then he’d get up and leave.”

I was beginning to understand what was happening. I didn’t think he’d used those toys but I knew it was only a matter of time before he’d want Chad to or he’d make him. I started to examine him and expect for being under weight, I didn’t see much wrong. Now came the moment of truth. “Chad, would you mind if I looked at your bottom?”

He shook his head no then stretched out on his stomach. I rubbed his back then gently spread his cheeks apart. Ronnie was looking over my shoulder as his anus came into view. Ronnie let out a huge sigh of relief as it was still pink and untouched. I lifted him up onto his feet then looked at his penis. He was uncut, which for an American was unusual. I slid his foreskin back and there was a little dirt and urine built up on it. I guess Mikey and Shane didn’t feel right trying to wash that so I got a wash cloth and quickly gave it a cleaning. When I had finished I heard Chad giggle. “Look Papa, it’s hard.”

Just then there was a knock on the door. Ronnie went over and answered it while I got Chad back into his underwear. “Here are those cards you want.”

“Danny, can you take his prints for me? You’re the expert here.”

Chad had a funny look on his face then I explained what we needed to do. He sat there and let Danny do what he needed to then Ronnie washed his hands and feet to remove the ink. I had 2 things left and I knew getting a blood sample was going to be difficult. I handed Ronnie a urine cup then he took Chad into the bathroom. While they were inside, Danny told me about his phone call. “One of my deputies was calling me from the motel room. Rolando got in late last night and he went out there with my men. He did the dusting and he got a number of good prints. Also, who ever cleaned that room out dropped one of the toys and he left several good prints on that too.”

“That’s great Danny. Did someone get the prints of the 2 bodies you found?”

“Yes we did Miguel.” Danny replied.

“That’s great. Chad’s and the adult’s prints should be faxed to the FBI because I really think they’re American. You might want to send the other’s you’ve found in case they might have them on file too.”

I heard the door to the bathroom open so Danny and I held up on our conversation. Chad came running out then launched himself at Danny. He quickly caught him as the little imp was giggling the whole time. “You’re going to scare the life outta me little guy.”

Danny set him back on the table as I tried to figure out how to tell him what I had to do next. “Chad, I need to take a little blood from your arm.”

His giggles quickly stopped. “Papa, are you gonna have to use a needle?”

“Just a little one son.”

Tears started to roll down his face. “No Papa please, no needles.”

Ronnie sat beside him trying to reassure him. “Dad’s good Chad, it’ll sting for just a second.”

That didn’t seem to work. “No please Papa.”

This was one part of my job I hated. Danny reached out and picked the crying child up. “Son, you can sit on my lap while Miguel takes your blood. It’s real important otherwise he wouldn’t do it.”

That eased Chad’s fears a little until I got the tubes and other things I needed. I was going to need one more pair of hands so I quickly paged David. Danny was holding Chad and Ronnie knelt down and held onto his feet so I wouldn’t get kicked. I put the band around his arm then found a vein. “OK son, please don’t move when I do this because I sure don’t want to have to stick you a second time.”

David held the tubes in one hand while he held the boy’s hand in the other. Danny had one arm around his waist while holding his arm at the elbow. I wiped his arm with an alcohol pad then felt for a vein. He had a good one so I quickly slid the need in. As soon as I did, Chad let out with a loud scream and began crying. Danny held him tight so the needle wouldn’t slide out. The tubes quickly filled so then I took a gauze pad and covered the vein as I removed the needle. After putting a band aid on his arms I took the boy into my arms and tried to calm him down. I hugged and kissed him while softly speaking to him. “I’m sorry I had to make you cry.”

He finally managed to get his crying under control. “R…are you all done now Papa?”

I wiped the tears from his eyes then kissed him on the nose. “I just have 2 more things but no more needles. What I have left won’t hurt either.”

I carried him over to the scale then set him down. He stepped on it and I got his height and weight. Chad stood 40 inches tall and weighed a mere 30 pounds. I made the notations on his chart as he got the rest of his clothes on. When I opened the door, Angel and a few of the children were standing there. Mikey wiggled through and looked at Chad. “Did someone hurt you?”

His head was turning between Chad and me looking for an answer. I knelt down and pulled him into a hug. “I needed to take some blood so I could see if he was sick.”

Chad stuck his arm out. “Papa had to stick me but I’m OK now.”

Mikey was staring at me giving me a look as if to say, ‘It’s a good thing it was you Papa.’

I kissed him on the nose. “Why don’t you take him outside so he can play with the others?”

He took Chad by the hand and led him through the mass of bodies. The other children took of with the pair then the adults followed me down to my office. Once inside, I told them the Chad had not been abused which brought a huge round of sighs. After telling them a few more things Danny looked at me. “Miguel, do you have anything planned for the rest of the morning? I’d like you to come with me.”

I called Guillermo and asked him to join us in my office. As soon as he came in I asked, “Is there anything planned for me this morning?”

He went back into his office then returned with his appointment book. “No Miguel, I tried to keep your schedule as clear as possible.”

I handed Ronnie the keys to the Blazer in case either he or Angel needed to go somewhere then I left with Danny. Once we were on the road, I looked over at him. “OK man, what’s going on?”

I could see Danny having trouble getting his thoughts together which really worried me. We pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned motel and right away I saw one of the deputy’s cars there. As we got out I was met by a sight for sore eyes. “Uncle Miguel, it’s great to see you again.”

Before I could move Rolando had me in a huge bear hug. “God son, you’re really grown since I last saw you.”

He let me go then stepped back. He was as tall as Danny but his arms were solid muscle. “Yeah and thanks to Dad, I’m not the skinny street kid I used to be.”

“So I see son. How does it feel to have a good education and a career?”

He was beaming with pride. “It feels great and I can’t believe I’m going to be working with Dad.”

I patted him on the shoulder then followed him and Danny inside one of the rooms. Rolando picked up another tape he’d found handing it to Danny. “What’s on that one son?” I asked hoping it wasn’t of Chad.”

“I don’t know Uncle Miguel, I waited until Dad got here before looking at it.”

Danny turned on the TV then slid the tape into the player. A few seconds later we saw almost the same thing as before but luckily Chad wasn’t on this tape. There were 2 boys about 13 or 14 and they were just sitting together on the couch. There wasn’t any sound on the tape but one could tell there was someone else in the room because from time to time one or both of the boys would turn their head as if to be looking at someone. After several minutes, they started stripping then they began to play with themselves.

The tape would fade to black then come back then the boys were playing with each other. After another fade to black, someone had set out the same sex toys Danny and I had seen on the tape with Chad. One of the boys had a smile on his face and the other one looked scared. You could tell someone was talking because the boy with the smile on his face took the other boys hand and had pulled it towards his butt. The boy got the hint and started rubbing his hand around the other boy’s rectum then slid 2 fingers into it. As this was going on, we could see a hand reach out and pick up one of the toys handing it to the younger teen. During this time, my stomach started turning again. I quickly found the bathroom then threw up. I don’t know how long I was in there but I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Are you OK Miguel?”

I nodded my head then turned on the water scooping come into my hands so I could rinse my mouth out. For the life of me I couldn’t understand what was going on. I’d been inside kids’ guts and never once gotten sick but now I was. “Yeah man, I’m fine. Maybe I’m coming down with something. So was there anything out of the ordinary on the tape?”

Danny shook his head. “No, not as far as the boys went, it looked like they both enjoyed what they were doing but there was something just before it faded to black the last time.”

I came out and Danny played the last few seconds of the tape. Just before it faded a man’s arm showed. “Is that all that showed Danny?”

He nodded his head. “Did you notice the scar on his forearm?”

I shook my head as I watched him reverse the tape then paused it. “OK, damn, I’ve seen that before.”

Danny nodded his head then turned the TV and player off, ejecting the tape in the process. “This is getting locked up in the safe in my office.”

I nodded my head in agreement. “Danny, you guys have got to catch this guy or group. The last thing we need are the street kids being used for this kind of shit.”

The more I thought about what Danny was holding in his hand, the worse the sinking feeling got in the pit of my stomach. The three of us left the room and got back into Danny’s car. He patted me on the shoulder as I got in. “Miguel, you know I’ll do everything I can to stop this. I still check in with the hospital to see if there have been any kids that showed up at your clinic seeking any kind of treatment for other for colds, cuts and scrapes, there’s been nothing out of the ordinary.”

That made me feel a lot better in one way. Maybe we happened to find this in the early stages and it’s scared them off. I was hoping that was the case because I didn’t want this ruining our holidays. “That’s good Danny. By the way, have you seen the two boys in that tape on the street before?”

Danny shook his head. “No Miguel, I can’t say as I have. But you know that some street boys that age seem to come and go.”

It was a fact I really didn’t like as that’s what I’d built the home for, so kids could get off the street. I guess I was lucky that I’d managed to get my crew safe and sound. “I know Danny, I guess I tend to take things to much for granted. I’d hoped once the word spread about the home, more kids would want to come here.”

Rolando chimed in. “Uncle Miguel, you remember what it was like for us. At first we were really scared but we did give it a chance after you talked to us then look what happened, we loved it there. But you’re just not going to be able to save them all.”

Rolando was right, I couldn’t save everyone. “You’re right son, I guess I should be happy at the successes I have.”

We pulled into the parking lot at the home then Rolando gave me a hug as I got out. “Uncle Miguel, your place here is a success, don’t ever forget that.”

Danny came around and shook my hand. “I’m going to tag this as evidence in case we get any leads on what’s happening. I’ll see you on Christmas Day.”

To be continued...

Posted: 07/25/08