Four years ago, roughly, there was yet another story in the local media about alleged sexual misbehavior—this time it was a gymnastic coach. He had been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his female charges. The specifics were not spelled out; an appeal was made for any other “victims” to report any like occurrences. The assumption was that there were likely several, and another monster was about to be taken out of circulation.
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Sometimes it’s a coach, sometimes a band teacher, a scout leader, a Sunday school teacher—even a parent. Whatever, whoever, whenever. The media thrives on scandal, and truth is rarely a guide or goal.
Sometimes, the accused is guilty as charged. Other times, they are not. In either case, the media feels no responsibility for what they have done to destroy a person’s career or reputation. I know of such instances. And every time one of these stories hits the nightly “news,” I automatically recall how an “accused” person I knew was, in fact, the victim. I have known three such victims personally, and I know of yet others. I am confident there are many more. Their true stories will most likely never be told.
So I was moved to write about a side of the story that I have never seen printed or reported: an adolescent develops an overpowering crush on an adult; obsessed and driven by this passion, pursuing the object of desire becomes the main cause in life. Girls are more noted for this than boys, but that may be perception, not fact. I have known cases of both.
In our puritanical society, the fact that sexual issues and behaviors begin at a very young age is generally ignored, avoided or denied. Officially it isn’t supposed to be addressed or dealt with until later—well after the issue arises in the life of any given individual. Thus, training and knowledge in these matters is generally too little and too late.
Adults are rarely trained or taught how to deal with this phenomenon. Many are unaware of what is going on until too late, and they bungle it, sometimes very badly.
In real life, a range of outcomes accompany this scenario. If the adult refuses to be seduced, he or she is suddenly the cause of hurt feelings and worse: ruining the life goal of the besotted one. The punishment is extreme and nearly irreversible: they are falsely accused.
At times the besotted one takes the rejection in stride and moves on. Either good sense or their genuine affection has prevailed, and they have avoided involving the media in their plot.
Sometimes, if the adult target is careful and wise, they avoid the confrontation somehow and escape unharmed. Sometimes the parents can be a positive force, sometimes not. There is a myriad of variables.
Shakespeare looked closely at the question of adolescent emotional fire in Romeo and Juliet. Modern audiences are used to having that story modified into an adult framework. The fact is, both were in their early teens—children by modern rules and regulations.
But nowadays, even more than in Shakespeare’s time, the rules and regulations ignore the facts of real life and real passion—particularly when it governs the behavior of adolescents.
The scenario of Little J and Roger is based upon a real life story I know about. I recast it significantly; the intent is to tell a story, not document any specific experience.
The scenario is this: what if a boy scout fell in love with his scoutmaster and decided that his goal in life was to land him as a life partner? The boy is the predator. And what if the scoutmaster is unable to avoid falling into the trap? Working out what happens next is the story of Julian and Mark.
I deal with the story in an unexpected and unusual way: achieve the quest at the beginning of the story, not the end. This forces examination of the issue as opposed to the plot. The characters’ perspectives are given the attention. The media’s sensational mindlessness is sidestepped for the duration.
I stipulated other key criteria: there will be no villain. The primary objective is to supply an insight into adolescent behavior, the secondary objective is to have fun doing so. No gnashing of teeth, no anguish, no deforming wounds, no permanent scars. The reader is supposed to have fun in Camp Walker.
So that’s the why.
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