Biography of a Deviant

Once upon a time in southern GenC, on Canticle Street, where the poor people live, lived a poor family. There was a poor man, his poor wife, and a poor, poor child. They did not lead a happy life.1

Many a time, the poor man would take what little money they had, drink it away, and beat his poor wife. The poor wife, in turn, would prostitute herself for money, drink it away, and beat his poor man. The poor, poor child, in turn, would do little but hide in the closet and sit there very, very quietly. Sometimes, that was enough.2

One day, when the poor, poor child was three summers old, some visitors came for the poor man and his poor wife. These visitors, who had many names, were of a kind that was seldom seen on Canticle Street, where the poor people live. They were called the Fuzz, or the Law, or the Police, and many feared them with good reason. Why they had come is to this day not known, but it is said that the poor man, and his poor wife were not seen hence.3

The poor, poor child knew nothing of the business between the Police and his poor parents. He heard their voices, and hid in the closet very, very quietly, like he was accustomed to doing. On that day, it was not enough. The Police came for the poor, poor child, and asked him for his name. The poor, poor child said nothing, as nobody had ever told him his name but the Police wanted to know, so they asked other people.4

Nobody was quite sure what the poor, poor child's name was, if he even had one. Finally, an old woman remembered hearing the poor wife calling the poor, poor child ' the little Deviant.' Hearing this, all agreed it must have been the poor, poor child's name, so the Police took the name, and the poor, poor child, and put both in the orphanage.5

Not far from Canticle Street, where the poor people live, was Clarion Hill. On Clarion Hill lived people who were not really poor, but nearly so, and one of these people was Benjamin Goldman, who most called Benny. Benny was a kindly man, who had been a teacher for all of his life. Now he was old, living on a pension, and lonely. He missed the children, and teaching.6

Benny did not want to be lonely, so he went to the orphanage to ask for a child. The staff of the orphanage told him he was too old, and too poor, and too lonely to be given a child. But Benny did not mind, and asked for a child anyway. The staff of the orphanage did not know what to answer, so they gave Benny a child to make him go away. Delighted, Benny took the child with him back to Clarion Hill. The child was now four summers old, and named Deviant.7

In Clarion Hill, in the care of Benny, Deviant flourished. For the first time in his so far short life he was cared of, not only for, and very shortly he came to be one of the few people who did not call old Benjamin Goldman Benny. He called him Daddy.8

In the same building in which Benny and Deviant lived, another family had a son, who had always wanted a little brother. This boy's parents wouldn't give him his wish, so he looked elsewhere, and found little Deviant who, being two years his junior, seemed made to his order. By the second week of Deviant's life on Clarion Hill, the two boys were closest of friends, and would remain so for many years. Trevor Gaylord Parr, this other boy was named, and Deviant would be the only one to call him Trevor aside from his parents.9

Years passed, and Deviant grew both older and wiser. Benny home-schooled him, teaching him such things as science, humanities, and mathematics. After the school day was over, he would spend his time with Trevor, who taught him about such things as girls, boys, and Not Being a Rat Bastard.10

Puberty came, bringing changes and a shortening of names. Deviant was now called Dev, and many of the local children had taken to calling Trevor just Lord instead of Gaylord, which had seemed so funny to them only a few years earlier. Benny's call name got shortened to Dad, as well, as he continued to teach Dev such subjects as German, French, and art appreciation. From Trevor, Dev learned about guns, sex, and taking care of business.11

Fifteen years had passed from the day when Benny left his home in Clarion Hill, and went down to the orphanage to find himself a child. Benny was no longer lonely, but he was old, and starting to feel his years. Dev, on the other hand, was young and able, but lacking a profession. He wanted nothing more than to make something of himself, to make his Dad proud, but he did not know how to do just that. He saw no future in the small jobs in local businesses, and the big businesses Downtown would not hire him without papers to show from expensive schools.12

When Trevor called him with the job offer from a high-end freelance agent, Dev only had one way to answer. He would take the job that would shape the rest of his life.