|
|
|
|
|
|
|
some children, he explained, was one manifestation of aggressive behavior intended to establish control, dominance or superiority over others. It could also be strictly pathologicalthe results of birth injuries, fetal drug or alcohol syndrome, cranial trauma, encephalitis, early seizures or a variety of neurological disorders. Or, in absence of such, prolonged abuse. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Although Matty's attack of Bobby Gorawlski was not unprovoked, and though there was a history of animosity between the boys, the ferocity of Matty's attack was seen as out of proportion to the provocation. One guess was that Matty had experienced some kind of seizure. But in light of the elevated androgynes in his blood and symptoms of precocious puberty, it seemed more likely that he was suffering some kind of neurological disorder. Which meant a variety of testsfrom psychiatric profiles to neurological and chemical workups: electro-encephalograms and SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography) imaging. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calvin asked most of the questions during the conference, while Terry sat in numbed silence. On the way out Mitch assured them that he would stay on Matty's case as primary physician, while Dr. Givens would head up the psychiatric testing. His expertise was children of violent behavior. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
children of violent behavior |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All the way home, the phrase echoed and reechoed in Terry's brain. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"The real estate agent," Claire Manning Wick said. "Her nephew's on the Little League team that played his team last night. She said somebody knocked him down with a pitch and he went nuts. He attacked the kid like an animal. She said if they hadn't pulled him off, he would have bitten him to death. The kid needed sixty stitches." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"What about the Hazzard kid?" DeVoe asked. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"He ran off into the woods," she said. "Howling, or some such." |
|
|
|
|
|