Dieter

Dieter
by Margaret Peña

Dieter was her mother’s friend’s son. He was two years older in age and twenty years older in savvy. He lived with his mother and step-dad. They left him alone often. He harbored a carefully hidden (and nurtured) cruel spot. Adults saw a perfectly behaved, polite young man. Kids suffered at his hand. He ferreted out their weaknesses and fears. He killed his first cat at age ten.