Red

THIS IS A TRUE AND DISTURBING STORY FROM MY CHILDHOOD.
This story is one about childhood neglect, as well as physical and sexual abuse. There are no graphic depictions or descriptions of those things, and every effort has been made to be sensitive to the needs of other survivors. The name of the child in this story was changed to protect his privacy.  

I don’t remember when Red showed up. He was just there one day—a fireplug of a man with rotten teeth and dirty clothes, wandering through the neighborhood like he belonged. The grownups were convinced he was harmless. He wasn't.