Free K-Pax by Gene Brewer

weddin g   da y   sh e   ra n   of f   wit h   a n   ol d   boyfriend ,   recentl y   release d   fro m   th e   stat e   prison, leavin g Whack y literall y standin g a t th e alta r (an d burstin g a t th e seams) . Whe n h e   receive d   th e   new s   that
    hi s fiance e ha d jilte d him , h e too k dow n hi s   pant s   an d   bega n   t o   masturbat e   righ t   ther e   i n th e   church ,   and h e ha s bee n a t i t eve r since.
    Prostitutio n   therap y   wa s   completel y   ineffectiv e   i n   Whacky' s   case .   However ,   dru g   treatment s   have prove n   marginall y   successful ,   an d   h e   ca n   usuall y   com e   t o   th e   tabl e   an d   ge t   bac k   t o   hi s   roo m   without causin ga disturbance.

Whe n h e i s no t caugh t u p i n hi s   compulsion ,   Whack y   i s   a   ver y   pleasan t   guy .   No w   i n hi s   mid-forties, h e   i s   stil l   youthfull y   handsome ,   wit h   closel y   croppe d   brow n   hair ,   a   stron g   clef t   chin ,   an d   a   terrible melanchol y tha t show s i n hi s sa d blu e eyes . H e enjoy s watchin g televise d   sportin g   event s   an d   talk s   about th e   basebal l   o r   footbal l   standing s   wheneve r   I   se e   him .   O n   thi s   particula r   occasion ,   however ,   h e   di d   not discus s th e Mets , hi s favorit e team . Instead , h e brough t u p th e subjec t o f prot.
    Whack y   ha d   neve r   see n   m y ne w   patien t   a s   fa r   a s   I   knew ,   sinc e   inhabitant s   o f   War d   Thre e   ar e   not permitte d   t o   visi t   th e   othe r   floors .   Bu t   someho w   h e   ha d   hear d   abou t   a   visito r   i n   War d   Tw o   wh o   had com e fro ma farawa y plac e wher e lif e wa s ver y differen t fro m ours , an d h e wante d t o mee t him .I   trie d   to discourag e   th e   ide a   b y   downplayin g   prot' s   imaginar y   travels ,   bu t   hi s   patheti c   baby-blu e   eye s   wer e   so insisten t   tha t   I   tol d   hi mI   woul d   giv e   th e   matte r   som e   thought .   "Bu t   wh y   d o   yo u   wan t   t o   mee t   him? "   I inquired.
    "Why , t o se e i f h e wil l tak e m e bac k wit h him , o f course!"
    Th e   sudde n   silenc e   wa s   eerie-th e   plac e   i s   usuall y   on e   o f   nois y   confusio n   an d   flyin g   food .   I   glanced around .   N o   on e   wa s   wailin g o r   gigglin g o r   spitting .   Everyon e   wa s   watchin g   u s   an d   listening .   I   mumbled somethin g abou t   "seein g   wha t   I   coul d   do. "   B y   th e   tim e   I   go t   u p   t o   leave ,   th e   whol e   o f   War d   Thre e   had mad e   i t   clea r   tha t   the y   wante d   a   chanc e   t o   tak e   thei r   case s   t o   m y "alien " patient ,   an d   i t   too k   m e   nearly hal f a n hou r t o cal m everyon e dow n an d mak e m y exit.
     
     
     
    TALKIN G   wit h   Whack y   alway s   remind s   m e   o f   th e   awesom e   powe r   tha t   se x   ha s   ove r   al l o f   us ,   as Freu d   perceive d   i na   momen t   o f   tremendou s   inspiratio n   a   centur y   ago .   Indeed ,   mos t   o f   u s   hav e   sexual problem s a t som e tim e in , i f no t throughout , ou r lives.
    I t wasn' t unti l m y wif e an dI ha d bee n marrie d fo r severa l year s   tha t   i t   suddenl y   occurre d   t o   m e   what m y fathe r ha d bee n doin g o n th e nigh t h e died . Th e realizatio n wa s s o intens e tha tI leape d ou t o f be d   and stare d   a t   mysel f   i n th e   closet-doo r   mirror .   Wha t   I   sa w   wa s   m y   fathe r   lookin g   bac k   a t   me :   sam e   tired eyes , sam e grayin g temples , sam e knobb