Roman was less than thrilled to be working this summer, and was even less thrilled to be working at a hospital. But he knew that graduate school was important these days, and he also knew that if he didn’t get his master’s degree now, he probably never would. “Money is money,” he grumbled, as he drove to work that first morning.

Roman had never been this far north on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and had never heard of this particular hospital. It was well hidden by massive trees and thick undergrowth. Roman parked his car in the employee lot and walked slowly toward the front entrance. “Man, this place is old,” he mumbled. The door made an eerie sound as Roman opened it. He walked down a long hallway until he came to a door that read, “Human Resources,” and walked inside. “Come in, Roman. I’m Gianni. I have some forms for you to fill out, and then we can get you started.” Roman took the forms and sat down at the little table in the corner. He hurriedly filled in the necessary information, and then handed the forms to Gianni. “Very well, Roman. Mr. Osio’s office is at the end of the hallway. He will be your supervisor.” Roman nodded, and slowly made his way down the long hallway to Mr. Osio’s office.

****

"The men here at ManGrowth Manor are confused, Roman, but when they leave here they are prepared to fulfill their natural place in society, as real men.” The emphasis that Mr. Osio had placed on the word “real” disturbed Roman. Did the university know about this? Did they know that such a place as ManGrowth Manor existed today? This was not the 1950s. Shit, the 1950s were over sixty years ago. Time did pass up here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan just as it did everywhere else, didn’t it? “Roman, do you understand now?” Roman nodded. What was he supposed to do or say at that question? “I will take you on a tour of our magnificent facility in a few minutes.

****

There was no answer from inside the room, so Roman walked quietly inside. “Mr. Matthews?” Chuck was curled up on his bed facing away from Roman. “Mr. Matthews?” “Yes,” the man said. “I’m Roman, a new orderly here.” The man opened his eyes, but continued to stare at the wall. “I’m sorry?” he asked. Roman repeated what he had just said. Chuck had to be sure before he looked at Roman. “Roman, it’s me, Chase,” the man said. “Chase?” Roman hurried to the man’s bed. “Be careful, Roman. They are watching.” Roman stood up and took a couple of steps back.

****

Roman had so many questions for Chase that he didn’t know where to begin. “How did your roommate know about this place?” “I’m not sure, Roman, but he grew up around here and probably just knew. You can’t see this place from the road. It’s hidden very well, and so are its secrets. But like I said, I’m almost out of here, and I’m going across the border just as soon as I am out of here for sure. It’s not far, you know. I overheard a couple of the nurses one day saying that it was less than five miles from here to Canada. One of them has a boyfriend up there.” Roman still could not understand how people got put in this place. "That Dr. Osio is one nut job, that’s for sure.” “Chase, did you say Dr. Osio?” “Yeah, I’m sure you met him. He runs the place.” “I met him, but he introduced himself as Mr. Osio, not Dr. Osio.” “Oh, believe me, he’s a doctor, a doctor of psychiatry, no less. Go figure. He’s a real nut job, too. I know he comes up here at night, too. I’ve caught him looking in my room when he didn’t think I was awake. I give him the show he’s looking for, too. I pretend to be asleep, and then I start jerking off just enough to get good and hard and then I get naked, spread my legs, and just lie here in all my glory. I know he’s out there just dying to take my thick hard cock into his mouth or maybe up his ass, and probably both.”

Roman was shocked, but he had known Chase for a long time and knew that he wouldn’t make this shit up. “Damn, Chase, does he ever…” “Does he ever steal a cookie from the cookie jar?” Chase completed Roman’s question for him. Roman laughed a little at Chase’s comment. “Yeah, does he?” Roman asked. “Not this cookie jar, he doesn’t, but he has tried.” Roman looked at Chase. “That’s right, Roman. Dr. Wonderful plays this game, you see. He finds the men who are especially vulnerable and then he tries to console them. He came into my room one night, saw me in the same position that you did, and then he lay down beside me and put his arm around me. Then he got as close to me as he possibly could. He was hard, too, Roman. I could feel his old man hard-on pressing against my ass. He ran his hand along my chest, talking real nice and all, and then I felt his hand inside my shorts.” Chase laughed at his own story. “What’s so funny, Chase?” “I yanked his hand back out of my shorts and looked right at him. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I said, ‘I don’t want you, doctor’. He looked hurt, Roman, and I loved it. The man’s a fag, and he has built himself his own little utopia here. Now do you get it?” Roman looked dazed.