I have a special treat today. This tiny hospital gown belonged to little Jimmy Draper. He was in the hospital for a short time before being committed and sent to a local sanitarium. All before he turned eight years old. Reports say the boy could do things that shouldn't be possible which may have led to his eventual escape just two short years later.

That is a story for another time, another patron. Today's feature follows the events surrounding his perceived sickness and the treatment administered.

***

"I WANT CEREAL!" The room shook with the force of the deep growling boom emanating from Jimmy Draper. Almost all of the nursing staff refused to treat him, some wouldn't even enter his room ever since he sent one of the orderlies out of his second story window. Dr. Anthony Green stood in the doorway, trying to project a calm face and demeanor.

Jimmy Draper was standing on his bed, little breathing tube hanging off his ears and his small hospital gown billowing around him as he stomped a tiny foot. Dr. Green didn't believe for a minute that anything supernatural was happening, unlike his parents. Nope, Cindy and James Draper were convinced Jimmy was possessed. They had tried (and failed) multiple times to get Jimmy exorcised, but they had been grifted and conned half a dozen times by charlatans and well-meaning fakers before their savings had dried up. They had state health insurance on their child and as a 'last resort' brought Jimmy to the hospital so that hopefully doctors and science could do what faith and spiritualists had been unable to accomplish.

Dr. Green put his hands on his hips waiting for Jimmy's fit to wind down. A snot bubble popped in the boys little nose and he wiped at it absentmindedly.

"Jimmy, what did we agree on when asking for something?" Dr. Green asked. Jimmy looked a little embarrassed and plopped down on the mess of sheets.

"No yelling. Ask nicely." Jimmy sulked and crossed his arms. If he had stuck his nose up and turned away Dr. Green would have to stifle a laugh. He was reminded of his own boys when they were Jimmy's age, all impulse, no control.

"Did you try to ask nicely?" Jimmy opened his mouth but didn't speak. He looked down and shook his head. "And now you've gone and scared everyone on the floor again. All the other patients need rest Jimmy, and when you yell and carry on it makes them uncomfortable and keeps them sick. You don't want that now, do you?"

"No, Dr. Green." Jimmy said and threw his head back, rolling his eyes to look at the ceiling. "Only, they brought me toast and jelly and I hate toast and jelly." He pointed at the tray on the little rolling table by his bed, somehow not overturned in the disturbance. Dr. Green picked up a piece of toast and took a bite, he hadn't eaten since he came on at 10PM the night before and it tasted like the best thing he had ever eaten in the moment.

"Seems pretty good to me. Tell you what, I'll eat your toast and get you cereal if you apologize to the nurse and orderly who were only trying to help you." He took another big bite animatedly and watched a smile form on Jimmy's face.

"Okay, Dr. Green. Only that's not toast. It's dirty, bloody bandages." Jimmy covered his mouth and laughed. The taste turned putrid and metallic in Green's mouth. He dropped the dressings and ran to the wastebasket where he wretched and vomited up the pieces of scab and clotted blood, still attached to the gauze. Horrified, he looked at the bandage and saw only toast, with a smear of strawberry jelly staining the floor. Jimmy dropped his gaze and looked at Dr. Green under a hooded brow. In an unnaturally low voice he said, "Now. Where. Is. My. Cereal. Bitch."

Dr. Green scrambled to his feet and bumped into someone. He looked up and was astonished to see an aging man in a Priest's habit adorned with a crimson sash over his shoulders, rosary dangling around his neck, bible in hand. A bowl of cereal with a spoon in the other. Green looked from the food wielding Father to the potentially cursed Child.

"Right here, young man. Watch your mouth." The priest addressed Jimmy and put the cereal on the rolling table and wheeled it to him. He helped Dr. Green to his feet and said with a watered down Italian accent, "I am Father Giordano, and I am here to help. I need you to clear the room and lock it behind me. It will just be me, the boy, and his unwanted guests until it is done. Nod if you can leave and understand to lock the door." Green nodded and without really understanding much of anything, retreated. The door slammed a bit and a moment later the sound of the door locking meant the Father was alone with the boy.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"IN NOMINE PATRIS, ET FILII, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI, AMEN." Father Giordano performed the sign of the cross and kissed the cross on his rosary. Jimmy pulled back and glared at the priest. "Let us begin. What is your name, il demonio?"

"What are those funny words you said?" Jimmy asked. "They don't mean anything."

"They mean 'In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.' Amen is how you end a prayer, for Christians at least." Father Giordano pulled up a chair to sit bedside with the young boy. "How old is the host?"

"I'm 8 and half!" Jimmy said and puffed up his chest. He seemed to suddenly remember the bowl of cereal and pulled the table closer. He delighted when he saw it was his favorite, Lucky Charms. Jimmy ravenously tore into it, finishing it in seconds. "I want some more." He handed the bowl to the priest.

"After you name yourself. Why have you targeted this boy?" Father Giordano took the bowl and set it on the floor. Jimmy twitched.

"I want more. Now." The deep voice returned, wholly disturbing to be coming from such a small body.

"I only brought the one bowl."

Jimmy contorted, almost resembling a snake coiling up to strike. Father Giordano held up his rosary and began to pray. The small boy started to writhe and swing his limbs around wildly, angry at the prayer.

"Name yourself and be driven from this child, Demon!" He produced a small vial of holy water from inside the sleeve of his habit and pushed the stopper off with his thumb. He splashed the consecrated liquid at the child who began to convulse.

"NO! This is where we come to take respite! Leave us now!" Jimmy howled in a strange chorus of voices.

"Leave this boy!" Jimmy suddenly stopped shaking and moving. He sat up rigidly, eyes closed with a rigor mortis smile plastered to his face.

"The attendant has left, Priest. Now you have to contend with us."

"Name yourself!" Father Giordano splashed more holy water and brandished a crucifix.

"Gladly. My name is Ravana. There are others here. Would you like to meet them?" Jimmy's tiny frame rattled and his head spun around backwards, little bones crunching. He stood on the bed again and leaned over backwards, sticking his upside down, backwards head through his legs.

"I was called Pazuzu."

"You can refer to me as Jiangshi."

"Popo Bawa!"

"Tzitzimitl"

"Tuurngait."

"Cernobog."

"Koschei."

Poor little Jimmy's body wrenched itself at odd angles, snapping bones and squelching flesh around to give perverse adaptation to the multitude of demons inside the child. Demons who, it appeared, were unaffected somehow by Father Giordano's 'One True God.' The Father promptly pissed his pants. 'Jimmy' opened his eyes, blood-red orbs flashing with dark energy. The first voice, Ravana, spoke.

"You have our names, Father. What will you do with them?" It mocked. Father Giordano ran to the door and began pounding his fists, kicking and screaming to be let out.

"The boy is dead, priest. Has been for a long time. Think of this tiny body as a weigh station and rest stop for us. It is ours and we do what we want with it. This isn't the first time we have used a corpse as a conduit. The demon you drove out to fetch us, wanted cereal." Jimmy began to float above the bed and hovered closer to the priest. "Did you bring enough to share?!"

The door exploded open and Father Giordano spilled out, rolled up in his habit crying and drooling like a mad man. A nurse rushed in and saw only Jimmy sitting in his bed looking very confused.

"I'm sorry for yelling earlier, Nurse. Can I have cereal now, please? Lucky Charms!" Jimmy bounced on his legs on the sheets and thought for a moment. "Please?"

***

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Seems like Jimmy's parents have some explaining to do. But this feature is finished. You will have to let your imagination run wild with the logistics of multi-national demonic possession and the true evil of time shares. Time for dinner soon. Perhaps some cereal, with a side of toast and jelly.

Please continue checking in. Its almost time. The veil is thin. Your feature is approaching.