Gag Rule

By Edward A. Dreyfus

Dolores Miller was living the American dream. She and her husband Lawrence lived in a small Southern California town with their two children. She was an elementary school teacher and Lawrence was a charismatic high school music teacher, but their idyllic life is suddenly disrupted when several high school girls accused Lawrence of making inappropriate sexual advances toward them and he is accused of being a sexual predator.The story focuses on Dolores, whose life is thrown completely out of her control. Like the passenger in a car driven straight into an embankment by its reckless driver, Dolores becomes little more than collateral damage. Despite her doubts about her husband's innocence, she is compelled to defend him in order to protect her family. She knows that he is a narcissistic man who loves the accolades and admiration of his young (especially female) students, but would he go so far as to seduce his teenage charges? Dolores takes us on an emotional whiplash of a ride as we feel her anguish and wonder whether Lawrence is guilty of being a sex offender or is he the victim of malicious teenage gossip.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edward A. Dreyfus
• Release date: Jan 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311560179

Edward A. Dreyfus

At the young age of 75 I decided to turn my full-time attention to writing. I had already written five nonfiction psychological books, but figured I could reach a lot more people by writing psychological fiction. I have now completed seven novels. Each one delivers a psychological message about the human condition framed in various genres: thriller, mystery, drama, to name a few. Each book represents a composite of people whom I have met in my practice as a psychotherapist and tells their story in a manner that I hope will cause the reader to reflect on his or her own life. The stories are fiction, but many of the characters are real and the issues they face are challenging.I was born and raised in New York City where I attended grade school, high school and college. I received my doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas in 1964. I was in independent practice for 55 years before retiring and am now a full-time writer. I live in Los Angeles with my wife and two dogs.

Book preview

Chapter One

2010

It was a dreary day in the small, mission style southern California town just outside of Newport Beach. The coastal fog drifted in, shrouding the town square. The old county courthouse was packed. It seemed as though the entire town of 25,000 had showed up for the trial. Television and radio crews, news media, and photographers from throughout the county lined the steps of the Caliport Courthouse and filled the courtroom. The judge prohibited cameras inside the courtroom.

The bailiff entered the courtroom, followed by the judge who took his seat behind the bench that stood a good twelve inches above the ground. This lent an even more imposing appearance to the judge than the black robes he wore. The room fell totally quiet in anticipation.

Hear ye, hear ye, announced the bailiff. The court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Gordon Salisbury presiding. All rise.

Judge Salisbury took his seat at the bench.

Be seated, said the bailiff.

Will the defendant please rise? began the judge.

The defendant was twenty-eight-year-old Lawrence Miller, a handsome, tall, well-groomed red-head who focused his bright blue eyes on what lay directly in front of him. His short, bespectacled, and balding attorney, Paul Franco, stood beside him.

Has the jury reached its verdict, Madam Foreperson? asked the judge.

A matronly, forty-something woman stood holding an index card between her fingers. We have, Your Honor, she said in a bold voice that exuded confidence and conviction.

What say ye?

We, the jury, find the defendant, Lawrence Miller, guilty on all counts of sexual misconduct, Your Honor.

The courtroom came alive, filling with chatter that forced the judge to rap his gavel twice to regain control of the room.

Order! Order in the court. Another outburst like that and I will empty the courtroom!

Lawrence Miller stood shaking his head in disbelief. His wife Dolores, a thin, timid woman, sat directly behind him. Tears filled her eyes as she reached out to touch his shoulder. Lawrence turned toward her with tears running down his cheeks. He turned back toward the bench as the judge began to speak.

Mr. Miller, you have been found guilty of sexual misconduct and abuse of power. I hereby sentence you to one year in the county correctional facility and one year on probation. Upon your release you will have to register as a sex offender with the State Department of Corrections. In addition, your teaching credential in the State of California is hereby revoked. I am giving you one week to put your affairs together, at which time you shall report to the County Sheriff’s Office to begin your sentence. Court is adjourned.

Dolores gasped as the reality of her husband’s fate hit her. She began to sob uncontrollably as the bailiff escorted Lawrence out of the courtroom. Lawrence’s attorney put his arms around her in an attempt to offer comfort.

The last year has been a nightmare, and now this! sobbed Dolores.

We’ll appeal. This isn’t over yet. We might even be able to get the sentence suspended, whispered Franco.

While Paul Franco escorted Dolores from the courtroom, the reporters and a few dozen spectators were gathering on the courthouse steps. Off to the side, a group of teenage girls were busy with their cell phones, texting and tweeting the news to their friends.

He’s going to jail.

The pervert is a sex offender.

He’ll never teach again.

The girls gave each other conspiratorial nods and smiled smugly. That’ll teach him not to mess with us, said one of them with a self-satisfied smirk. They all nodded in agreement.

Franco and Dolores met Lawrence just outside the courtroom where he stood with the bailiff. Once Franco and Dolores arrived, the bailiff left. Lawrence, Dolores and Franco struggled to get through the crowd as photographers snapped pictures and reporters shoved microphones into Dolores’ face.

How does it feel to be married to a sex offender?

Don’t you feel guilty that there are so many minors involved?

At the foot of the courthouse steps, a television announcer was speaking into a camera. We are seeing the rise and fall of the town’s music man. A high school celebrity, teacher and band conductor was just found guilty of being a sex offender. Convicted on multiple counts of sexual misconduct with his female students, Lawrence Miller was just sentenced to one year in prison and the loss of his teaching credentials. He is now a registered sex offender. How much do we know about his dark side? What will happen to his wife, Dolores Miller, and their two pre-school children? How does a family cope with such a turn of events?

Lawrence Miller, former high school teacher, was now a convicted sex offender. As his attorney ushered him toward his car, the crowd shouted words of condemnation. Where just a short time ago he had received accolades and cheers as the town’s music man, he now received jeers and disapproval.

Chapter Two

Two years prior

Lawrence and Dolores Miller were living a perfect life in their home in the small town of Brookings on the Oregon coast, where Dolores taught elementary school. Lawrence was music director for the local theater company, which put on various musical productions and concerts performed by non-equity players and volunteers from the community. In addition, he played in a band that performed at various functions locally and in neighboring towns. He also gave music lessons to children and adults. In fact, he had developed quite a reputation in the town of 5,000, and had quite a following. He was very popular, and by association, so was Dolores.

Dolores loved their life. She had come from Boston, a fast-paced big city with lots of traffic. She and Lawrence met there while Lawrence, originally from the San Francisco bay area, attended graduate school at Boston University. When they first married, they decided to move to Oregon to get away from big city life.

In the beginning, the tranquil life of the small town suited them just fine. But Lawrence had grown restless. While he enjoyed the celebrity of the small town, he had greater ambitions. He wanted to earn more money and gain more recognition. And besides, Dolores was pregnant with their first child. He needed to support his growing family.

Dolores was never a forceful person, and being the dutiful wife, she did not put up much of a fuss when Lawrence announced that he had received an offer to teach at a high school in California. He had argued that with the baby on the way, it would be nice to live closer to both of their parents. His mother and stepfather lived in Phoenix; Dolores’ parents lived in LA.

Dolores immediately took the test for her California teaching credential and passed, just as she had known she would. Lawrence had obtained a California teaching credential when he graduated college, thinking he might need it someday. He had never used it; now he would.

So when do you think I should tell my principal, and when are you going to resign from the theater? asked Dolores.

I suppose we should do it sometime before the concert next month, replied Lawrence. That will give them a couple of months plus the summer to find my replacement – not that I will be that easy to replace. He looked over at Dolores and gave her his aren’t I special smile.

Dolores smiled back, covering the hurt she felt at his implied suggestion that she could be easily replaced. Such was the nature of their relationship. She knew that he needed to preen and be stroked. The world revolved around him. He always pumped himself up and expected the world to do the same.

Lawrence was the eldest of two children raised by a single mother who doted upon him. His father died when Lawrence was ten and his mother didn’t remarry until Lawrence graduated from college. Dolores was the oldest of three children born to an authoritarian, controlling father and a sweet but ineffective mother. Dolores had learned her place in the family and how to stay on her father’s good side. She would never talk back – quite unlike her youngest sister who had a mouth that brought on their father’s wrath.

Dolores often thought she was replicating her parent’s marriage, despite all the promises she had made to herself that that would never happen. And now she was pregnant. Sometimes Lawrence’s big personality completely dominated Dolores’, which tended to be timid and lacking in confidence. Lawrence simply took up all the space in the room.

On the night of the concert Lawrence preened and postured, looking at himself in any mirror available. This concert would be his last in the local theater and he wanted it to be something to be remembered. He arrived at the small playhouse early to make sure everything was in its place. Dolores would arrive later with everyone else who would be in attendance.

In addition to being self-centered, Lawrence was also a perfectionist. He checked and re-checked all of the instruments, the seats placements, and the piano. He also checked the audio system, giving both the audio and the lighting technicians last minute instructions. Yet, though he was sometimes overbearing, he was not resented. All of the volunteers in the theater respected his ability and knew that with Lawrence at the helm, they would be putting on a great show. His attention to detail was what made all the difference between ordinary and special.

It was a spectacularly clear night with temperatures in the low 70s and no rain in the forecast to keep people from venturing out. The one hundred-person theater would be filled to capacity.

The orchestra members arrived, and one by one they took their places and began to tune their instruments. The chorus was dressed in colorful costumes that made them look like a colorful bouquet of mixed flowers – springtime arrived on the community theater stage.

The cast helped one another primp and straighten their garments. A cacophony of sounds emanated from behind the curtain as the small theater filled up with guests. The house lights blinked, signaling that the performance was about to begin. Quiet settled over the theater as Lawrence stepped from behind the red curtain.

He stood center stage, wearing a smartly fitted black Donna Karan suit and Hermes tie. He smiled broadly at the audience and made eye contact with many of the guests, and everyone waved or grinned at him in return. A few of the men gave him a thumbs-up. These were Lawrence’s peeps.

Lawrence bowed his head a bit, closed his eyes for a moment, and then re-opened them as the curtain parted. He turned to face the adults seated on stage, dressed all in white and holding various instruments.

He adopted a somewhat cocky posture as he raised his baton, and all eyes were upon him as signaled the orchestra to begin. His eyes were closed throughout the concert as he conducted them with power and elegance. Each musician gave his or her all to the performance. They wanted to please the maestro; Lawrence Miller was indeed their supreme leader.

Without a glitch or an intermission, the ensemble gave an impeccable presentation. The chorus never sounded better, and when the curtain closed on the last act, the audience erupted in applause.

The audience’s enthusiasm was heartwarming for all of the participants. Lawrence continued to bow, and encouraged the players to do the same. He was beaming, puffed up like a peacock as he strutted across the stage.

The crowd exited the auditorium and congregated in the foyer where they were serving wine and snacks. Everyone knew that Lawrence and Dolores were departing soon and wanted to wish them well.

Richard Anderson, the theater owner and Lawrence’s boss, was a sixty-something year old, friendly and outgoing bear of a man with a bald pate and a trimmed beard. He approached Lawrence with his arms spread out.

You’ve really outdone yourself tonight, Lawrence. The show was fabulous, Richard gushed. He gave Lawrence a big embrace and patted him on the back.

Dolores walked over to them carrying two glasses of wine. She handed one to Lawrence and kept one for herself. Lawrence took one glass, wagged his finger at Dolores, and took her glass as well.

You’re not getting our baby drunk, he said with a chuckle.

Dolores nodded in agreement with a feigned pout of disappointment as Lawrence sipped from first one glass and then the other.

Richard continued to extol Lawrence’s performance. Dolores, I was just complimenting your husband for going above and beyond with tonight’s concert.

It was beautiful, replied Dolores. She looked adoringly at Lawrence as he nodded appreciatively at people who stopped by to congratulate him.

It’s a shame we’re going to lose you next month, said Richard. Are you sure there is nothing we can do to change your mind about the move?

Lawrence put his arm around Dolores and she smiled appreciatively. I’m afraid it is not in the cards, Richard, he replied, taking a sip of wine. As much as we love this theater and this town, it’s time for us to move on to bigger and greener pastures.

We hate to see the best music teacher in town – heck, on this planet, leave! extolled Richard. "What if we put a plaque on the wall with your name on it? Unfortunately, we can’t offer you a raise because of funding, but we could even name the theater after you: The Lawrence Miller Playhouse. How does that sound?"

Lawrence shook his head as he placed his hand on Dolores’ expanded belly.

With a baby on the way, more money and better health benefits are a must.

High school band students will be a lot different from teaching music to a room full of adults. Know what you’re in for? asked Richard in a half-hearted attempt to dissuade Lawrence. He knew that once Lawrence had made up his mind he was not going to change it.

I’m always up for a challenge, Lawrence responded. You never know, it could be fun. I promised Dolores that once she got close to having the baby we’d make the move.

And what about you, Dolores? What are you going to do? asked Richard.

I was very fortunate, replied Dolores. The school district needed a grade school teacher. Apparently, they liked my credentials and the recommendations I received from my school here. They were willing to hire me even though I was pregnant. I was very lucky."

She’s being modest, interjected Lawrence My wife’s a master teacher. They didn’t want to lose her so they hired her on the spot. He gave Dolores a squeeze. But to Dolores it felt more like he was showing off a possession than genuine appreciation of her talent.

Richard raised his glass and offered a toast. Well, Lawrence and Dolores, we wish you well on your new journey. Don’t forget that you will always have a place in this theater, in this town, and in our hearts. And please keep in touch.

Thank you, Richard, replied Lawrence as he clinked glasses with Richard.

Dolores gave Richard a warm smile, but she felt a little sad.

Lawrence and Dolores were among the last to leave the theater. They stood outside looking up at the marquee for the last time. The Lawrence Miller Playhouse, he thought with a smile.

Ya know, hon, I’m gonna miss this place. It has given me a lot of good memories, said Lawrence in a soft, wistful tone.

Me too. I’m going to miss the entire town. I hope we’re not making a mistake.

Lawrence put his arm around Dolores’ shoulder, bringing her close to him as they walked off toward their car. I am certain this move is going to be good for us. And besides, I think I have outgrown this place. I need a bigger pond in which to swim.

Dolores frowned slightly, feeling a little apprehensive about the future.

Chapter Three

The next few weeks were busy for the Millers. Packing boxes and newspapers were scattered all over the place. Boxes were stacked in every room, some filled, and others in the process of being filled.

In addition to their household goods, Dolores had to pack all of her school supplies, books, and memorabilia from her classroom. And Lawrence had to carefully pack his musical instruments, music books, scores, and all of the desiderata common to a musician.

Lawrence spent more time tending to his personal stuff than packing their possessions, and Dolores felt an undercurrent of resentment. But it was no different than anything else; Lawrence always left the domestic end of things to her.

Is this what my future will look like? she thought. Am I going to have sole responsibility for this baby? Is this one of those red flags my Mom used to talk about?

When the big day arrived, Lawrence pulled up in front of their driveway with a large U-Haul truck. Having sold their ten-year old Honda, he hooked their one remaining car onto the hitch at the rear of the truck.

When Dolores questioned him about what they were going to do about a second car once they arrived in their new town, Lawrence dismissed her concern with, Don’t worry about it. We’ll do just fine with one car for a while.

* * *

They spent the rest of the weekend packing the truck and then it was time to go. Dolores looked at their home and felt sad, like she was losing a good friend. This feeling persisted as they drove through the town for the last time. A sense of foreboding washed over her.

In the meantime, Lawrence had put Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again CD into the player and was singing along with Willie with not a care in the world. He was as happy as could be daydreaming about how he was going to spread his wings and soar in their new environment. Hollywood – home to the music industry – was only seventy-five miles from where they would be living. He was dreaming big.

Dolores and Lawrence spoke very little on the journey to their new home, each of them caught up in their own reverie. It was overcast along the Oregon coast as they drove south following the curve of the ocean.

The weather matched Dolores’ mood. She couldn’t help wondering why she was feeling a sense of melancholy at the prospect of moving to sunny Southern California. It bothered her that she wasn’t feeling the excitement that Lawrence was exhibiting. She wasn’t normally a worrywart or a glass is half-empty kind of person. Perhaps it was hormones. She had heard

Reviews for Gag Rule

[DiDonovan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dolores has a perfect life: nice husband, home, two children. They are both teachers and their lives seem ideal only until husband Lawrence is accused of being a sexual predator - and then everything changes.

Gag Rule is about this process and these changes, and focuses on how Dolores' world is turned upside down. Based on real-life circumstances (which have been fictionalized here), Gag Rule comes across as riveting and engrossing perhaps because of these foundations in reality, which discuss silences either self-imposed or dictated by the outside world.

As events progress, Dolores finds more than her perception of her husband and their lives in jeopardy. Also at issue is who she has become in the course of a satisfied marriage that has seemed a dream come true.

It should be mentioned that there's no surprise about the outcome of Lawrence's guilt or innocence. This is provided in the very first chapter, which should indicate that the actual process is not really about Lawrence's actions, but their impact on his wife. It's also about Dolores' choices, which have framed (and too often limited) not just her role in their relationship, but her entire personality.

Many of these psychological insights are set up in that initial chapter, but its how Dolores works through the tumultuous processes of change in her life that really makes Gag Rule shine. Dreyfus is at his best when depicting the stark contrasts of this seemingly-idyllic life.

Under his hand, Gag Rule becomes not a novel of legal process, as might be anticipated; but a story of how marital experiences diverge and how narcissism leads to disaster on all sides. It's not just about guilt or innocence: it's about the psychology of unraveling and rebirth. Gag Rule is driven by change and self-realization and is a powerful recommendation for readers who would move beyond the prospect of a sexual predator in a marriage to examine the underlying influences and subtle cycles of abuse.