While my social worker feared for my well-being at my temporary place of residence, she had no idea what I would next be walking into. Awaiting me was not only my new home but also its insidiously precarious residents, teens, who would transform my innocence into heightened criminality. There were also other impending dangers, both psychological and physical, which eventually led to emotional implosion, self-destruction, and incarceration. The name of this Catholic-sponsored boys’ home was Pequeños Christianos, Little Christians, but should’ve been called Pequeños Diablitos, Little Devils. It was located near Temple Street and Union Avenue, two miles west of downtown LA, an area completely unfamiliar and heavily Latino. Upon our arrival there, we noticed it wasn’t a home at all; it was an institution, a three-story brick structure formerly used as an Army reserve training barrack. The hellions boarded at this facility, which everyone referred to as ”The Club,” had varying criminal backgrounds. Most were formerly incarcerated at detention centers or other juvenile internment locations. All had been involved in the juvenile justice system to some degree. These were exceptionally
bad boys who were previously arrested for crimes including armed robbery, assault, auto theft, burglary, gang-fighting, rape, and narcotics.