TIGER, TIGER (MARGAUX FRAGOSO)

Margaux Fragoso had a sexual relationship for 15 years with a pedophile. She was only 7-years-old when she first met Peter Curran. Margaux says she was: "...Peter's religion". He had 22 photo albums full of photos of Margaux.

Margaux and her mother, Sandie, began visiting Peter at his home every Monday and Friday after meeting him at the community pool. Margaux was completely taken with the number of pets Peter kept, everything from a dog to a small alligator. Visiting Peter was a nice break from Margaux's Spanish father, Louie, who was violent and full of put-downs. He especially treated Sandie terribly as she had a mental illness. Peter's live-in partner, Ines, worked full-time but Peter stayed home on a disability pension after being injured in the Korean war.

After a couple of months visiting Peter, he begins to kiss Margaux on the lips telling her that's what people who love each other do. That eventually led to Peter and Margaux spending more and more time in the basement together. While they played, Peter would tell her that the world lies and parents lie, that they should use the proper names for their private parts because they were meant to bring pleasure. Peter eventually talked Margaux into playing hide n' seek while 'she' was naked.

When a few months had passed, Peter took in a 6-year-old foster child named Karen. Who in their right mind places any child with someone like Peter? He obviously had more people duped then Margaux and Sandie.

At home, things were terribly intense. Louie was constantly berating Sandie and spent the majority of his time yelling and telling her what she couldn't do. He wouldn't allow her to cook, keep house, comb Margaux's hair and another whole list of tasks. He told her she was too stupid and had mental problems and therefore "he" had to do "everything". Louie's constant harassment made visiting Peter that much more appealing for Sandy and Margaux.

It absolutely made me angrier than a wet hen that Peter was outright molesting and lying to Margaux. On top of that, Peter knew how verbally and emotionally abusive her father was. Children are so innocent and believe everything that adults and or people in places of authority like teachers, police, clergy and others tell them. Peter was impressing upon Marguax how much "they" loved each other, and that "they" were made to be together and get married some day. Margaux at age 8 now fully believed she was quite mature and knew more than Karen did because she was only 6. You can see the amount of psychological damage Peter has already bestowed upon Margaux when she believed she was going to marry a man who was 52 and older than her own father.

This is just an overview of the story and believe it or not, there is so, so much more to this tale that you'll be utterly surprised, shocked and sickened. However, if you have a difficult time dealing with thoughts of pedophiles molesting young children, then this book would be far too heavy for you to read. I myself wasn't quite prepared enough to read this memoir.

April 24, 2011