"Stop it!" I said.

"Stop it!  Stop it!"  Dad shouted, with panic rising in his voice with every slap on Gwyn's

naked body.

But my little brother only became worse.

"Oh, quick Alf.  He's going!"  Mam screamed.

Gwyn's head fell back, his body lifeless in Dad's arms.

"Alf, it's no good, it's not working. He's turned blue. Under the cold tap, quick!"

Dad carried him to the sink, held him under the cold water tap with one hand, and thumped him across his back with the soft part of his fist with the other, trying to bring his breath back. Whether Dad's will would release him of this convulsive hold on his spirit, or whether Gwyn's own will would be spent before it was too late, we never knew. But witnessing my little brother wilfully going to his death was excruciating. After such an episode, Gwyn was pale and limp, and slept until the following morning. Then he would be at the front door again as if nothing had happened, kicking the hell out of it.

What could have been done to overcome such extreme behaviour?  If it was inherited, could it be corrected?  Important questions, especially as we all inherit a variety of emotional traits. At the time, Gwyn was only three and a half years old, but even at that stage he was determined not to accept any restraint to his wilful desires. I have often asked myself why neither my brother Malcolm nor I inherited the same overwhelming self-will. I use the word 'inherit', because these tantrums did not become manifest until he was three. Some believe that certain foods can cause this sort of behaviour. In response, I put the question: How is it that some children, even at an early age, learn to be deeply calculating and cunning?  Is this a manifestation of dietary deficiency or food allergy? I think not. Certain food additives given to a particular child can only exacerbate unruly tendencies already present in that child's disposition. In Gwyn's case, the degree to which he was wilfully receptive, and the extent to which he was willing to obey an unclean malevolent spirit, became apparent at an early age. It was a spirit he seemed unable to overcome, the opposing spirit controlled him. ⁽¹⁾

Gwyn was particularly boisterous and resistant when parental discipline was attempted to awaken in him simple obedience. Gwyn recognized this immediately, and used emotional blackmail to impose his strong self-will. I realize now that Gwyn was neglected; for if we ourselves had been obedient to God, perhaps our prayers on his behalf against such unclean spirit domination could have been answered.

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