jPay Message #744

I passed the two year mark at the end of the January. Around then, the Career Scope worked called me out, and asked which, if any, trade I wanted to take. The idea of going home and freedom were fast becoming realities. For about a day, my heart jumped in jubilation. Then, my instinct for … Continue reading jPay Message #744 →

“Ghetto Robespierre”

I'm taking attendance for the creative writing class I'm teaching. I notice we're a person short. "Where's Preacher?" I ask Cliff. They lock in the same unit, and are always seen together. "Ehh, he had to lock up." "What happened? He didn't strike me as a dope fiend." "He wasn't. These..." I can tell he … Continue reading “Ghetto Robespierre” →

“Everything’s illegal”

From the pockets sewn into your pants to the remote in your TV to the cardboard battery pack for your trimmers, everything is against the rules. The markers, highlighters, and colored pens you bought at one joint are contraband at the next. There are so many rules, some rule-breaking has to be tolerated. You couldn't … Continue reading “Everything’s illegal” →

jPay Message #706

I knew about the stabbings, the violence, the unsafe shower situation. Here's what I didn't know: you don't get to see a dentist for years at a time, no matter the situation, even if you wanted to pay for the procedure. They dont fill cavities, they pull teeth. Your release date isn't always your release … Continue reading jPay Message #706 →

Books I Read This Month (December 2024)

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant - Anne TylerThe Bright Book of Life - Harold BloomThe Book of Power - ed. by Mitch HorowitzThe Deep Blue Good-Bye - John D. MacDonaldNightmare in Pink - John D. MacDonald I don't know how it took me so many years to first hear about the Travis McGee series. Written … Continue reading Books I Read This Month (December 2024) →