Day 46

Monday, March 20, 2000

3:30 AM. Breakfast. Eggs, grits, bologna, bread. For some reason I ate it. Then I went back to bed. I had a dream of going to church with my wife and two year old, who was speaking more like a five or six year old. Waiting for church to begin my friend Mikd (from back home) sat next to me, then a couple I haven't seen since high school sat next to Mike. We spoke among ourselves for some time, with my daughter doing most of the talking. She is truly her daddy's daughter. I don't remember the rest, but it was a good dream.

Around 11:30 they brought lunch, which consisted of bologna, bread, lettuce and beans. Mmmmm.

Shortly thereafter, they called for Jim. His time in the hole is finished. He packed his stuff, said goodbye and went back into general population. We exchanged addresses so I can send him a copy of the journal when I get out, and I promised to send an autographed copy of the book, if it ever comes out. It sure is going to be quiet around here without him.

And then there were three. (Didn't GENESIS have an album by that name?) Rocky, myself, and ... Clarence. Yep, I finally found out his name. Not "G", not "G-Dog", not "Master G", but CLARENCE. I guess the name doesn't fit the image he tries to portray, but that's a story for another time.

A short time later the door opened again. It was mail call. For the first time since I've been here I got mail. I received words of encouragement from my faithful assistant on the outside who helps me run this journal, Bushman. Bushman said I need to lay off the pen because I'm making his fingers fall off. Sorry dude. I guess I just have too much free time on my hands. At least I know he's receiving.

I also got a letter from work. All my co-workers (except two) wrote a short note on a piece of paper and mailed it to me. It meant a lot, concidering this is the first contact I've had with the real world since I've been in the hole (except for the too-short phone calls to my wife and mom). Anyway, a few kind words go to an AWFULLY long way in here, so to all my computer-tech "homies", thanks a lot!

Getting a letter from the gang like that, brought my spirits to new heights. I thought for sure I'd be in a good mood for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, there was too much day left for that. It wasn't long that a guard we hadn't seen before came in talking shit. Just the opposite of the "Officer Keller", this one won't shut up and can't even stick his head in our cell without running his mouth, trying to get a rise out of us. For example, since we missed outside rec again today, Rocky brought to his attention that we would need to go out tonight around midnight, like we have been per the instructions of the Chief. (The REAL Chief, not the nice guard I call "Chief".) This guard, who I'll call "Officer Fecal Matter", for what I feel he's full of, jumped Rocky's case something fierce, then slammed the door.

"KISS my ASS!"
"Sissy BITCH!"

Prior to all that, he had handed me an envelope. The return address was from the jail I had been in on work release. It said "Disciplinary Appeal" in the upper left corner. I didn't have to read the body of the letter, just the signature. It was the administrator of that facility. He's the one that I suspect had these charges trumped up against me in the first place. He's the one that told me, "You should have thought about that before you decided to play games ..."

Well, of course my appeal was denied. He wrote, "A review of your disciplinary hearing shows that due process was followed. Policy and procedure were followed, there was evidence to support the charges and the sanctions imposed are within the guidelines set forth for such violations. The Appellate Affirms the decision." (sigh)

Although I should have expected as much, I guess I had to try, right? I feel better for at least doing so. Besides, he failed to break my spirit, and he failed to stop this journal, so I rest happy knowing he's a failure. If I do end up getting this published as a book, I suppose I'll HAVE to send him an autographed copy as well. After all, it wouldn't have been half as interesting nor nearly as fun to write if he hadn't declaired it as a "game".

Besides, I've only got six more days in the hole, and a total of seven days in jail. I can hack it another week. The interesting part is going to be how well I get along with Clarence after Rocky leaves; how I'll do with any new inmates they put in the two currently empty bunks, and the grand finale of my being moved BACK to the jail I came from, to face those guards and that administrator again for my final day and a half.

It ain't over yet.