Chapter One
To: Bo Porter
From: Peyton Turner
Dear Mr. Porter,
I hope this letter finds you well.
My name is Peyton Turner and I’m a freshman at Montana State University.
I’m writing to you because we’re covering reformation in the prison system as a part of our sociology class and for my final assignment, I’m supposed to write an analysis paper.
My professor has encouraged me to interview an inmate and use the information to construct my argument.
I’m telling you this up front because I want you to know that I may use parts of our letters to write my final commentary, and I don’t know how you’d feel about that.
So if you’d rather not do this with me, I won’t blame you.
This is my first time using the prison pen pal system so I’m not an expert, but from what I understand, most people enter into this looking for a connection, a friend, maybe; someone to talk to.
And I want you to know that even though this is part of an assignment, I can be your friend for a little while.
In fact, how about to get the ball rolling I tell you a secret?
Or rather something embarrassing about myself.
So this assignment? It’s not a regular assignment. As in, I’m doing this for extra credit. Because I just got my midterm grades and they’re bad. They’re so bad that I’m failing and my professor provided me with this option as a last-ditch effort.
So there.
Can I tell you another secret?
Or again, simply a fact. This time, non-embarrassing, though.
My professor gave me a list of inmates in the pen pal program and I chose you specifically because in your profile you mentioned that you liked to read. So I figured we’d have something in common.
So what’s your favorite book?
For me, it will have to be Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The rocky moors; the hero in love and driven by revenge.
Have you read it?
I read somewhere that the library at Montana State Prison is in need of a major overhaul. That makes me sad, because reading should be as accessible as breathing, in my opinion.
In any case, I hope I hear from you but if not, that’s okay too.
Hope you have a great week!
Until next time (hopefully),
Peyton
PS: Okay, I have one more thing to confess and I’ve been thinking about it and I just didn’t know—still don’t—how to bring it up except to just bring it up so: I googled you.
Well, I googled all the names on the list my professor gave me but still.
For full disclosure: I typed your name in the search bar, clicked on the first article that came up.
It was just a short piece in the Post. I didn’t cyberstalk you, and I won’t.
I understand what an absolute violation of privacy it is and just because you are where you are, doesn’t mean that I can poke around in your life.
But I… I don’t know how to put it delicately, but I just wanted to make sure that you were, for the lack of a better word, safe.
Or rather your crime was (as safe as any crime can be).
I realize that I could’ve just asked you but then…
I mean, it just makes good sense to be careful, right?
Not to say you’re a bad person, or that the crime you were found guilty of defines you. It doesn’t.
Oh gosh. I’m not making much sense, am I?
Forget what I already said. All I’m trying to say is that I was doing my due diligence and I’m sorry I violated your privacy.
To: Peyton Turner
From: Bo Porter
Peyton,
I can’t remember the last time I received a letter.
Or sat down and wrote one.
And now that I am, it makes me feel like I’m back in school or something but anyway.
First, you don’t need to address me as Mr. Porter. That makes me feel a little too old and if I had to choose between being back in the classroom and lying on my deathbed, I’d rather be passing notes during lessons.
Second, what kind of a moronic professor encourages their student to make contact with a convict?
But then again, you don’t sound real smart either if you think a drug bust is safe. Just because it doesn’t sound as awful as aggravated assault or attempted murder doesn’t mean you want to meet a junkie in a dark alley.
Or maybe you do.
I’ve got no idea what college kids are up to these days.
I will say though that whatever you’re up to doesn’t seem to be all that good for you, seeing as you’re failing and your last-ditch effort—as you called it—is asking for help from a convict that you stupidly think is safe.
Bo
To: Bo Porter
From: Peyton Turner
Dear Mr. Porter,
Did you call me and my professor stupid?
It looked like you did but I’m still giving you a chance to rectify your mistake before I go ahead and call you rude.
Or worse, an asshole.
Because I believe in reserving judgment and second chances. I believe in reformation (what a coincidence, given I’m writing a paper on that). Which means just because someone is stuck behind metal bars on a drug charge doesn’t automatically mean he’s a rude asshole.
Even though that rude asshole also implied that somehow I’m the one making wrong life choices because I failed one class.
For your information, I happen to be a straight-A student and this is the first time I’ve gotten anything less than an A-minus. Not that it’s any of your business.
I can’t believe I was all broken up about violating your privacy. Clearly, I wasted my apology.
A piece of advice: If writing letters makes you think you’re in school, then maybe you shouldn’t sign up for the pen pal service.
I’ll find someone else for my assignment.
Have a good life.
Sincerely,
Ms. Turner
(Yeah, that’s right. It’s Ms. Turner to you.)
To: Bo Porter
From: Peyton Turner
Dear Mr. Porter,
Maybe there’s something in the water at Montana State Prison.
Or maybe all of your fellow inmates are as rude as you because after weeks of writing letters to them, I have yet to receive a single response.
My best friend, in a moment of pure hilarity, pointed out that maybe it’s you. You’re keeping them from writing back to me because you’re a jerk. But I’m not that full of myself to think you’d go to such lengths to mess with me.
But that’s not the point.
The point is that, unfortunately, I’m stuck with you.
Look, I’m not going to beg but I’m also not going to let you keep me from getting a passing grade either.
I tried to get my professor to change my assignment but apparently, he’s had it with me so I need to write this paper if I want to pass.
So I’m willing to start over. But I need an apology from you in order to do so.
An apology, in case you didn’t know because I don’t think you would, is a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.
It’s only fair.
Until next time,
Ms. Turner
To: Peyton Turner
From: Bo Porter
Peyton,
I didn’t think I’d hear from you again.
But I guess there’s something to be said about desperate times, desperate measures.
Now, your best friend, she sounds smart. What grade did she get? I bet she managed to scrape a passing grade.
Maybe I did keep them from writing back to you.
But maybe I did it because I was doing you a favor.
Because from what I remember, most guys in the pen pal program have at least been charged with one count of assault and robbery.
Doesn’t sound very safe to make your cut.
So then instead of demanding my regretful acknowledgment of an offense—thanks for the definition, by the way—you should be acknowledging your gratitude.
In any case, I’m not good at issuing apologies.
But since you’re unfortunately stuck with me, the least I can do is admit that I was a jerk to you and vow that I won’t be one in the future.
How’s that?
And if we’re doing this, you need to know that I don’t like repeating myself. So how about you stop calling me Mr. Porter and we can get this show on the road because I’m sure as hell not calling you Ms. Turner.
Bo