Chapter 2
Avery
Uptown, Emberford
Dear Avery,
Thank you for writing to me. You are not bothering me at all!
It was nice to receive your letter. I’ve been here for six months now, and it’s the first one I’ve gotten.
To answer your question, yes. They did ask us if we wanted to possibly receive letters from strangers on the outside.
They didn't say it was for a class project, but one of the counselors suggested I sign up for the list. I think maybe there are a bunch of different places that use that inmate list. I’m not sure.
College sounds kinda intense. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a written communications class.
I was never really great at school. I swam my way through enough to finish my GED, but that’s it.
College was never really in the cards for me.
I’m also 18, but I’m turning 19 next month, and I’ve also lived in Emberford my whole life.
I agree with you, the place reeks. The streets smell like raw shit, especially down on the south side.
I’ve never been anywhere outside the city, so maybe everywhere smells like that. That’s a depressing thought.
Prison is… weird. It’s as shitty as everyone thinks it is in some ways, but not so much in others.
I get along well with my bunk-mate and I think that probably helps a lot.
We mainly just keep to ourselves, and we haven’t had any real issues or anything.
The food is nasty, but you kind of get used to some of it after a while.
Todd's parents put money on his books every month so he’ll usually share some of his commissary with me.
I won’t ask him, but I also won’t say no when he shares his ramen, or offers me half a stick of beef jerky. I guess it could be worse.
You said you are getting your associates in art.
Is that like paintings? Do you eventually want to work in a museum?
I remember going on a field trip in high school to the museum downtown.
It was cool to walk around and check the stuff out and spend a day outside the stupid classroom, but I’ve never really understood people that went out and looked at art for fun.
I guess I just don’t get it. But it’s really cool that you are going to school for that if it’s your dream.
There’s a program through the penitentiary that offers some classes and stuff, but I’m not sure how it works. I know there are a few guys that are working on finishing high school while they are locked up, but I don’t remember what else they offer.
What do you like to do for fun, or when you're not at school? Sorry if that’s a personal question.
I hope you got a good grade on your assignment and maybe, if you have time, you could write to me again? It was really surprising to get called for a mail check, but it was kinda cool too.
Hope you have a good day,
James (INMATE #4226)
INMATE #4226
Emberford Department of Corrections
8634 Inverness Blvd - Emberford
Dear James,
It’s nice to know your name. Thanks for writing me back. I didn’t think that you would, since it’s been almost two months since I sent my first one. Maybe it just takes a while to get to you, or vice versa. Anyway, I’m glad to hear back from you.
No, I’m not going for that kind of art degree.
I’m not really even sure what I’m going for.
I chose a general AA to just get my prerequisites out of the way and give me some more time to figure out what I actually wanted to do.
I just feel like there are so many options… what if I make the wrong choice?
I’ve always been interested in writing, so I’ve often thought about becoming a journalist or a column writer or something.
Maybe I should get an English degree, but that’s so boring.
Part of me thinks I shouldn’t have jumped right into college to begin with.
I should have taken a few years off after high school and tried to figure stuff out, but everyone was telling me that, if I didn’t go right away, I’d never go back.
To some extent I’m sure my mother was right about that, but it’s still irritating.
By the way, I did get an A on the assignment.
All we had to do was write the letter and mail it.
I’m pretty sure everyone got an A on that one.
What I’ve come to realize with Professor Wurly is that she’s pretty lazy and prefers to hand out a bunch of participation grades.
Show up, do the thing, get out. Saves her from having to grade a couple hundred assignments.
The one thing I’ve learned since starting college is that the teachers want to be in class even less than the students.
It makes it easier for us, but it’s also a little sad.
It’s nice that your roommate shares his food with you.
I’m glad you have a friend in there. I started watching a documentary about a prison in Mississippi.
It looks like a whole different world. Different culture, different rules…
it’s scary. How do you deal with it every day?
Are there people that ever try to fight you?
Do you have to carry around a shank? Has anyone ever escaped from there?
I tried to Google it, but nothing came up.
Is there a library in there? Are you allowed to read? I imagine if I was in prison it would be much more tolerable if I could escape into books. Do you like to read? If so, what’s your favorite book, or what kind of books do you like to read?
I’ve got semester finals coming up so I’ve been trying to get prepared for that.
I was supposed to meet up with some people from my history class to study this afternoon, but I really don’t want to.
I’m not great in social settings like that, and I usually just come off as awkward.
I’ll probably just review my notes by myself, and call it a day.
When I’m not in class I like to read or watch TV, and recently, I’ve gotten into baking.
It’s kind of cool to take a bunch of random ingredients and turn them into something delicious.
I’ve only figured out how to make sugar cookies and chocolate cake, but it’s a start.
I also have a really bad sweet tooth. I’m addicted to sugar.
Not much else, really. I don’t really do a whole lot, and I’m pretty boring. I did just get a new job, though. I’m waiting tables at June’s Diner, uptown. It’s part-time but will give me some extra cash, plus something to do with my afternoons.
What is your favorite dessert? Do you get dessert in prison?
Sorry if that’s rude. On the show I’m watching everyone gets to go outside and have yard time every day.
Do you get that? It would be so strange to be stuck inside all the time.
You must be a really strong person to handle it. I don’t think I could.
I did think it was a little funny that you mentioned ramen noodles in your letter. That’s what I had for lunch today. It was the creamy chicken flavor, which is my favorite. I eat it a lot. Do you have a favorite ramen flavor?
Happy early birthday, James. Are you allowed to celebrate in prison?
Thanks again for writing me back,
Avery