When I was in the fourth grade at Crescent City Elementary, my teacher escorted us to an assembly in the cafeteria. In order to fit us all in, the tables were all folded and pushed against the wall. In this assembly, there were students from other classes and grade levels. I loved looking around at all the unfamiliar faces. While waiting for things to get going, I hear this sound, “Psst..hey…psst.” I search for the source of sounds, and I see a cute, chubby little boy with dark hair. When he sees my recognition, and I realize that he is trying to get my attention, in front of everyone he asks me, “Will you be my girlfriend?” Well, he was cute enough, and seemed nice, and I was honored that someone chose me so I said yes to the boy I knew nothing about. I would later learn that he was a fifth grader, an older man. The scandal! His name was Chris, Chris Crawford, and after I accepted his offer, he asked for my phone number so that he could call me. After all, the only time I would be a...
The first time I went to prison, I was more curious than afraid. Once corrections officers had ensured I wasn’t carrying anything on my person, I stayed in a holding area with others packed in like sardines, waiting for the all clear. No two doors were open at the same time. It was a slow and methodical process that reminded me of going through river locks as a child with my grandpa. Most prisoners are held in cells individually or in large pods, depending on the prison, but usually gen pop don’t just roam the halls freely. It is kind of like high school in that way. There are a few trustees with special permissions or hall passes to go from one location to another to complete work duties. Oftentimes, any position other than corrections officer, or CO, is filled with prisoners, primarily to keep costs down. These positions are earned through good behavior and sought after to break up the monotony and boredom of a regular inmate’s prison day. When first entering the halls of...