There are all kinds of reasons to want a pen friend from the free world, some wholesome and some not so wholesome. Obviously it’s nice to receive mail now and then. It’s cool to be included. Most guys receive mail, and it sucks when everyone except you… okay, ALMOST everyone… gets word from people that care.
Mail also let’s people know where you are on the proverbial ‘totem pole’. If you don’t get mail, you most assuredly don’t get money to go to store and don’t get visits. This is also true for phone use. People that don’t get mail rarely use the phone.
I once built a parole package for a friend, and in return he had his fiancé purchase me a profile online in the hope of correspondence. For the most part people write and we are friends for a short time before life’s requirements pull them away.
This is a letter I got from Stephanie, a really cool motorcycle-loving cowgirl – she has her own bike. We wrote back and forth for about four months…
Hi Jeremy,
I read your e-book, ‘The Monster Factory’, and I was touched by your honesty and will to survive. It brought tears to my eyes and disgust about the people who run such an awful place and the people who are imprisoned.
I sent you some money to help you through your struggles. Please stay strong!
Happy Holidays,
Stephanie
I enjoy hearing from and reading about my pen pals’ ups and downs. It’s a vicarious way of living myself, of getting to know people and hearing about activities I can’t experience for myself. Sometimes these activities are big things, sometimes small, sometimes happy, often sad. But it’s REAL life, not prison life, and valuable to me because my pen pal has chosen me to share it with.
Every now and then I make a friend that continues to write over a lengthy period of time. Often my correspondence with them provides strength and hope, but every now and then I get a negative reply – made even more sad to me because it’s justified and true. And it hurts.
This letter is from… I’ll just call her P. She was curious and funny. We wrote back and forth for just a few months.
Jeremy,
I broke down and read that report. I don’t understand how you could go along with someone who said that he was going to set fire to a night club when he had no control what his ex-wife was going to do.
Setting fire to a business was stupid. You’re an idiot for going along with ‘your friend’. So what if your buddy was fighting over his kid, did he threaten you or twist your arm, saying you have to do this or this is going to happen to you?
There were other ways to get back at her. Did you know there were three fireman that got hurt that day??
Kevin W. Kulow, 32 years old, died because of you guys.
One captain sustained critical respiratory injuries, he was hospitalized.
Another team captain had sustained serious burns to his face, knees and hand.
Kevin Kulow was a rookie, seven months on the job, seven months! He was 32 years old.
Fuck! All I can say to you guys is, you’re all f&%$ing stupid idiots. You got what you three deserved.
I hope you ROT IN HELL for all your actions, all three of you!!
DO NOT WRITE TO ME AGAIN. I DON’T WRITE TO PEOPLE WHO KILL FIREMEN OR POLICE MEN!!!
P.
Don’t judge her letter, she has family that are employed as first responders. Without P. and Stephanie, and without being able to hear from people in the free world, I would quickly become only aware of this world…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jeremy Robinson is author of Monstor Factory and also a frequent contributor to WITS and part of our writing family, his work is always heartfelt and honest.
Mr. Robinson lives in a Texas prison and can be contacted at:
Jeremy Robinson #1313930
Michael Unit
2664 FM 2054
Tennessee Colony, TX 75886
