Part One
INMATE #4226
Emberford Department of Corrections
8634 Inverness Blvd — Emberford
Dear sir,
I guess I should start by explaining why you got this random letter from a random person.
My name is Avery, and I’m a freshman at Emberford Community College. I’m currently going for my associates in art and have a written communications class. One of our assignments for this semester is to exchange letters with a pen pal. I was struggling to decide who to write to, but my professor said I could choose someone from a list of incarcerated people that would like to get a letter from someone.
I thought it sounded a little weird to get a letter from a stranger, and a little presumptuous to assume you’d want one. I mean, maybe you do? Did someone come and ask you if you wanted to get random letters?
The professor said I should tell you a little bit about myself, but, again, it seems a little presumptuous to assume you would care. And, honestly, there’s not much to tell. I’m 18. I’ve lived in Emberford for my entire life, and it blows. Once I get my degree I want to move to a small town somewhere and get away from this smelly place. Are you from Emberford?
What’s it like being in prison, if you don’t mind me asking? I’ve never been to jail, but I watch a lot of copshows and it seems awful. I’m sorry that you are there and not able to do what you want or even go outside. Do you ever get to watch TV? Are the other people scary? Do you have a roommate? What do you do all day? It must get really boring.
You don’t have to answer any of those questions. Honestly, you don’t have to even answer this letter. I know it’s weird and came out of nowhere.
Sorry for bothering you,
Avery
Avery
4077 Boulder Crest Lane
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,
