I’ve taught sixth-grade for years and I have great hopes for my ex-students. I even hear from some of them. Augie is one.  He is twenty five now and I had him as a student when he was ten. He’s in Corcoran Prison.  He writes every three weeks.

 

MR KARRER,

HEY! HOW  YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DOING?  YOU ASKED ME ABOUT A REGULAR DAY IN ISOLATION SHU (SECURITY HOUSING UNIT) TO ME..  WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT’S A REGULAR DAY FOR ME IN HERE. I GET UP AT 5:30 A.M., WASH MY FACE, BRUSH MY TEETH, PUT ON MY SHOES, FOLD MY SHEETS/BLANKETS NEATLY TO EACH CORNER PERFECTLY, ROLL UP MY MATRESS INTO A TOOTSIE ROLL FASHION AND START TO STRETCH OUT. THEN ONCE STRETCHED OUT I START MY WORKOUT WHICH IS SIT-UPS,CALESTETICS EXERSISES,AND “BURPIES” WHICH ARE A PUSH-UP AND A KICK IN WITH BOTH LEGS. KINDA LIKE A NAVY SEAL PUSH-UP. ONCE I COMPLETED THAT, I GET AS MANY SETS OF PUSH-UP’S IN BEFORE BREAKFAST COMES AT 7:15-7:30 A.M., I’M USUALLY DRENCHING WITH SWEAT. SO I SAVE MY BREAKFAST IN A BAG OR CUP AND START TO CLEAN UP WHICH CONSISTS OF GETTING MY “FLOOR TOWEL” WHICH ISA RAGGEDY TOWEL THAT I DO MY CLEAN UP WITH.  I WASH THE FLOOR TOWEL WITH SOAP AND SHAMPOO TO GET IT REAL FOAMY, THEN I CLEAN MY WALLS/ BED AREA/ FLOOR WITH THE HOT AND FOAMY STUFF. THEN I RE-WASH THE TOWEL.  THEN GO OVER ALL MY AREAS UNTILL I SEE NO MORE FOAMY STUFF. NEXT I CLEAN MY SINK/TOILET WITH MY SMALL SCRUB PAD WITH SOAP/DETERGENT I HIT EVERY INCH OF IT I DON’T MISS A SPOT, I CLEAN VERY THROUGHLY INSIDE THE TOILET, IT’S SO CLEAN YOU CAN DRINK WATER OUT OF THERE. THEN I WASH OFF ALL THE FOAMY STUFF AND DRY IT OFF W/ MY FLOOR TOWEL.  NEXT MISSION – BIRDBATH. ALSO GOT TO PUT UP A HALF CURTAIN FOR THE DOOR SINCE THE DOOR IS ALL STEEL WITH 12OO LITTLE HOLES IN IT SO THE TOWER CAN SEE INSIDE THE CELL, ANYWAYS I PUT A CURTAIN UP HALF THE DOOR SO THE COP FEMALES WON’T GET MAD!   SO I WON’T GET IN TROUBLE – ANYWAYS ONCE I’M DONE BIRDBATHING I CLEAN UP THE VICINITY OF WATER TILL IT IS DRY, THEN I DRY OFF, THEN I RECLEAN THE TOILET, DRY IT OFF. THEN I WASH MY LAUNDRY IN THE TOILET WITH SOAP AND STRAWBERRY SHAMPOO, THEN ONCE DONE I HANG IT UP (MY LAUNDRY) WHICH IS A HOMEMADE CLOTHESHANGER, REAL QUICK WE GET MILK CARTONS, RIGHT. WE CUT PIECES (THE BOTTOM PART) POKE HOLES IN THE MIDDLE ANDAND WE BREAK UP SOAP INSIDE A SOCK TILL IT GETS POWDERY. PUT IT INSIDE A CUP, ADD A BIT OF WATER. NOT MUCH AND GET THE SOAP “MUSHY”. THEN YOUADD THE MUSHY SOAP TO THE BACK OF THE CARTON. PLASTER IT ON THE WALL TILL IT GETS STUCK ON IT AND LET IT DRY AND IT WILL HARDEN UP,( YOU CAN ALSO USE OATMEAL)  ONCE I FINISH WASHING UP I MAKE ME A “CADILLAC” WHICH  IS A PRISON CUPPIOCUNNO (NOT SURE HOW TO SPELL IT)  WHICH CONSISTS OF A SHOT OF COFFEE FOLGERS/ OR MAXWELL, A SPOONFULL OF HOT COCOA, AND A SUGARY PACK (ALSO CANDY SUCH AS “FIREBALLS” JUST ONE. BUT THEY DON’T SELL THEM IN SHU IN HERE)  AND THAT MY FRIEND IS A “CADILLAC” I SIT ON MY BED AREA AND READ MY PAPERS (WHICH I REALLY ENJOY) AFTER THE PAPERS I EAT THE BREAKFAST I SAVED, THEN I RE-WASH UP, BRUSH MY TEETH, WASH MY FACE. THEN I READ FOR AN HOUR MY “PRISON LAW BOOKS” I STUDY (WHICH IS HANDY IN HERE) THEN IT’S 12:00 P.M. OR SO. I USUALLY TAKE THIS TIME TO WRITE A COUPLE OF LETTERS OR READ A FEW CHAPTERS OF A BOOK.  I START A WHOLE DIFFERENT ROUTINE I EITHER I TALK TO ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS OR DO A COUPLE SETS OF PUSH-UPS. ONCE I DO THAT JUST RELAX AND IF IT’S MY SHOWER DAY, DINNER COMES AT 4:30 – 5:00. SOMETIMES I EAT IT IF IT’S ALRIGHT, AFTER CHOW I READ OR WRITE. AT 7:45 OR 8:00 PM I TAKE ANOTHER BIRDBATH, WASH MY LAUNDRY, CLEAN MY BED AREA AND WAIT FOR “BARLOCK” THE COPS COME IN, LOCK-UP, AND BY 9:30 I’M ASLEEP.  THAT’S MY PROGRAM.

     THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS I GO TO YARD 2X’S A WEEK FOR 3 1/2 HOURS PLAY HANDBALL. IT’S A SMALL CONCRETE YARD WITH RAZOR WIRE CAMERAS AND A GUNNER WITH A M-14 LOOKING AT US. THAT’S MY DAY.

                                       

                                            YOUR FRIEND,

                                            ROJELIO

 

* When Rojelio wrote this he was in Corcoran Prison. He has been in prison for 12 of his 25 years. He and his teacher exchanged letters and played prison-chess by mail.