REPLY 4 U

DEAR SQUISHLES,

HI AND HOW ARE YOU DOING? JUST REVIEWED YOUR MOST RECENT COMMENT AND IT WAS NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WERE SO SURPRISED ABOUT THE SHOOT OUT. ACTUALLY, I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WILL BE WILLING TO TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOU BECAUSE I'M VERY INTERESTED IN KNOW WHO IS "SQUISHLES"? HOPEFULLY, YOU'LL OPEN UP TO ME IN DUE TIME. YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE JUST A COLLEGE STUDENT BUT THE LAST TIME I CHECKED COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE PART OF POLITICAL PARTIES, HAD FAMILIES, HOPES AND DREAMS, MAJORED IN CERTAIN STUDIES, THOUGHT THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD OR AT LEAST THEIR COMMUNITIES, OR TRYING TO GET OVER BEING AWAY FROM HOME, FEELING SWAMPED AND AWKWARD AT THE SAME TIME AND DID SOME EXPERIMENTING. SO, NO ONE IS JUST A COLLEGE STUDENT, NOT EVEN YOU!

I'LL BE HONORED IF YOU EXTEND ME A COURTESY AND TELL ME SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU. ARE YOU MALE OR FEMALE, YOUR NAME IMPLIES THAT YOU ARE A WOMEN. ARE YOU FROM THE EAST COAST, MID-WEST, SOUTH, ETC ETC? HOW MANY YEARS OF COLLEGE YOU HAVE LEFT, WHAT ARE YOU MAJORING IN AND HOW OLD ARE YOU? AGAIN, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE PUBLIC FORUM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HIT ME UP ON FACEBOOK AT MICHAELAMIRJOHNSON@YAHOO.COM.

I'M CURIOUS, INTERESTED BUT TRULY HUMBLED THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS MY RADICAL IDEAS ABOUT GANG REFORM. MANY PEOPLE TEND TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS ONLY ONE WAY TO ADDRESS THE GANG PROBLEM IN AMERICA AND ABROAD BUT YOUR UN-BIASED AND OPEN-MINDED INTEREST HELPS ME CONTINUE ON WITH MY MESSAGE. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, YES, I HAVE SHARED MY IDEAS WITH OTHERS, PARTICULARLY, MEMBERS OF THE VICE LORDS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES AND IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN MIXED BUT OVERALL POSITIVE AND IT IS ONLY THOSE WHO ARE BENEFITTING FROM THE WAY THINGS ARE TODAY WHO TAKE ISSUE WITH WHAT I'M PROPOSING, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE MY REFORMS WILL INTERFERE WITH THEIR "GRAVY TRAIN" AND THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

AS FAR AS MY THOUGHTS ON THE CHANCES OF THESE REFORMS HAPPENING, I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT IT IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY AND PROBABILITY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP MANY OF THE SMALLER REFORMS WERE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A PRISON SETTING, THE MOST DIFFICULT SETTING AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL BUT ONCE MYSELF AND THE DEDICATED WERE TRANSFERRED OUT TO ANOTHER PRISON THINGS BEGIN TO REVERT BACK TO NORMAL. DURING OUR TENURE WE IMPLEMENTED EDUCATIONAL REFORMS, REFORMS ON RACE, PRISON VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL OUTREACH. FOR INSTANCE, WE MADE THE ACHIEVING OF HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND MINIMUM COLLEGE EDUCATION MANDATORY FOR ALL MEMBERS. WE ALSO CREATED A BOOK CLUB DEDICATED TO AFRICAN/AFRICAN-AMERICA STUDIES BECAUSE WHEN A PERSON KNOWS BETTER HE DOES BETTER. THE ATONEMENT PROGRAM WAS CREATED AS AN OUT REACH PROGRAM THAT REQUIRED ALL OUR MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO THEIR VICTIMS, APOLOGIZE FOR THEIR CRIMES AGAINST THEM AND SEEK THEIR FORGIVENESS, ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF RAPE, CHILD RAPE, EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND MURDER. SOME OF THE BIGGER SUCCESSES CAME FROM STOPPING PRISON GANG AND RACIAL VIOLENCE. SO, I KNOW THAT THE REFORMS CAN WORK AND THE OBSTACLE IN THE WAY IS THE AUTONOMY IN WHICH MOST STREET GANGS OPERATE. THEY MUST BE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA OF BELIEF, CONCEPT AND IDEOLOGY BUT THE GANGS ARE PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL TO A FEUDAL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE VICE LORDS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MORE KINGS IN CONTROL OF THE VASSALS (LEADERSHIP) WHO CONTROL ASPECTS OF THE GANG. THE FLIP SIDE OF THIS SYSTEM IS THAT EACH VASSAL CAN IMPLEMENT SAID REFORMS WITHOUT ANY BUREAUCRACY INVOLVED.

SQUISHLES, WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS RADICAL, CONCERNING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY GANG OUT THERE THAT OFFERS ITS MEMBERS HEALTH CARE OR ANYTHING REMOTELY CLOSE TO IT.

P.S. YOU THINK THAT YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TO OFFER TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM BUT LET ME PRESENT YOU WITH THIS SCENARIO. "YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS OVERRUN WITH GANG ACTIVITY AND VIOLENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO KEEP YOUR STREETS SAFE, SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GET THE GANGS TO STOP HANGING OUT IN YOUR AREA?" I'D LIKE TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS AND REMEMBER THERE ISN'T A RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER. WE ARE JUST BRAIN STORMING. STAY SAFE AND REFORM WITH PALMS UP!

DECIPHERING THE S.O.L.

I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT A DECIPHERING OF THE STATEMENT OF LOVE IS NEEDED BECAUSE EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MY PAST ORGANIZATION ARE BEING REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO RECITE AND KNOW THIS LITERATURE BY HEART AND MIND BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO APPLY OR PRACTICE THE IDEAS CONTAINED THEREIN. THE STATEMENT OF LOVE IS ACTUALLY A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF LITERATURE BECAUSE IT SPEAKS OF UNDYING LOVE, RESPECT AND UNITY BASED UPON SOMEONE'S BIRTHRIGHT AND RACE. THE AUTHOR OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SAYING THAT IF YOU ARE HUNGRY OR UNCLOTHES, THEN I MUST FEED YOU. HE IS SAYING, ALTHOUGH WE MAY DISAGREE AND HAVE PERSONAL HUMAN CONFLICTS WITH EACH OTHER, OUR EFFORTS AND GOALS HAVE TO BE ONE AND THE SAME. MANY MEN HAVE ALLOWED THEIR PERSONAL DISAGREEMENTS TO GET IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS OR THE ACHIEVING OF A GOAL. WHAT IS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL IS HOW THE STATEMENT SPEAKS ABOUT THE GIVING OF ONE'S OWN LIFE FOR A NEW NATION AND HOW YOU AND YOUR COMRADES' SOULS ARE BOUND FOR THE SAME ETERNAL DESTINATION. THIS PART REALLY STRIKES A CORD WITH ME BECAUSE THIS LINE IN PARTICULAR IS ACTUALLY SAYING THAT EVEN IN DEATH WE ARE BROTHERS ON EQUAL FOOTING. IF THE MEMBERS OF THE VICE LORDS ACTUALLY PRACTICED THE STATEMENT OF LOVE THEIR ORGANIZATION WILL BE LOOKED UPON BY OTHERS IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LIGHT. YOU CANNOT SERIOUSLY ARGUE FOR AND DEMAND UNITY AND RESPECT FROM YOUR FOLLOWERS WHEN THE LAWS YOU ARE GOVERNED BY ARE NOT ADHERED TO. SO, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE STATEMENT OF LOVE MANDATORY TEACHING IF THERE ISN'T ANY LOVE BETWEEN THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS? SURELY, THE STATEMENT HAS BECOME MUCH LIKE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. MANY PEOPLE LOVE TO HAIL AND ARGUE ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE BUT THOSE ARE THE EXACT SAME HYPOCRITES WHO WILL WISH TO HAVE IT TORN TO SHREDS THE MOMENT THE DOCUMENTS APPLIES AGAINST THEM A SENTENCE OF THE STATEMENT OF LOVE STATES THAT " I AM YOU, YOU ARE ME AND WE ARE ONE", BUT I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF THE VICE LORDS DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS BECAUSE IF YOU TRULY VIEWED YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER IN THAT LIGHT YOU WOULDN'T BE SO QUICK TO SHOOT, STAB, BEAT, RAPE OR STEAL FROM THEM. WHAT PERSON WILL HARM THEMSELF IN SUCH A DRASTIC FASHION? A PERSON WHO HAS LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY AND IS MAD IN THE HEAD. WHAT IS AMAZING ABOUT THE STATEMENT OF LOVE IS THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T ASK ANY MEMBER FOR ANYTHING BUT SINCERITY, UNITY AND LOVE. THESE ARE ATTRIBUTES THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN DESIRE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE UNABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING SO EASY TO GIVE IS QUITE DAMNING. I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT, THE STATEMENT MAKES CLEAR WHAT THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS AND THAT IS FOR A NEW NATION. IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE STATEMENT THEN JOIN ME IN MY MISSION FOR REFORM BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT REFORM WILL GET YOU. A NEW NATION!

BULLYING: IDENTIFYING THE INSTIGATOR!

EVERY CLIQUE OF BULLIES HAVE AN INSTIGATOR. THIS IS THE PERSON WHO "GEEKS" UP THE AGGRESSOR BULLIES OF THE CLIQUE. IF YOU WANT TO STOP BULLYING YOU MUST LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE INSTIGATOR AND NEUTRALIZE THE THREAT THAT THEY POSE. NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT KILLING THEM OR DOING THEM HARM BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT MAKING THEM HARMLESS. ONE OF THE QUICKEST WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE INSTIGATOR IS TO STOP HIS OR HER LIES BEFORE THEY EVEN GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT THEM. IT'S ALL ABOUT TIMIMG AND BEING COGNIZANT OF WHO THE INSTIGATOR IS AND THIS CAN BE DONE BY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE "POLITICS" TAKING PLACE AROUND YOU. IF A GIRL NAMED AMBER IS BEING BULLIED, YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND OBSERVE WHO IS TALKING THE LOUDEST, NASTIEST AND THE MOST AGAINST AMBER. THIS MOST LIKELY WILL BE THE INSTIGATOR AND ALTHOUGH MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS MAY BE THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION AT THE MOMENT, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE SMARTEST. YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE IT'S AMBER TODAY BUT IT CAN EASILY BE YOU TOMORROW.
ONCE YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO DEAL WITH HIM OR HER. THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS CONFRONT THE INSTIGATOR WITH THEIR LIES BUT DO IT PRIVATELY. MOST INSTIGATORS ARE COWARDS AND WILL FLEE THE MOMENT THE LIGHT IS SHINED ON THEM. IF YOU HAVE TO FIGHT HIM OR HER TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS THAT YOU WILL NOT BE VERBALLY, PHYSICALLY OR SEXUALLY ABUSED BY THEM, THEN SO BE IT. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU LOSE THE FIGHT THEN TIMES, AS LONG AS THE INSTIGATOR UNDERSTANDS AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU ARE WILLING TO FIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR NAME AND HONOR, THEY WILL THINK TWICE ABOUT PUTTING YOUR NAME IN BULLCRAP. THE INSTIGATOR LOVES TO PLAY ON THE INSECURITIES OF THE AGGRESSORS IN THEIR CLIQUES. NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOSE SUCH MANIPULATION AND SHOW THE AGGRESSIVE BULLY THAT THEY ARE BEING PLAYED FOR A FOOL, THAT WILL ISOLATE THE INSTIGATOR, NIP YOUR PROBLEM OF BULLYING IN THE BUD.

THE RAISING OF THE KINN BEASTS:
BY MICHA'EL AMIR SIGIDI JOHNSON

I TOLD MYSELF THAT I WOULDN'T EVER WRITE THIS STORY. HELL, I ACTUALLY PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WOULDN'T WRITE THIS STORY BUT IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWELVE YEARS SINCE THE JINN BEAST WERE RAISED AND I THINK THAT NOT TELLING THE STORY IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN TELLING IT. TO THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS WAR, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU AND TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THIS WAR, I AM ETERNALLY INDEBTED TO YOU AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BELIEVING YOUR INITIAL WARNINGS. YOU AND THOSE WHOM YOU HOLD NEAR AND DEAR ARE IN MY PRAYERS.

DECEMBER 10TH, 1999, STARTED OUT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY FOR ME. EXTREMELY COLD, BUT I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS IN THE AIR BEFORE THE FIRST SHIFT CORRECTIONAL GUARD EVEN BROUGHT MY BREAKFAST TRAY TO MY CELL. SEE, I WAS IN THE SEGREGATION FOR GANG ACTIVITY AND ACTUALLY HAD FOUR MONTHS OF THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS THAT I WAS GIVEN COMPLETED, SO I'M EXPECTING TO BE LET OUT THE GRIP ANY DAY NOW. AGAIN, SOMETHING WAS IN THE AIR AND IT WASN'T THE USUAL STENCH THAT GREEN BAY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION SMOTHERS YOU WITH. NO MATTER HOW MUCH DISINFECTANT AN INAMTE SWAMPER USES TO SCRUB DOWN A CELL BEFORE SOMEONE NEW OCCUPIES IT YOU CAN STILL SMELL THE LINGERING ODOUR OF A GROWN ASS MAN. THE MOST YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS THAT THE LAST CON IN YOUR NEW CELL WASN'T A CRANK WHO LIKED TO PLAY WITH HIS OWN FECES. YEAH, YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW MANY GROWN MEN RESORT TO SMEARING SHIT WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THEIR WAY! AFTER RECEIVING MY BREAKFAST TRAY I SAT DOWN ON THE CONCRETE SLAB KNOWN AS MY BED, THAT WAS COVERED WITH A PRISON MATTRESS THAT WAS SO RAGGED AND THIN FROM USAGE THAT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE ANYTHING WAS SEPARATING YOU FROM THE UNUSUALLY COLD CONCRETE SLAB. THE BED MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO BAD IF THE DAMN CELL WASN'T SO COLD. WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS SEGREGATION MUST HAVE BEEN A STUDENT OR RUSSIAN HISTORY BECAUSE THIS PLACE HAS GULAG WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. THE FACT THAT IT IS SOMEWHAT CLEANER THAN A NORMAL RUSSIAN PRISON DOESN'T NEGATE THE FACT THAT THE PRISON GUARDS ARE GETTING TEMPERATURES AS A FORM OF CONTROL AND TORTURE. A COLD PERSON IS AN INACTIVE PERSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR BODY IS ALREADY WASTING AWAY FROM FOOD DEPRIVATION. WHEN I WAS INITIALLY PLACED IN THIS HOUSE OF PAIN I WAS A SOLID 180LBS RIPPED IN A FIVE FOOT SIX FRAME. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT I WEIGH NOW. FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T FAMILIAR WITH BODY BUILDING THEY WILL ERRONEOUSLY THINK THAT I LOOK GOOD BECAUSE I'M FLEXING A SIX PACK ON THE ABS BUT I FLEX THAT WHEN I HAVE MASS ON! THIS PATHETIC ASS BREAKFAST ISN'T MAKING SHIT BETTER. RIGHT ON CUE WITH MY THOUGHTS MY NATIVE AMERICAN AND WHITE BROTHER DREAM BOY BEATS ON MY WALL TO ANNOUNCE HIS PRESENCE.
"SAY BROTHER, HOW MANY SAUSAGE LINKS DID THOSE MUTHAFUCKAS PUT ON YOUR TRAY?" HE GROWLS.
"THE SAME AMOUNT THEY GAVE YOU." I SAY, WHILE TRYING TO HOLD IN MY LAUGH.
SEE, WE HAVE THIS SAME DIALOGUE EVERY SINGLE DAY, THREE TIMES A DAY AND NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TELL DREAM BOY THAT WE ARE GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF CRAP FOR FOOD HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE BECAUSE IN HIS MIND THE FOOD IS EITHER GOING TO ANOTHER PRISONER OR THE GUARDS. MOST LIKELY, IT'S THE GUARDS BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF THOSE SADISTIC CHOMPS SEEM TO PICK UP THIRTY POUNDS OR BETTER WHEN IT'S THEIR TIME TO WORK THE SEG UNITS. A FEW OF MY "BROTHERS" WORK IN THE SEGREGATION UNIT AS JANITORS AND FOOD COOKS AND THEY ARE REAL GOOD ABOUT KEEPING A BROTHA INFORMED ABOUT WHAT FOOD FROM THE MAIN KITCHEN IS GETTING TO US OR WHAT THE GUARDS ARE STEALING. SO, DREAM BOY ISN'T THAT FAR OFF WITH HIS SUSPICIONS. I JUST WISH HE FINALLY REALIZE THAT I'M NOT EATING ANY BETTER THAN HE IS. THOSE LAME ASS GUARDS ARE SHITTING ON ALL OF US EQUALLY!
I DON'T WASTE ANY OF MY TIME EATING MY BREAKFAST BECAUSE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU WILL HAVE THE GUARDS AT YOUR DOOR YELLING TRAY PICK UP, SO I KNOCK OFF THE WATERY GRITS, HALF COOKED SAUSAGE LINKS AND TOAST WITH THE SAME INTENSITY ACTOR TOM HANKS EXHIBITED WHEN HE ATE HIS FIRST MEAL AFTER FILMING THE MOVIE 'CASTAWAY'. IT ROUGHLY TAKES ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER BREAKFAST PICK UP FOR THE INSANITY TO START. IT SEEMS THAT MENTALLY ILL PRISONERS, WHO WE ALL REFER TO AS CRANKS, SEEM TO HAVE TIMERS NATURALLY DESIGNED TO ALERT THEM TO CRANK OUT. IT'S TRULY A SYMPHONY OF CHAOS. EACH CRANK PLAYS HIS ROLE WITH THE SEASONED DISCIPLINE OF ANY AWARD WINNING ACTRESS. THE CRANKS WHO LOVE TO BEAT ON THEIR STEEL TOILETS WASTE NO TIME SETTING IT OFF, THIS WILL CAUSE THE "SCREAMERS" TO STEP ON THE SCENE AND IT'S AMAZING HOW THE SCREAMERS' VOICES ARE NEVER THE SAME. AMONGST THESE CRANKS ARE THOSE WITH PITCHES AS DEEP AS 10S SOUL SINGER BARRY WHITE AND SOFT AS DIANA ROSS AND I BULLSHIT YOU NOT, THEY WORK ON THEIR SCREAMING AS ONE GROUP, AS IF THEY ARE WORKING ON AN ALBUM COMPILATION EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS THE SONG WE ARE THE WORLD! OUT OF ALL THE CRANKS, IT IS THE "CELL WARRIORS" WHO ARE THE BEST AS WHAT THEY DO. THESE ARE THE MEN WHO HAVE BEEN IN SEG FOR YEARS AND YEARS, EITHER IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONFINEMENT. THEIR CONSTANT CONFINEMENT HAS CRIPPLED THEM MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, SO THE ONLY WEAPON THEY HAVE IS THEIR MOUTHS. QUITE VICIOUS ACTUALLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE PERFECTED THE ART OF VERBAL ASSASINATION AND I HAVE WATCHED MANY CATS "COP PLEAS" TO STOP THE VERBAL ASSAULTING! IN ALL THIS MADNESS I WAS STILL ABLE TO HEAR THE DISTINCTIVE WALK OF THE SEGREGATIONS UNIT MANAGER AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I KNEW BUT I KNEW THAT SHE WAS THE OMINOUS PRESENCE THAT I FELT IN THE AIR DURING BREAKFAST. SYLVIA COOK IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN WITH VERY LIGHT SKIN, GREEN EYES AND THE ONE HAS ONE OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS HAIR STYLES I'VE EVER WITNESSED ON A BLACK WOMAN. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE SISTERS WHO THINKS SHE IS LIGHT ENOUGH TO "PASS" AS SOMETHING OTHER THN BLACK AND HASN'T REALIZED THAT HER HAIR GIVES HER AWAY. SHE HAS TOLD ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN THAT SHE ISN'T BLACK BUT SHE IS DOMINICAN, AS IF DOMINICANS ARE NOT BLACK. ANYONE WITH A SMALL KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY KNOWS THAT THE ISLANDS HAITI AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ARE THE SAME ISLAND. ONE SIDE OF THE ISLAND SPEAKS FRENCH, WHILE THE OTHER SIDE SPEAKS SPANISH. SYLVIA COOK ONLY SPEAKS ENGLISH AND SHE IS A LIAR, SHE IS UNQUESTIONABLY A BLACK WOMAN BUT IT IS EQUALLY CLEAR SHE WAS NEVER RAISED AS SUCH. HER HAIR GIVES HER AWAY BUT THE FACT SHE IS A "THICK GIRL" AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY UP HER CURVES CAN ALSO BE THE SMOKING GUN EXPOSING HER AS BEING OUT OF TOUCH!
UNIT MANAGER SYLVIA COOK HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS BEING THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS AND TODAY WASN'T ANY DIFFERENY. THE MOMENT THE CRANKS HEARD HER SOFT VOICE CALL OUT MY NAME AND DOC NUMBER THEY IMMEDIATELY WENT SILENT. "YOU ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR TRANSFER TO THE SUPERMAX IN BOSCOBEL, WISONCONSIN AND I'M HERE TO SEE IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM REVIEW HEARING?" MRS COOK SOFTLY WHISPERS.
"TRANSFERRING ME TO THE SUPERMAX FOR WHAT? MY HOLE TIME IS UP AND I'M WAITING ON THE CAPTAIN TO RELEASE ME ANY DAY NOW." I SAY WITH A TAD TOO MUCH DESPERATION IN MY VOICE, WHILE TRYING TO LOOK DOWN MRS. COOK'S DEEPLY PLUNGING SWEATER LINE. HER HAIR MAY BE BOGUS BUT HER BODY IS BANGING, DESPITE HAVING TOO MUCH BODY FAT FOR MY TASTE. SHE KNOWS THAT I'M STALLING BUT SHE PLAYS THE GAME AS GOOD AS ANYONE AND HER LOOK SAYS IT ALL. "LUST ALL YOU WANT BUT YOU'LL NEVER GET ANY OF THIS!" THIS BIT OF NEWS HAS TOTALLY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD, ROCKED MY FOUNDATION AND RIGHT NOW ALL I CAN DO IS GLARE AT THIS WOMAN WHO INVOKES FEELINGS OF LUST AND DISLIKE IN ME AT THE SAME TIME. PRISON HAS A WAY OF DOING THAT. MAKING YOU DESIRE WOMEN THAT YOU WOULDN'T USUALLY LOOK TWICE AT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FREE WORLD. WITH A BLANK MIND AND A SEMI-ERECT COCK I MUTTER SOME UNINTELLIGIBLE SHIT ABOUT HER HAVING BAD ACNE WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE. I WAS TRYING TO BE NASTY BUT IS WAS ALL ABOUT STALLING AT THIS POINT. MRS. COOK WASN'T TRYING TO HEAR ANY OF THAT.
"I CAN WRITE YOU DOWN AS A REFUSAL IF YOU LIKE." SHE MENACINGLY SAYS WITH THE SAME SOFT VOICE.
"OF COURSE I WANT MY PROGRAM REVIEW HEARING." I BARK.
NOW THAT SHE HAD HER ANSWER SHE DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME MOVING AROUND FROM MY CELL FRONT. SHE KNEW THAT AROUND THIS TIME IS WHEN ALL THE FOULEST AND NASTIEST COMMENTS WILL BE HURLED AT HER. THE CELL WARRIORS WILL DO THE DEED FOR ME, NOT OUT OF CAMARADERIE OR FRIENDSHIP BUT OUT OF A WARPED SENSE OF DUTY. THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY BE THEM HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TOMORROW. I WAS JUST LAYING BACK ON MY ED TRYING TO PROCESS THIS LATEST BIT OF INFORMATION WHEN MY WALLS BEGIN TO VIBRATE WITH THE UNMISTAKEABLE FORCE THAT ONLY DREAM BOY CAN PULL OFF. HE MAKES SOLID CONCRETE VIBRATE LIKE HE TAPPED A TUNING FORK OF GIGANTIC SIZE AGAINST THE WALL. I GUESS YOU WILL HAVE TO PERFECT THE ART OF NOOSE DISRUPTION WHEN PLACED IN SEGREGATION UNITS, BECAUSE ANYTHING ELSE IS A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY. YOU EITHER BREAK THROUGH THE CRANK LINE OR PREPARE YOURSELF FOR TOTAL ISOLATION.
"THAT BITCH AND 'EM ON SOME BULLSHIT WITH YOU, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THEM SUIT UP?"
I KNEW THIS WAS COMING BECAUSE THE BROTHER DREAM BOY IS A SOLDIER AND HE BELIEVES THAT BRUTE FORCE CAN PRETTY MUCH SOLVE ANY PROBLEM WITHIN THE PRISON SETTING. I TEND TO AGREE WITH HIM MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY THING THAT DOC OFFICIALS RESPECT AND FEAR, SO I THINK PRISONERS SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP THE POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE ON THE TABLE WHEN DEALING WITH PRISON ISSUES. HOWEVER, MAKING THE GUARDS "SUIT UP" IS PRETTY MUCH A FOOL'S GAME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TRULY WIN THAT WAY. IT'S YOU IN YOUR SMALL CELL AGAINST SIX TO EIGHT OFFICERS IN FULL RIOT GEAR, BATONS, STUN SHIELDS AND PEPPER SPRAY. I DON'T THINK THAT I EVEN HAVE TO MENTION THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE GUARDS ARE UNNATURALLY MASSIVE. IT'S A MIXTURE OF BASKETBALL PLAYER HEIGHT WITH BODY BUILDER AND HOT DOG EATING CONTEST WEIGHT. TOO MANY MEN HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES AND HAVE HAD LIMBS BROKEN, INCLUDING THEIR NECKS TRYING TO FIGHT THAT TYPE OF BATTLE. IN MY YOUTH I FOUGHT SUCH WARS AND HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THEM TO BE POINTLESS AND UNSATISFYING!
"I AGREE BROTHER BUT I'M NOT WITH THAT SUIT UP SHIT ANYMORE." I YELL BACK TO DREAM BOY.
"YOU KNOW THEY SAY SOME WEIRD SHIT IS GOING ON IN THAT JOINT?" HE YELLS BACK TO ME.
"YEAH, I'M HIP BUT YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE ALL THAT NONSENSE DO YOU?" I ASK.
DREAM BOY NEVER REALLY ANSWERED MY QUESTION YES OR NO BUT WHEN HE STARTED CITING THE UNEXPLAINED AND MYSTERIOUS CASES OF INMATE DEATHS I'LL BE LYING IF I DIDN'T SAY HE DID SCARE THE HELL OUT OF ME. THAT PLACE HAS ONLY BEEN OPEN SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER AND THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD THIRTY INMATE DEATHS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE CAUSE. ONE OF MY SICILIAN GUYS WROTE ME FROM THERE TALKING ABOUT HOW INMATES ARE BEING KILLED AND EATEN BY THE GUARDS BUT I TORE THE LETTER UP, FLUSHED IT DOWN THE TOILET AND THOUGHT THAT SICILIAN MIKE HAD FINALLY BEEN MENTALLY BROKEN. I SECRETLY ARGUED TO MYSELF THAT IF THE GUARDS WERE DOING ALL THIS GHOULISH SHIT, THEN WHY WOULD THEY ALLOW FOR SUPER MAX PRISONERS TO WRITE OUT AND TELL ANY AND EVERY ONE WHO WILL LISTEN ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON? THE GUARDS ARE IN FULL CONTROL OF THE MAIL AND SUPERMAX PRISONERS ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE ALL OUTGOING MAIL UNSEALED FOR "INSPECTION", SO THEY WILL KNOW WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM! DAMN, I HATED HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH DREAM BOY BECAUSE THE RANGE WILL USUALLY BECOME DEATHLY QUIET, AS IF WE ARE TELLING SCARY STORIES AROUND THE CAMP FIRE. SEGREGATION WING 200 WAS THIS QUIET FOUR HOURS LATER WHEN i WAS BEING LEAD OUT OF MY CELL, SHACKLED AND HANDCUFFED BY THREE GUARDS AND THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER HEARING IS SOBBING FROM AN UNKNOWN CELL. I ASSUMED IT WAS DREAM BOY BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY FRIEND I HAD IN SEGREGATION AT THE TIME. MY PROGRAM REVIEW HEARING WAS THE FASTEST AND MOST EFFICIENT RAIL ROADING I EVER HAD THAT IS SAYING A LOT BECAUSE DOC OFFICIALS ARE MASTERS OF SHAM AND PERFUNCTORY HEARINGS. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM BEFORE I KNEW THAT MY TRANSFER TO THE SUPERMAX WAS APPROVED. AFTER A QUICK STRIP SEARCH AND READYING FOR TRANSPORT I WAS MARCHED TO THE SIDE OF A MINIVAN THAT HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY DOC OFFICIALS FOR THE SECURE TRASNPORTING OF ITS PRISONERS. BEING TAKEN IN THE MINIVAN WAS A SMALL BLESSING BECAUSE I GET SICK WHEN RIDING IN THE "MEAT WAGON". THE HEAT WAS ALREADY BLASTING WHEN I SCOOTED INTO THE MINIVAN AND THAT HELPED KNOCK OUT THE BONE CHILL THAT SEEMS TO BE AMPLIFIED IN GREEN BAY WISCONSIN BUT THE SKY DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A NORMAL WINTER SKY AND THIS CAUSED A CHILL TO RUN THROUGH ME THAT NO AMOUNT OF HEAT COULD VANQUISH. I'M NOT A SUPERSTITIOUS PERSON BUT I SWEAR THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE WHERE BOSCOBEL'S IS LOCATED HAD A DIFFERENT LOOK FROM THE REST OF THE SKY. THE SKIES WERE CLEAR AND BLUE WHERE I WAS BIT DOWN THAT WAY IT LOOKED LIKE A POOL OF DRIED BLOOD AND TWILIGHT.