I turned thirty in here, I turned forty in here, now I’m fifty and there’s very little chance you’ll let me out, I know that. What purpose does this serve? At least I’m not at large in the world, I guess you’d say. You should only know what’s at large in the world. You’re out there; am I the most dangerous thing you’ve seen? Every day I stay here I get worse. The people I robbed were never afraid—duly concerned I would say—not like I’m afraid. The one I injured on the job was an accident; I’ve told him so, how sorry I am. If it were up to him, you’d let me out. He’d put me to work. I’d make amends. There’s no way to amend myself in here. My first day here the doctor punctured my gut with an instrument searching for contraband. That’s our health plan. I almost died from the infection. Good riddance, you think, I never made much of a contribution, robbing people. As long as you keep me, I’m still robbing people. It’s never your worst crime that lands you here. It’s always something petty: leaving the scene, conspiracy to conspire, intent. Twenty-five years ago, I walked out on my kid. That’s an aggravated assault, but they don’t jail you for that. They didn’t jail my dad for that. The people I’ve hurt in here, that’s another matter, that’s on you. They wouldn’t have threatened me at all if I wasn’t in here. I wouldn’t have had to strike first to protect myself. I won’t hide behind God. I can’t say I’ve seen much of him lately. You let me out, I’ll maybe go and look for him again. And my kid too. See what kind of a danger he is.
Copyright © March 16, 2008 David Hodges
Very Short Novels 
5 comments
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March 16, 2008 at 8:55 am
Lauren
What a very true statement about our system. I’m generally a fan of rules and regulations, but not when they lock you into a system that isn’t working. The worst criminals go free on technicalities and the worst off in society can’t get a break due to the technicalities.
I love how you can say more in 299 words than most people say in pages long complaints about this very situation.
I’m more a fan of fairness than rules, but I know just what you mean, Lauren. Thank you very much.
–David
March 17, 2008 at 12:22 pm
wizzer
The punishment often stretches way beyond the punished—take the kid here—the implications of being away & the belief system instilled as a result.
But, we don’t see the other side of this story (nor should we) and whether they also see it the same way or it’s just the narrator’s tainted viewpoint.
I’m glad you said that for me, wizzer. There’s certainly more than one perspective here. Thanks.
–David
March 17, 2008 at 1:45 pm
litlove
Reading this made me think what a shame it is that we can’t put contexts and circumstances on trial rather than just people, but given all the stories your narrator gestures towards here, the trial would have to have more layers than the average VSN does!
Thank you, Litlove. He does weave a complicated story, doesn’t he, in the few words he’s given to tell his tale!
–David
March 21, 2008 at 1:28 pm
grantman
…sad as it may seem this story is more fact than fiction…good job
( ..PS,,, while I was away you appear to have been very busy)
Grantman
I expect a full report about your retreat, grantman.
–David
March 28, 2008 at 1:46 pm
c'est moi
I have thought about this subject many times. One of my close friends, indeed a mentor, spent 12 years (of a 60 year sentence) in a state penitentiary.
There absolutely must be consequences for crime, but what is the logic of locking up a non-violent criminal for decades on end? Are prisons and jails not called “Correctional Facilities?” How does incarceration provide the opportunity, as this man observes, for one to make amends for the wrong they have committed? A person’s behavior is a result of their thinking, how is a person’s thinking “corrected” in system we have now?
So many questions you have raised, I’ll stop now instead of reiterating them 🙂
Thank you for the thought-provoking story.
And it was good seeing you 😉
Seeing you was like watching the sun rise, sonshine! How was your honeymoon?
–David