(picyure" Pixabay)
I wrote with many different prisoners in the past years.
That might sound weird if you consider I was a victim of abuse for many years myself. To me writing with prisoners is a way to meet and stay in touch with people. It also is a way to have a peep into an other world and to find out more about myself. There is a limit to everything and knowing when to say: stop, no further, is something one (especially me still) has to learn.
It's amazing how many young people stay in prison.
Boys who should be at school, start their lives with a job, make their dreams come true.
Richard is one of them. He is an African American and wants to be a writer.
I decided to help him out. First he only wrote letters, but soon they were a kind of notes attached to his manuscripts.
I spent a lot of time reading, editing and typing his handwritten manuscripts all over.
I also gave my opinion to his stories, since he asked for it.
Since he could use some help, I also sent him the special book, for writers with a lot of grammar and tips, he asked for. (This was only possible by a bookshop accepted by the prison, plus it had to be new and sent directly over by them).
So... Richard was busy inside and he kept me busy outside as well.
As time passed by he told me a part of his life story.
As a homeless kid he was taken in by a young caucasian woman who was a prostitute. He loved her a lot, she was like a mother to him.
After she has been terribly beaten up and died, he went over to the killer's place, knocked on his door and stabbed him to death.
To me, his story did not turn him into a bad person. I saw it as an act of love and valour and I still see it that way.
As time passed by Richard became more and more possessive and aggressive against me.
He didn't like me to have contact to other people
since I was his and only his!
Because of his behaviour I gave up writing with him. He was not the kind of guy who added something positive to my life and I have no intention to ever let anyone rule my life again.
The card is made by a prisoner. It was a birthday gift from an other prisoner.
Like to know more about me? Please read my other posts.
Is it being afraid of or simply dislike?
https://steemit.com/life/@wakeupkitty/afraid-of-or-simply-dislike-them
We should learn from history
https://steemit.com/film/@wakeupkitty/catching-film-you-should-watch
A good friend nearly died because medical help is refused
https://steemit.com/life/@wakeupkitty/medical-care-is-hard-to-get
My family is not "flattered" by me. They say I am a monster
https://steemit.com/cps/@wakeupkitty/you-should-know-i-am-am-a-monster
My dad run out of us and left me with a psychopath of a mom to take care of
https://steemit.com/parents/@wakeupkitty/run-away-dad
I turn out to be interesting for scamming
https://steemit.com/scam/@wakeupkitty/he-is-a-scam-it-is-omar-day-again
My pen-pal is in prison, in a few years he will be free again.
https://steemit.com/life/@wakeupkitty/he-my-pen-pal-wants-to-meet-me