Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: COMMUTE (07/07/16)
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TITLE: Renovation Of A Wounded Heart | Previous Challenge Entry
By Roy Proctor
07/13/16 -
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“Well, this is it,” Sam said to himself, as he took the exit marked Sanford Juvenile Authority. His jaw quivered. as he realized this place was part of the Prison system where they put “bad people.” “Where did I go wrong?” he asked himself. Yet he knew the answer. “I hope I have the courage to tell him that I'm sorry.”
“Your first visit, right?” the guard said.
“How can you tell?”
“That look.”
“I guess this is the shakedown that I've heard about?”
“Something we have to do, sir. Empty your pockets, take off your shoes and stand up facing the wall.”
“I'm clear?”
“Yes sir, you are. Go down that hall there, the last door on the right is the waiting room. Tell the guard on duty who you are visiting and they'll bring the resident to you. Have a good visit.”
“Okay, I'll call him,” said the guard. “Roger Johnson, please come to the visiting room.”
It had been a long time since Sam saw his son. “Would he even recognize me?” Sam wondered. “If he did, would he want to see me?”
Sam thought back during the rare times he got to see his son. He relived those precious moments when Roger was seven; Roger laying on the sofa with his head in his dad's lap. How precious were those memories when Sam stroked his boy's hair. They were...
“Dad, is that you?”
“Why, sure it's me.”
“I hardly recognized you. You've grown older …”
“Why, yes. Oh, they've shaved your head and ...”
“It's been a long time Dad. Are you still in those special forces?”
“No, I'm retired … Got a piece of land … bout 50 miles south of here ...Gotta dog … Well, do you want something to drink, popcorn?
Sam could sense Roger's eyes following him to the visiting room canteen – cokes and popcorn. As he stood in front of the microwave he knew that Roger's gaze continued. He didn't look at Roger though. “Can't let him see my moist eyes and trembling lips,” Sam hoped that Roger didn't see him wiping his eyes with a napkin.
“You said you were retired?” Roger said as Sam came to the table.
“Yes … bought me a small farm south of here. Ole Red loves the road.”
“Ole Red? A truck”
“Yup. Waited all my life to buy her. Communion wine red, dual exhausts, V8 and …
“Granddad named all his trucks. Remember that Dad?”
“Oh, yes. Let me see. There was Pale Face, Injun Joe … Roger, are they treating you okay here?”
“Weird. The shrink tries to find out where we went wrong. They have classes assuming we're all dumb. They keep telling us to get our act together... Dad could you program Ole Red to come here every Saturday?”
“I think that could be arranged. He loves the road.”
“There's just you and I, you know.”
“You and I?”
“Well, this guy moved in with us. He only wanted mom - threw me out of the house. I took to the streets. I ended up here, two long years … Dad, will you ever move?”
“Well, son, let me put it this way. I got a 40 acre farm, a house, a faithful dog, a little tractor to play with. I can raise fruits and vegetables and do business at the farmer's market. I'm not about to go anywhere. I bought this place because … well … me and Ole Red can take a weekly Saturday road trip. No, I'm not about to move any time soon.”
“Visiting time is over,” the guard in charge announced.
The guard had to tear father and son apart. “Sorry,” he said. “Visiting hours continue next Saturday.”
Sam drove slowly as he thought about his encounter with his son. “Roger needs to get on that tractor soon - needs to learn to drive Ole Red – needs to...” And I need to find a good lawyer.”
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