When you have the dog chasing its tail the game goes something like this: “I told the corrections officer that I’m not feeling well and he told me to talk to you.”
My reply: “Oh, that’s nice.”
“You need to send me back.”
“I’m not a doctor.”
“Well I’m not feeling well so I’m going back to my cell.” The prisoner stands in front of my desk waiting for my reaction, waiting for me to tell him what to do, as if he’s the child and I’m the parent. “You gonna let me go back?”
“I have no control over what you do.”
“Well I’m leaving.”
I shrug my shoulders. He steps into the hallway, thinks about it, steps back into the classroom. I take attendance, fill out the absence slip. He waits to see if I’ll include his name. I, in turn, wait for him to sit down.
“You’re full of shit and you know it. You could let me return to my unit, you just don’t want to.”
“Thanks for informing me on how it’s done. I guess I’ve been doing it wrong these past nineteen years.”
He sits down in the back of the classroom and mumbles a few choice words. “I want to see the school principal,” he decides, says.
I include his name on the bottom of the absence slip with a note to see my boss (if she’s not busy) and send him on his merry way to the corrections officer’s podium.
Five-minutes later he’s back in my classroom. “The officer says it’s up to you.”
“That’s nice.”
“Why can’t you make a decision?”
“Why CAN’T YOU make a decision?”
He’s seated again. “You’re going to mess with the wrong person one of these days.”
I could ask him to elaborate. I could write a threatening behavior ticket and have him handcuffed and hauled to segregation. He’s serving a minimum sentence of 4 years, 3 months for Armed Robbery. According to Michigan Law, Section 750.529: If an aggravated assault or serious injury is inflicted (while committing this offense), the person shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of NOT LESS THAN 2 YEARS. He’s lucky I chose to let him chase his tail. He’ll get tired … eventually. He has plenty of time to learn. Or not. I have patience.
9 comments:
This is too damn funny JR. Not for all the tea in China would I want to have these conversations, although seeing as how now every adult male on my street except for one has passed through an institution like yours the conversation has gotten more interesting. More like commissary goods for protection type shit though.
I ain't paying and I can make a decision.
I like how you put it,(if she's not busy). Busy is a subjective term. One person's busy may be bullsh**ing with one's feet upon the desk. Whereas another's busy may be being productive. Interpretation and perception are everything. I enjoyed the read, keep up the good work.
TWM, We should do breakfast again. Pick a day, since I'm too damn indecisive.
WW, The scope of my decision-making can go no further than my classroom; I am my own island, shipwrecked with a bunch of fools. Nice hearing from you.
I'm glad you have the patience. I sure don't.
That is really funny. I also find it cool, the way you handled it! :) Just be careful!
TWM, is going to have breakfast with you soon.
JR-NO breakfast without ME!!!! I want to join you boys! That story is so funny. Don't you think that those guys just want to assert themselves any way they can. I could not stand the loss of that freedom--even if I brought it on myself!
Oh, the patience of JR. Sit back and just watch the prisoner spin. Almost a game. D
JR. The craigs list killer committed suicide.
I wonder if anyone did a "Roberta R form?" Or was his despondence overlooked because of his crimes? No one wanted to make a decision? He did. Saved the tax payers a bundle by doing so.
Story was thought provoking, Enjoyed it. Huck
I like the way he's trying to put his responsibility on your shoulders. Dick.
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