Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:46:54 -0500
From: Retta Michaels <rettamichaels@gmail.com>
Subject: With Love: Epilogue

                                   With Love

                                       by

                                 Retta Michaels



                                    Epilogue



Disclaimer

If you are under the age of 18, if you've read this story to this point,
you shouldn't have. A disclaimer at this point is useless.

If you are in a country or locale who isn't supposed to read
this....ditto.

Author's Note:

Some of you wrote a lot of questions in emails which were already
answered with the truth. Kevin requested it be written from "Boom's"
perspective rather than from a perspective of seperating the characters
and just giving updates on them. So, a re-write happened this past
weekend, and here it is:

Epilogue

To say things were tense the entire time we were performing our work,
would be an understatement. Inmates and convicts alike who had never seen
me so publicly out on the hill, now saw me out there hustling up drug
deals and turning them to Jared.

When questioned about it, I looked at them and said, "There's a new day
in this place and I'm taking up the slack after the riot." They'd look at
me strangely, and then would go about their business, or go over and make
deals with Jared.

At first, several good friends wanted me to go into the deals with them.
I told them, I'm making a dollar off this...that's all. If I'm lending
money to you, then I'm charging interest. Do you want the deal, or not?"
If they did, I had no problem making interest on the deal.

Several of my work out friends had a talk with me one night while I was
up pumping iron. They questioned my commitment to my fitness by running
the drugs. I looked at them and said, "My hands aren't touching the
stuff, and I'm not taking any. If I have to go to war over the deals,
then I will...but, it will be with a clear mind." They questioned whether
I should be doing what I'm doing while I'm proclaiming fitness and I told
them, "People are going to do it whether I'm the one making the deal or
not. Get out of my hustle and don't come back to me with it until you can
prove a needle ever touched my skin."

One of them knew me from the walls and told the others I definitely
wasn't doing heroin because he knew how I looked back then. He said, "The
Boom you see now isn't the same dude I knew back then. He was really
zoned out back then. Now, he's just crazier than hell."

I smiled and thought to myself, "Crazy in love dude."

Things went fine for us all. Jared wasn't threatened and anytime I saw a
tense situation, start to arise, Moose, Brick, and myself were all on the
scene standing behing Jared in a flash. At the same time that would
happen, I'd hear about 20 different guard's squawkey-talkies hit nothing
but static. When that would happen, I knew the air was being cleared for
the call to get to the area we were located.

The morning of the arrests, the prison stayed locked down. This usually
told us the goon squad was coming into the prison. If we saw white mini
vans, we knew they were bringing the drug dogs. This morning, we not only
could see a contingent of goons forming out by the fence, but we saw the
drug dog vans. They still didn't come.

People were yelling from cell to cell out over the open wing and I could
tell an air of apprehension was evident. Knowing what was about to take
place, I told Francisco to put on his clothes and have his comfortable
shoes on in case we'd be standing a long time.

Francisco in all this time had been working over at the medical building.
He had a sense of pride and purpose about him and word was quickly
filtering throughout the institution he was the person to turn to in
order to get stitched up, or to get an emergency trip to medical.

I say the last part because going to medical was a real bitch. One would
fill out an MSR (Medical Services Request) and about 10 days later,
they'd get called over for the illness. If you had the flu, you could
figure it'd be over by the time you got called over there. That's why
when I had the cyst, they'd not find it. The swelling wouldn't be there
when they got to see me.

About 11 am, Moose said, "Boom, take a look at the gate. This is going to
be huge, dude!"

I went to the window and looked towards the gate. The goons and drug dogs
had just been accompanied by the state's militia. A chill went through me
and I felt Francisco brush up against me. He said, "That's not usual, is
it?"

I said, "No little dude, that's not usual at all. This is going to be
huge."

The interesting thing about it is that even when the guard was there,
they still didn't move. I was wondering what was keeping them.

At noon, a vehicle came through the fence and it was an enclosed box
truck from food services. I knew when it showed, we were getting sack
lunches in our cells.

The truck would pull in front of a housing unit, and two guards would go
out to take the boxes going to their house. Moose said, "Dude, look how
many guards are coming out. There's not enough of them to run this
motherfucker!"

I thought "Man, if that man got arrested, this is going to be awful. The
militia will be running this place."

Soon enough, the wing doors popped and we were told our cell doors would
be opened long enough for us to get ice and to receive our meals.
Francisco and I got ice in our coolers and then took the proffered bag
when we went in. The guard closed the cell door behind us.

At 1 pm, a truck pulled up to the gate with a trailer on it. On the
trailer looked like a podium of some sort. It drove in and pulled into
the middle of the yard. The truck unhitched the trailer and I saw a
recreation officer drag a p.a. system out to the podium.

Francisco said, "Boom what are they doing?"

I said, "Hon, I've never seen a thing like this before, so I can't tell
you."

Moose yelled over, "Boom, what do you make of it dude?" I told him the
same thing. I knew if he'd never seen or heard of anything like this,
it'd never been done before in most any prison.

At 3pm, the militia began to move. They took up posts all around the yard
and a perimeter was put with one standing about ever 3 feet in a huge
square in front of the podium.

In our housing unit, cell doors popped, but not for every cell. Names
began to be called and mine, Moose and his celly, Brick and Jared's names
were some of the ones called for our wing. Francisco's name wasn't called
in our wing. I looked at Moose, and he smiled a faint smile. When we got
close to each other, he said, "The gig's up, now it's time for the
finale."

One of the guys whom I knew was another undercover guard came over and
said, "What you make of it?" I said, "Dude, we don't know. If Moose and I
haven't heard of anything like this, then it's not been done before." He
walked away quietly, but knowing he was getting called out too, I knew
this was a huge production of having the guards cleared at the same time
as everyone else. There'd be no doubts in anyone's mind as to them being
a legitimate inmate if they were seen getting arrested too.

We stood there for about 10 minutes when Francisco yelled down, "They're
holding court in the middle of the yard!"

People looked at each other and I went over towards Jared. If things were
going to go bad, it would happen now while we were waitting. Moose seeing
me move, moved too. I was on Jared's left side and Moose and his celly
stood behind him. Brick was on his left side. To a skilled observer, they
could see we'd drawn a good flank about him, but to a casual observer, it
looked like we were all carrying on a conversation. People would come
over and speak occassionally, but they'd not stay.

When our wing was called, we were taken by the goons to the "courtroom"
in the middle of the yard. Walking through a gauntlet of goons to the
holding pen of militia was eerie. I had the feeling they'd drop me in a
heartbeat if I put up a fight.

In the "courtroom", Jared was called up before the judge. A "public
defender" came over and spoke with him briefly and then he was put up in
front of the judge. When the judge read the charges, there were over 1500
counts of sales of a controlled substance read to him. Jared dropped to
his knees. The judge then read the charges which followed in a string.
Racketeering, money laundering, possession, and so on and so forth. The
situation was so real and the charges so overwhelming, I thought to
myself, "He hasn't got a chance in hell."...even though I knew this was
all a ploy.

When my name was called, the "public defender" came over and said,
"Richard, these charges read aren't real. We have to make it look like
we're doing this to you as well as these other guys...so don't be
worried. I went up and stood before the judge and the charges of
conspirousy, racketeering, money laundering, extortion, sales of
controlled substances, possession, and the list went on. The number of
charges were so many I lost count at over 10,000 counts. The judge looked
at me somberly and said, "How do you plead?"

I damned near laughed. How do I plead to all them fucking charges? Get
real you old fuck! I'm going to be pleading innocent. I mumbled
"Innocent" and he looked at me with shock. I raised my head to look at
him and he said, "Son, of all these people in front of me today, you've
got the most charges of anyone. Am I hearing you correctly when you're
trying to tell me you're innocent?"

I looked behind me and saw about 50 people all with their rapt attention
focused on my statement. I knew if I wussed out, I'd be in deep shit in
the wing and on the yard. I said, "Sir, if this is STILL America, and
it's the America in which someone can be made free by hiring a lawyer,
I'll be innocent, you just wait and see."

He said, "Bailiff, get this little shit out from in front of me before I
charge him with contempt."

I walked over to my "public defender" and he said, "Here's your
paperwork. if you'll notice, behind every charge is a (NYF). That stands
for Not Yet Filed."

I smiled and said loud enough for others to here. "Well, I won't be
needing your services, I've got enough money lined up for a good
attorney."

I walked out of the "courtroom" and was directed back to my cell. When I
got to the cell, Francisco met me with a hug and a kiss and said, "They
have that p.a. system turned up loud enough it's echoing through this
whole house. They want everyone to know what everyone is being charged
with."

When Brick came back in, he yelled up at my cell. "They're brining the
drug dogs in after court's over, so get rid of your shit!"

Him yelling at my cell was a tip off for something because he knew I
didn't have a thing in it. I took the cue and made sounds of flushing my
toilet about 20 times. If anyone was listening, I wanted them to think I
was flushing the goods.

Moose came in and immediately yelled, "Isn't that some shit! These
motherfuckers missed some people, now didn't they!"

I thought to myself, no they got everyone and it's all on tape dude...but
I also realized he was telling everyone to watch their back.

He came up to his cell and when he got in, he yelled through the vent,
"Boom, that's some shit dude. Our asses are in a world of hurt."

I yelled back, "How many for you?"

He said, "Of what thing? Altogether, there's over 900 charges."

I said, "Well, I got ya beat dude."

He laughed and said, "You getting an attorney?"

I said, "Oh hell yeah. Me taking a public defender on all these would be
suicide." After I said it, I thought to myself, I'm going to have to get
word up front I'm going to be needing 'lawyer visits' quite often so
people don't have an inkling this isn't real.

The court went on and on. Finally about dark, the last inmate was taken
back to their cell and then we saw the food service truck roll up again.

We were given our sack lunch and had another opportunity for ice. We took
both and then locked down.

Francisco said, "Boom, what if this isn't fake?"

I said, "Hon, take a look at all those charges in that file folder."

He opened the file folder and began looking at the paperwork. I went up
behind him and said real quietly in his ear. "If you notice, there's a
NTF behind each charge. The guy who was my lawyer down there told me not
to worry as that meant 'Not Yet Filed'. "

He turned around and gave me a huge hug. His head was facing the door and
he said, "Boom, I just realized the guys over in that cell can see
everything we do when we're standing up. Someone is looking right in
here."

I didn't make myself obvious but I took a glimpse of who it was. It was
the guy who had slashed me. He wasn't an issue any longer, so I didn't
make a deal of it. I needed to appear I had bigger worries.

Francisco went over and sat down and said, "Tomorrow is your mom's
birthday, you need to call her."

I smiled at him and said, "I sent a card."

He said, "Babe, you're going to call her because I want to wish her Happy
Birthday too. Won't it feel good to be out there next year to celebrate
it with her?"

I nodded and said, "Yeah, but let's worry about that when we get to that
bridge, we've got to make it out of here first."

About 8 pm, the wing doors popped and I heard barking. The goon squad
came in and everyone was ordered from their cell and told to strip down
to boxers only. We were told to spread eagle along the walls and to place
our foreheads against the wall.

Francisco gave me a look and I said, "There's nothing in there, so don't
worry."

There were 8 dogs and about 30 goons. They took 8 cells at a time, and
when they got to Brick and Jared's cell, a commotion broke out. The dog's
were going nuts and a lot of yelling began. I looked away from the wall
and saw a goon holding several bags of goods. I was immediately ordered
to get my forehead back against the wall. I turned to look at Francisco,
and gave him a wink. He winked back and I smiled.

The goons came up to our cell and really turned everything over. The dog
didn't alert, and soon they were on their way.

When the wing was shook down, they left and I looked down and saw Brick
and Jared still sitting at the wing table. Brick looked up and said, "My
celly apparently didn't get everything dog!"

I said, "How much have they found?"

He looked down and at Jared and said, "Too much dog, we're in a world of
shit."

I turned and Francisco looked at me and I said, "They're doing what they
need right now to get Jared and Brick out of here. They'll be goon by the
end of the night."

Francisco said, "Boom, I'm sorry. I know he's your friend, but if you
need me, please lean on me, O.k.?"

I said, "Babe, I'm going to need you. Brick and I were close."

We worked putting the cell back together, and then settled in to watch
some t.v.

I heard a cell door slam and went to the door. Brick looked up and
yelled, "we're getting taken to jail dude, I'll see ya later." I said,
"Later dude!"

I wanted to tell him I loved him and call him friend, but saying that in
this place was not what I'd need to make it to the finish line.

Moose came to the vent and said, "Boom, you o.k.?"

I said, "I'm o.k., it just tough dude."

He said, "I know dude. You've still got us, so don't be getting crazy on
us, you hear?"

I told him I heard and said, "Moose, talk with me in the morning. I'm
snuggling up with my baby."

That night, Francisco and I lay in each others arms and I fell asleep
dreaming the convict's sleep. I was in prison, and there wasn't an out
date.

The next morning, I went out on the yard as usual, and started doing
business as usual. People would come up to me and I gave them the info on
my charges and on Brick and Jared being found with a lot more drugs in
their cell. They nodded knowingly and told me of their charges. No one
stuck close by, and I saw Moose floating off on the edge of my vision the
whole time.

When we were going into the house, Moose said, "Boom, I'm going to be
there bud, and don't worry if things start to go bad. I'll be there in a
heartbeat."

I said, "Moose, if I could hug you bro, I would."

He said, "So would I boomer, so would I." He smiled and said, "Fuck it"
and turned and hugged me and said, "Boom, I love ya like a brother dude."
If these motherfuckers want to think it's fairy shit, then that's on
them.

I saw tears in his eyes and I said, "Moose, we should've done that more
often."

He smiled and said, "Nah, not with what you're working with!"

I laughed and he said, "Just jokin dude, I know what ya meant!"

I won't go into the daily routine except to say things went much the same
except there wasn't any dope getting sold by anyone. Occassionally, I'd
hear of someone scoring pot, but nothing major was in the place.

Someplace along the line, Francisco began a friendship with a huge guy
named Tiny. I'd known Tiny from the walls when he won mini skirts and
makeup. I didn't know him personally so I couldn't give Francisco any
information on him. All of my connections out on the hill didn't know
much except to say he was a 'big ole fag' who always kept himself a boy.


The first day they agreed to visit on the yard, I went up to the table
and said, "Tiny, if you're attempting to fuck Francisco, then know we're
together. If you disrespect that, I'll fucking crush you dude."

He smiled and stuck out his hand and said, "Boom, you're more my type and
don't worry about Francisco, we're just friends."

I said, "Well, I just want you to know I'm keeping my eye over here."

That evening when I got to the cell, Francisco lay into me like you
wouldn't believe. He said, "Boom, if you think Tiny and I are secretly
making plans for me to be with him, you're nuts. He works in medical with
me and is one of the most caring and compassionate people I've ever met.
AND, if you should know, that man fantasizes more about you than probably
even me. He knows your life history to the point he knows when you got
what tattoo and what his opinion was on each. He also knows when you had
your hair long, and also knows when you didn't have a mustache."

I smiled and said, "Well, I could have had me a big old girl a long time
ago!...NOT!!!"

Francisco smiled and said, "Well, I could always step out of the way and
let him have his way with you!"

I said, "Honey, I just wanted him to know I had my eye on you...that's
all. I'd do it if it was anyone."

He said, "I know Boom, and just as soon as you walked off, Tiny was all
over giving you praise for watching out for me like that. You didn't push
him away if that's what you were getting at...you only made him fantasize
about you more."

I said, "Babe, I can't get to the showers and that mental picture makes
me feel unclean."

He laughed and said, "Hon, you really should sit up there with us one
day. I think you and he would get along great. The stories he tells of
the old day and you tell are very similar, but his stories of pining away
for you every time you got in a fight and put into the hole are humorous
as he was too chicken to even let you know he had the hots for you."

I smiled and said, "As big as he is, it would have been a helluva fight.
That's for sure."

We went on with our days and then one day, the story broke of Francisco's
case without us being told. It broke with KPLR in St. Louis reporting it
and then, suddenly the story was on the Chicken Noodle Network, and Hard
Luck News later that night. Fox picked it up the next day.

Francisco got called out the next day and when he came back, he had a
schedule of times. I looked at them and he said, "There's a bunch of
reporters who all want to interview me. The prison is going to let them
do it. Here's the schedule of whom I'm speaking with and when."

I looked at it and the list was incredible. Oprah, Larry King, and Koppel
were just a few of them on the list. I looked down and saw Rivera and
said, "Do me a favor, when you get to the end of the interview with him,
make a comment of saying, 'It will be better than finding Capone's
vault!' and leave it at that."

Francisco smiled and said, "Anything for Oprah? I said, "No, not unless
she can get you a contract to be a movie star. You're good looking enough
for it."

He kissed me and said, "Boom, do you want me to mention my relationship
with you?"

I said, "Babe, as much as I'd love it, stick to the story of what
happened to get you in here. I want every person in America to feel
compelled to give a phone call to this prison and the governor's office
to affirm him letting us out of here is the right thing."

When the wings popped, a lot of people were suddenly interested in
Francisco. He went on with business as usual and went to his table he sat
at with Tiny. As much as I grudgingly approved of him, I was keeping my
eyes open. Moose and his celly were in the fringes of everything and I
said, "Moose, why don't you send your celly over to sit with Francisco.
That way, we've got someone close who can forewarn us if trouble happens.
I don't like all these people looking at him. It just doesn't feel safe.

I continued to keep off to the side, and occassionally I would see
someone come over to the table. Tiny would stand up and go into an
offensive posture which was strange. I'd never kept an eye on his through
the years, but he was earning his stripes with me now.

Nothing would happen, and the person would walk off. The only thing I was
really thankful for that evening was then shutting the yard.

The days went on and Francisco did the interviews. We'd watch the story
develope with each new tidbit being thrown at them by someone who was
obviously told to leak information and the scandal ensuing got the
investigation opened again into Francisco's mom's legs being scalded. A
news flash showed a woman being arrested and we knew the sergeant's
sister was going to be held accountable for her actions. The press
suddenly wanted to have more interviews with Francisco about his opinion
of the arrest. He gave a blanket statement of being glad she was going to
be held accountable, hoping the nursing home would be too, and pleading
for the state to review his charges.

His plea on national television was suddenly played on all three nightly
news and then carried by all the international news stations. I said,
"honey, that statement right there is going to be the one the governor's
going to use to have him cave to."

Sure enough, the governor's office made a statement the next morning in a
press announcement they were reviewing the charges and would let the
press know the findings.

Later that afternoon, the governor called a press conference and made a
statement saying he had reviewed the case and it's information and would
be getting his staff to commute Francisco's sentence. He made a public
apology to Francisco and his family openly.

That night, the governor's helicoptor landed in the yard. We looked out
the window and he came to the housing unit. It was no time at all and he
was up coming into the cell. He sat on the bed like he'd sat there all
the time and said, "Guys, we have a problem. This story has blown open
with such force, I've got to get you out of here Francisco and I've got
to do it so publicly, everyone is going to want to see the papers
involved."

Francisco said, "Well, governor, you gave your word and I'm suggesting
you find a way to get their paperwork hustled through. We fulfilled our
end of the deal and if I need to go public with everything, I can't think
of a better way to do it than when most of America is going to be wanting
my statement on being a free man."

The governor looked ill and I said, "Francisco, take the brass ring hon.
I expected something like this. It's a double cross. They're going to
threaten me with all those charges and I'm sunk."

The governor looked pissed and said, "I gave my word Richard and I'm
going to keep it!"

I smiled and said, "Well, it didn't sound like it to us. It sounded like
you were dragging your feet."

Francisco went over to the governor and said, "I'll play my part, but I
want their paperwork done before I get up to make a statement. If it's
not done, I'll say what I have to say and if you think your balls were in
the fire, you'll be out of office on the scandal that opens hell and
swallows you."

The governor said, "Francisco, I'm getting an emergency meeting of the
house right now so we can have a legislative pardon on your case. That
way, all things get taken off your record and the state will settle with
you handsomely. If they do that, I'll get the paperwork to be snuck
through in the background. I don't know if it will be legal to  use
inmate numbers on paperwork of this sort, or not, but if I can do it
without the press finding out the other names, I'll do it. If not, I'll
find a way of doing it."

He turned to Francisco and said, "When do you want out of here?"

Francisco said, "We gave our word for February. Make it so I can leave
here and go to my the park where I want to spread my mom's ashes on
Valentine's day."

The governor said, "Things are going to be busy. Right now, I'll tell you
there's no way I can get everyone else released at the same time. Due to
privacy issues, the press is going to be out in force on that day, so who
wants to go first. You or Boom and the guys."

Francisco and I both said, "Him" at the same time.

Moose yelled through the vent, "Francisco, you go first. Then, the press
trucks won't be around when we're released. If we go out the day before,
they'll want to do a practice piece on us being released and some nosey
cunt will want to know why I'm in here."

Everyone blushed and the governor said, "That pipeline works pretty good
as a communication device!"

We chuckled and I said, "You wouldn't have believed us it you hadn't seen
it, would you!"

He said, "I thought they had this place more secure than that."

I said, "The prison only looks secure from the outside. It's the public
that wants to be assured their safe, not us. We know at any time, we
could be out of here in a heartbeat."

The governor smiled a smile which didn't look healthy, but I think he
knew in his heart I was telling the truth. He shook our hands and said,
"Guys, I gave my word and I'll keep it. I don't know how yet, but I'll
keep it."

After we locked down, Moose yelled through the vent. "Guys, that guy was
in asking you to release his balls from the fire. You called him out on
it and started singing fucking Christmas carols telling him his nuts were
going to be roasting over an open fire." He laughed and Francisco smirked
and looked at me.

He said, "Babe, I wasn't going to let him back off his promises. We're
not electing him, and he needs to know it's not a campaign promise. I'll
use the press to fuck him with a machine gun and won't pull out until
it's spent."

We lay down and watched some television. The next day, the governor made
an announcement of an emergency session of the house. He stated he was
going to offer a settlement to Francisco for an undisclosed sum and
needed their approval." When his press conference was over, Francisco was
hustled up front for another press conference. He was asked what the
amount was and shrugged his shoulders. He said, "I don't know what it is,
and I don't care. If you asked my mom how much her legs were worth, she'd
tell you she wouldn't take a dime for them as they'd be priceless. I can
tell you with firm conviction her losing her legs caused her will to live
to diminish. Rather than being there to support her in that time, I was
put in here. You go home and figure out how much your legs are worth and
then look across the room and figure out how much the cost of losing one
of your children is worth and when you're laying on your death bed dying,
I'll come and ask you what it was worth to you, and then tell me because
I don't know."

When he was done speaking, the whole fucking prison erupted in cheers.
The sound was drowned somewhat to me because I was crying too hard. He'd
remained dry eyed through the whole thing but I was shedding the tears I
knew he felt.

That afternoon, we went out on the yard and every inmate possible was
high fiving him. Not one  inmate I don't think didn't go by him without
voicing support. Tiny sat by him and I think Tiny was more on guard than
I. I knew we kept an eye on him, but no one was acting untoward.

Moose looked at me and said, "Boom, I think we're safe tonight, I'm going
down here and pull a debt owed to me. I looked over towards Moose and
said, "If you need me dude, give me yell."

All of a sudden, I heard a yell from Moose's celly and Moose immediately
turned and started running. I looked toward Francisco and saw him up on
the table with Moose's celly standing on the seat and Tiny standing in
front fighting three individuals. I began running and my feet just didn't
seem to be moving fast enough. It was like someone put the world into
slow motion.

Moose and I arrived at the same time. We tackled the guys from behind and
I saw Tiny go down. He looked o.k., but I could here his breathing and
knew he'd been stabbed. About then, I heard a whoop on the yard siren and
in the back of my mind, I knew I'd never heard it before. A voice on the
loudspeaker said, "A-4...A-4...A-4"

I couldn't tell you if anything else was saying anything, because I was
already getting my guy turned over and doing death blows to his throat
screaming at the top of my lungs, "Die Motherfucker DIE@!!!@" The guy
started gagging, and I turned just in time to deflect an icepick shank
aimed towards my face. The guy suddenly keeled and I saw Francisco had
dove on top of the guy and took him down. The sensation of flying
overcame me and I didn't know what had happened. All I knew was I was
suddenly in the air and over the picnic table. I landed on the other side
and came up fighting again. I looked over and saw the biggest fucking
guard I'd ever seen had thrown Francisco clear and was now on the guy.

I looked at the scene and someone yelled, "Get Francisco to the house
now!"

I took off running, and the last I saw, the medics were already on the
way and I saw guards all over the scene. Moose and his celly were about
30 feet up the walk and he stopped for us to catch up to him. He said,
"WHat the fuck happened Francisco!"

Francisco was crying and said, "All I know was things were going good and
then Tiny suddenly said, 'Thundercats' and came around the table. He told
me to get on the table and to take rear. He got your celly on the seat
and told your celly to fight anyone who got through him. He started
fighting and that's whey you guys got there."

I said, "Honey, Tiny's been stabbed. I know that sound anywhere."

We looked back and we saw the medics running with a gurney towards
medical. It must've been bad as they weren't even bothering to load him
into the little golf cart ambulance. There were four of them and they
were hauling ass on the double."

Francisco started crying again, and we walked with him crying and leaning
against me.

I turned to Moose and said, "I want word down in the hole an award is
going out to anyone that will take them three out. They've gotten too
close and I want them hurt."

Moose said, "Are you guys o.k.?"

I said, "I'm fine. Are you o.k. Cody?"

He smiled and said, "I'm fine."

Moose said, "Take him to our cell with Francisco and I'll get the hit put
out on them."

I said, "I'll have the money paid to whomever that takes the job."

When we got to the cell, Cody came in and I think that was the first time
he'd ever been in our house. Francisco and he hugged and Francisco
thanked him for everything he'd done. Cody said quietly, I didn't do
anything. Tiny did it all. I stood there and froze. Even you tackled the
guy who was going to stab Boom."

Francisco said, "Cody, you did what you needed to do. You stood second
flank and I'm happy for that. I jumped the guy because he was going at
Boom and I saw the shank. You'd have done the same thing if someone had
been going after Moose with the shank, so don't worry."

I opened my foot locker and started piling out cigarettes. At $3 a pack,
I needed 50 packs in order to pay the hit. A standard hit like that at
the time was $50. (And no, a human life isn't worth much in there.) I
took them to a safe cell which is someone whom will do the transfer of
goods from someone who's paying to someone who's receiving the goods. I
paid him two jars of Folgers for the transaction. When I went away, I
knew it'd be done and I could stand back and watch.

We kept our door open that night until lock down. The number of people
who came in expressing their shock and alarm at what happened in support
of Francisco was great. The guards all filed in and even they were saying
they were pissed about what happened. All I knew was I had about lost my
baby and I was too far away. I didn't like that feeling and I was
mentally kicking myself in the ass hard for it.

Later that night, the housing unit sergeant came in and did the count.
When he got to our cell, he told us we were on lockdown until further
notice. He said the word came down from up top and they were in fear for
our safety. He went on, and Moose yelled over they'd been locked down
too.

I lay down up in my bunk and was quietly still kicking myself in the ass.
Francisco said, "Boom, if you're pissed at me, we need to talk."

I said, "Babe, it's not you...it's not you at all. I'm pissed at myself
because I thought things were safe and I let my guard down. I was too far
away and you could've gotten hurt bad. The only thing I'm thankful for is
Tiny was an old timer and he knew what to do in that situation."

Francisco said, "Boom, as much as I hate that Tiny got stabbed, I'm
thankful you weren't there. It could've been you who got stabbed."

I said, "Hon, it wasn't his place to get stabbed over you. It was mine.
Don't you know that's what I'm kicking myself for?"

Francisco said, "Boom, I'm not blaming you. It's something you're going
to have to work through, but when we get out of here, there are going to
be times when we're not going to be close to each other and things are
going to happen. I don't know what to tell you other than if anything
ever happens, I love you. Maybe I should've said that to Tiny more,
because he was a friend to me and now he might be down there dying over
me."

I said, "Honey, I'll get word up here so you know what's going on."

He said, "Boom, would you come down off your bunk and just hold me?"

I came down and we stood there for a long time and just hugged. Tears
streamed down my face because I came so close to losing him.

We were locked down for three days. On the morning of the third day, a
guard came to the cell and said, "Francisco, today's your lucky day.
You're out of here."

Francisco looked at me with shock and said to the guard, "I'm not going.
No one has said a thing about what's going on and if they think I'm going
to just walk out of here and not say a thing about us being fucked, I'm
not going."

I said, "Francisco, this doesn't sound like a usual situation. Usually,
you know you're getting out. Then on the day before you cart up all your
belongings. This doesn't sound like anything usual. I imagine the
governor just sent them word to have you out of here. They probably just
got the paperwork through the house."

He looked at me and said, "Boom, your mom doesn't even know. For me to go
out and just walk up the street is insane. I at least need her here."

I looked at the guard and said, "I need to call my mom."

The guard smiled and said, "I'll get you use of a staff phone."

Francisco and I walked past Moose's cell and I said, "He's getting out."

Moose yelled, "Alright! HEY EVERYONE TELL FRANCISCO GOODBYE!"

By the time we got to the top of the steps, the whole wing was cheering
him and yelling goodbye. By the second step down, I was already blinded
by tears. It was happening, and I knew the light at the end our tunnel
was getting brighter and brighter. I could see the future clearer now.

The guard took us to the sergeant's office and got an outside line. I
called our home number and nothing but an answering machine. I said,
"They're not home. I'll have to go get my address book for their cell
phone number. Francisco said, Babe, here, I'll dial it for you. I've got
it memorized."

He dialled it and then said, "Mom, Yeah, it's me Francisco! We need you
down here as they're about to release me. Oh, you are! They told you! Oh,
o.k., I'll see you when I'm out there. O.k. Yeah, here he is."

I got on the phone and mom said, "Richard, you stay sane. You are getting
out this afternoon. They want Francisco to have a press conference this
morning. Oh, you already knew! Oh, I imagine you were the first he'd
call! Yeah, I love you too. Love you, Goodbye."

When I hung up, Francisco hugged me and said, "Go pack our stuff and I'll
go do this press conference." He left with the guard and when I got back
up to the top of the steps, I went over to Moose's cell and said, "This
afternoon dog...get ready."

Someone heard what I said to Moose and said, "You're having a fight this
afternoon!"

I said, "No dude, I'm packing Francisco's things up to the property room
this afternoon...and I'm getting locked in the hole. The staff here is
afraid I'll go insane if I'm alone"

He said, "OH, well if you need help, I'll give a hand, but just remember
you don't have to be alone.

" He batted his eyes at me and I straight up knew he was putting in his
request to take Francisco's place as my celly. I found it humorous
because the guy appeared straight, but threw himself out of the closet
when he thought he had an opening.

I hadn't walked three steps and someone else said, "Boom, I'll help carry
some stuff too."

At lunch time, Moose yelled over he and Cory were packed. I told them to
bring it over to my cell and we'd have everyone carry everything. He
laughed and said, "All these guys who have the hots for you are all
wanting to carry his shit up there so they can get in your pants!"

I said, "Moose, let them think what they want, but I don't want everyone
believing we're getting out until we're gone. If they think that, word
will get out and then, we're in a world of shit real fast."

So, when we got back from lunch, we got all their things moved over.

At 1pm, the yard opened and I was called down to the sallyport and told
to take our stuff up. Moose had went to get the cart and an army of
hopefuls all helped carry down our stuff. When we got to the cart, Moose
and Cody pushed it and several people on the way asked what we were
doing. I told them, we're moving Francisco's things up and my ass is
getting locked down.

They looked with raised eyebrows but believed the story.

That walk was the longest walk I've ever taken in the entire 22 years I
was incarcerated. The emotions within me and the fear of someone coming
out of nowhere and killing me were all overshadowing the happiness and
fear I had within me. It was eerie, and it was one in which my heart had
to be beatting super fast.

When we got to the point other inmates could not enter, Moose said,
"Boom, that was a motherfucker dude."

I said, "Yeah, I thought it was just me."

He smiled and said, "No, I felt it and I'm sure Code over there thought
it too."

Cody smiled and I said, "Cody, please forgive me, but I never had time to
really get close to you. Heck, there've been times I thought you were
Cory and times I thought your name was Cody...so, just know I really
appreciate the love you gave to Moose here and the friendship you shared
with Francisco."

I went over and gave him a hug and then Moose said, "Boom, Francisco has
our number. Give us a call when you all get settled in." He had tears in
his eyes and the hug we gave each other was long lasting.

We went into the building which would process us through. I saw a glimpse
of my mom and then suddennly in the little piece of glass in which I saw
her, I saw Francisco's smiling face. He was waving and I could hear him
yelling, "BOOM! BOOM!"

It took us forever long to get processed out. The dunce who was doing the
paperwork had to read us the paper and have us initial it that we
understood the paragraph we had just read. I finally said, "Can you get
the super over here because as slow as this is going, it will be midnight
before I get out of here."

He gave me a look like he was pissed and said, "You can stay in here as
far as I'm concerned."

I said, "Go get the super and see if he thinks that...right over there is
my mom and she'll be getting him if it takes much longer."

He closed my file with a slam and got up and went over to a phone. While
he was gone, on the outside of my file, I read "MOTHER IS VERY ACTIVE IN
INCARCERATION" in all capitals and bold red magic marker. I had to smile
because I thought, if it hadn't been for her, I'd probably not made it
through here.

A few minutes after he got off the phone, the super came walking in fast.

He said, "Richard? There's a problem?"

I said, "Yeah, this guy wants to read us all the paragraphs like we're a
bunch of retards and at this pace, it's going to take until midnight.
When I told him to call you, he said he didn't care if we stayed in here
or not. Could you just have me sign what the fuck I need to so I can be
out of here! Either that, or could you get mom and Francisco in here so I
don't have to wait so long to see them?"

He said to the guy, "Point to him what he needs to sign and cut the
shit."

The guy was pissed, but he did what he was supposed to do. I signed about
200 pieces of paper and Moose and Cody did the same. In about 20 minutes,
we were all through and the super said, "Richard, you're a free man now.
Don't let me see you back in here, and I'm sure we'll see you out there."
He shook my hand and then he turned to Moose and Cody, he said, "Guys
good luck. I'm wanting to same the same thing to you, but you know the
spiel. It's strange, but I think you two won't be back. I know it's over
for you two and I'm glad it's went as it has. Go on out of here and be
happy."

He went to the door and we followed. It slid open and then we had to
cycle through another sliding door. Then, we had to cycle through another
and then we were out into the lobby where Francisco, Mom, and a whole lot
of my family were all standing.

Mom and Francisco ran through to me at the same time and then both
realized they each wanted to hug me first. I stopped and said, "Well, hug
each other for me and then I'll hug you mom and then Francisco."

The laughed and then hugged each other and then I hugged mom. She was
crying and then when we broke free of each other, I turned to Francisco
and he was already crying. I rubbed his tears away and said, "Babe, our
first as free people. I love you." We hugged and kissed and someone
behind him said "Get a room already!"

I looked back and didn't realize the person standing there was my baby
brother. The last time I'd seen him was when he was 8 years old. Now, he
stood over 6 feet tall and was really muscular. I said, "Matt?" He smiled
and I said, "Damn, the last time I saw you was when you were this tall!"

He came over and hugged me and I said, "I wish you had visited." He had
tears in his eyes and said, "Richie, these places scare me."

I laughed and said, "Mattie, nobody's called me Richie since you did. You
can call me it anytime you want."

He laughed and said, "I wish everyone would stop calling me Mattie
though."

I said, "Well, you're the baby, so no one wants you to grow up because it
means we're all old!"

He laughed and said, "You are old dude!"

Francisco laughed and said, "I keep telling him that Matt, but he just
refuses to believe it!"

Matt looked at Francisco and for a fleeting glimpse of time, I saw lush
in Matt's eyes. I thought to myself, Matt's got the hots for Francisco.

We stopped hugging and then I turned to Seth, my middle brother. I said,
"Seth, how the hell are you! I'm glad you came because now you can take
me home."

He started crying and said, "Richie, I just couldn't handle leaving you
here!"

I said, "I understand. I couldn't handle leaving you all either."

We hugged and I said, "Let's go home."

I turned and saw Moose and Cody still greeting family. The sight was
really heartwarming as there were a lot of hugs and tears too.

We went out to the car which was a huge station wagon vehicle like a
truck. I said, "Damn this thing's big! Why didn't you all just get a
school bus!"

Mom said, "This is a Expedition. They don't make big station wagons
anymore. They only make them like this as trucks." Another change, I'd
have to get used to...

When we got on the road, everyone sat up front and Francisco and I sat in
the rear. Mom had rented a Uhaul for our stuff and it pulled real nicely
behind this land yacht.

Arriving home, the first thing I wanted to see was my old bedroom. It had
changed and none of my things were there anymore. Mom came in and stood
behind me hugging me and said, "Honey, we put all your things in the
basement as an apartment so you and Francisco would have privacy. We want
to give you two your space without feeling you are interrupted."

I turned around and gave her a big hug and said, "Mom, thanks for being
so understanding."

She said, "Richard, Seth is understanding about you two, but I think
Matt's going to have problems."

I said, "Mom, I don't think Matt's going to be a problem except he thinks
Francisco is hot."

She looked at me and said, "How do you know?"

I said, "Mom, in prison, I learned to read people's eyes real fast. Matt
thinks he's hot."

We went out to the living room and Matt was sitting by Francisco on the
sofa real close. He was showing Francisco photo albums. They looked up
and smiled and Francisco said, "You were a cute kid...what happened?"

Everyone laughed and I said, "Well, I was good looking and young until I
got put in a cell with someone who would constantly remind me he was
cuter and younger...that's what!"

My mom said, "I know the feeling...believe me, you kids constantly remind
me I'm not a kid anymore. You keep ruining it by calling me mom! I keep
telling myself I shouldn't have kids your age because I think I'm still a
kid too!"

I laughed and said, "You are a kid! Just your body got older."

Seth was outside and I went out and began carrying our things in. Seth
stepped in to help and said, "Rich, you going to be o.k.?"

I said, "Seth, the world just got better today. I'll be o.k.."

He said, "Rich, if you have problems, you come to me and we'll talk."

I said, "Seth, I will."

He smiled and said, "Welcome home."

-------------------------------------------------

It's been four years now since we got out.

In that time, things have been hectic in our lives.

Francisco and I started doing the real estate purchasing we spoke about.
A lot of the purchases weren't bought by the people who owned the
adjoining land. So, we found ourselves maintaining the land and holding
onto the parcels.

Francisco and I started the Billboard sign company which we spoke about.
We now have a 17 county region in which our signs are prominantly
displayed. The company has grown and now uses the land we can't sell as
points where a billboard is now located.

In 2005, we were maintaining so many parcels of land, we spun off a
landscaping and yard service to mow them. It's now employing over 20 guys
and 2 women. In the winters, we use the trucks to blade snow from parking
lots and streets of private campuses.

The billboard sign company now employees over 40 guys, and 3 women.

In 2005, we purchased our first jumbotron. For us, it was a gamble and a
feat of faith. One of them costs $600g and we didn't know if it'd go
over. It did.

In the summer of 2007, we purchased two more jumbos and the advertising
for them sold out immediately. So, in 2008, we've got ordered 12 more!

In 2002, we purchase a 14 room Queen Anne Victorian. It wasn't much when
we got it, but we got it at a bank foreclosure auction for pennies on the
dollar of what it's appraised. It's now full of antiques which we've
gotten at auctions or estate sales...as some call them. Friends and
family call our home "The Museum" as they think everything's priceless in
value. To us, it was just a good investment for a fraction of what new
would cost.

In regards to the guys, us getting out of prison was like birds being
released from a cage. We all went our own directions either individually
or coupled.

Moose and his lover Cody are living in Columbia. I never used Moose's
real name in the story because it was a deal between us his name would be
anonymous. I've done my best to keep it that way. The deal had me sending
them emails so they could read the story first. Their suggestions were
put in the story to help clarrify it.

Brick and Jared did not stay together. Jared is now doing his own thing
as is Brick. Brick doesn't stay in contact often, however Jared has
become a close friend.

The super and his lover John, are real. They are friends of ours. They
have read the story, and for privacy reasons, they wish to remain the way
they've been depicted. They are great friends, and they are really
supportive of us. They too come to our home often and times together are
great.

A lot of things changed in the prison system after our release. I could
list the changes, but I'm afraid I'd not get things right and would give
a first hand knowledge of something which wouldn't be true.

This story is primarily fiction with a lot of biographical instances used
for incidents in it. Some of the incidents did not happen, but most did
and all too many more did also which weren't written.

To this day, Francisco and I are together. Francisco's name is Rett. My
name is Kevin. If you see us out here, feel free to come up and say
hello. I've settled down now and times I go into "Boom mode" are few and
far between.

With Love

---------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note:

With Love was written in first hand by myself, Retta Michaels, as a
depiction from Boom's perspective. It's confusing, but I'm not he.

As author, I didn't want to write it from my perspective of being a gay
man who lands a straight guy in prison. I tried, but it was just too
hokey for my taste. For me, it sounded more romantic coming from the hard
core convict realizing he could find another man attractive and then grow
to love him.

The first chapter is written with a lot of strong language in order to
depict how hardened Boom was. Hopefully, as you read through the
chapters, you realized he softened until at the end, he was calling other
inmates people...instead of freaks or motherfuckers.

Kevin's mom in real life is almost non-existent in our lives. The mother
in the story is in real life, mine. I used her as his mom so a softer
side could be shown as him already having the capacity for love, but it
was within the confines of prison he wasn't allowing himself it to
happen.

There are a lot of mistakes in the story. Some of them intentional and
some are just from ignorance of our language. You've been kind in
correcting those mistakes and for that, I thank you. I'd rather have
someone correct me than continue to do it over and over again and look
foolish

I had stated "Windhaven" would be the next released. I'm going to release
a few short stories I've written before I get into "Windhaven." I want to
show the capacity I have as an author to not write "tell all" stories
which have a lot of biographical nature to them. Hopefully, some day,
I'll reach "Prolific Author" status on Nifty with enough released and you
can see the collection in one spot.

Rett