by redclay | Dec 25, 2019 | Creative Writing, Detention Center Writing Contests
Change or Remain the Same?
Anthony Campbell
Nonfiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention Center writing contest, August, 2019
Change or stay the same? Change or stay the same? To change means I have to change a lot of things about myself. Like my thinking, the way I move, people I interact with on a regular basis, places I go, and possibly my appearance! That’s a lot, then I have to think whether or not this change is for the best? Will it impact my life positively or negatively? Change has a lot of levels and steps, so am I ready to make those changes? Remaining the same seems pretty easy; it’s comfortable, it’s routine, it’s the same old me! Change will bring a new me and will my friends and family like that changed new me or the same old me and am I ready for the new me or content with being the old me?
What and how will I feel? At least I know if I remain the same all the questions about change will be put to rest! But one thing I do know about myself is I like new things so maybe change is good because it’s new, and if I like new everyone else will too because I’m not the only person who likes new things as long as they are new and improved! So do I change or remain the same? Change or remain the same? As much as I would like to remain the same old me, change seems like the direction to head in and the meanings of new and old says it all.
• New—different from (the) one in the past, strange, unfamiliar, recently grown fresh, unused, modern and recent.
• Old—having lived or existed for a long time, of aged people, of a specified age, not new, worn out by age or use, former.
Yeah its final. Change and everything new. I’m all in! Change is definitely in my and everyone’s best interest as long as it’s positive! Besides the meaning New comes before Old in the dictionary! Because the only thing that a person can’t change is their past, the future however if one does decide to change is full of possibilities!
Change Don’t Remain the Same!
Change Don’t Remain the Same!
by redclay | Dec 25, 2019 | Creative Writing, Detention Center Writing Contests
As the Mind Gets Quieter, the Intuition Gets Stronger
Victor Oben Ebai Jr., Arlington County Detention Facility
As the mind gets quieter, the intuition gets stronger. Often times throughout life we are faced with the anxieties of trying to live up to society’s futile preconceived credence ideology of our perception of success. Any desire that we have that’s in conflict with God’s desire for us requires that we change our desire. Theoretically speaking two wrongs don’t make a right but two lefts makes a right. As a result of our disobedience in God’s purpose in our lives we are forced to take two lefts to make a right as opposed to just making the right in the first place. We’ve all learned the hard way that when we abscond from God’s desire for us daunting and catastrophic occurrences takes place in our lives, forcing us to deplete lambently changing our course to where he wants us to be.
Though many life experiences may seem abstruse we must learn to grow from it and sustain our equanimity which is the evenness of mind especially under stress. Ultimately we reach a state of equipoise gaining greater simplicity and purity of equilibrium peace and tranquility thus causing our intuition to become stronger. Previously studying at Central State University and Wesley College I learned Anatomy and Physiology one, and two with the labs, human growth and development courses, psychology, sociology, and pathology which is the study of diseases along with my greater understanding of deoxyribonucleic acid better known as DNA. Also with interleukin which is any of several proteins of low molecular weight that are produced by cells of the body and regulate the immune system and immune responses.
Tying all these subjecting matters studies have proven that gaining equilibrium of peace and tranquility not only strengthens our intuition, but it also enhances our production of interleukin proteins to regulate the immune system and immune responses. Secondly our acetylcholine which is a compound that is released at nerve endings of the autonomic nervous system and is active in transmission of nerve impulses.
The determining factor for these bodily chemicals to be secreted and properly carry out its unique tasks, they must first be aerated which is to supply blood with oxygen by respiration. Studies have also proven that too much stress causes diseases and weakens our immune system. We were created in the image of God therefore we inherited God like features such as intuition which is the power or faculty of knowing things without conscious reasoning. So I challenge you to tap into your inner God and find your purpose. When we get on our knees for God, God stands up for us. As the mind gets quieter, intuition becomes stronger.
by redclay | Dec 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
The Return
Bianca Astore Bowman
Second place, Nonfiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention Center, August 2019
Richard paused in the forest to listen. He didn’t think anyone had followed him. But he was growing paranoid. The rustling behind him was probably just the wind through the trees. Though he didn’t feel any wind now. No breeze to dry the sweat accumulating on his forehead.
He had to keep moving. He couldn’t afford to hang around waiting for the fickle wind to start back up. A handwritten note in his jacket pocket was summoning him forward. It had been left at his apartment door, now miles away: “Midnight. Old oak.”
He knew better than to follow its demand. To come back here —toward the old oak of his childhood playground, the old oak he had grown to hate, the old oak where he had last seen his father-terrified him. But his obsessing mind had won out. He had left sure-footed as a cat, but now, he wondered if curiosity wasn’t going to be the downfall of them both.
With the wind still absent, he continued forward. His legs simultaneously alive with energy and unsteady as a sapling in a storm.
The anticipation of what he would find at the oak made him miss the subtle breaking of fallen branches a careful distance behind him. Thoughts of his father’s muffled yell the day he had gone missing overshadowed an equally muffled cough, now a few meters away. Memory of his pre-pubescent legs racing and tumbling, searching in vain for his father, still filled his head as he now came upon the very man he had been looking for ever since.
“Ricky…I only did it to protect you.”
But the sounds of the forest had caught up to Richard and were wrapping a blindfold around his eyes.
His world now buzzing with darkness, he was guided to a sitting position in front of the old oak. The bark clawing its way through his jacket. More noticeable was his pulsing heart, thundering heavily in his head.
“Dad?”
“Ricky — I hope you’ve lived the best life possible. I love you more than anything, I didn’t think they would come for you so soon…I thought you had more time.”
The unnatural sounds of the forest now added their voices.
“Your old man’s right, kiddo, he does love you. Talked about you every damn day.”
“But he was wrong to think we still had use for him. We need someone nimble, someone new. And he made us a deal, Ricky.”
“We need to collect our debt, the one your daddy left to you. We need to keep you around awhile. ‘Til it’s come due. Ain’t that right, old man?”
There was a scrambling to Richard’s left. His father’s voice, now farther away, pleaded out to him.
“It’s only a little bit left. I tried to pay it all back, I tried. I know you can do it, son. You won’t be greedy like me. They’ll treat you alright, they won’t hurt you. Just a few jobs. Just a bit of time and we’ll see each other again. I’ll protect you again. It’s been my only job. It’s all I’ve done. You weren’t one of my mistakes.”
His father’s words merged with the sounds of the forest.
Ricky had returned to the old oak. He had found what he was looking for. He had won the game of Hide and Seek.
He had lost the prize.
by redclay | Dec 25, 2019 | Creative Writing, Detention Center Writing Contests
White Hope
Darrell Haley
First place, fiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention Center writing contest, August, 2019
Dam it’s hot out there already! D-Mak said walking into his Ethiopian friends tobacco store.
D-Mak I haven’t seen you in a while where have you been? Sameer asked.
D-Mak shook his head and exhaled deeply then put his hands behind his back like he was being arrested.
Oh I get it. Sameer said understanding that his friend had been incarcerated. Sameer quickly put Newports, a bottle of water and a mild Slim Jim into a paper bag then sat it on the counter. D-Mak pulled out a ten dollar bill.
No my friend this is on me today. Sameer said in a heavy accent.
Thanks Sameer you good people’s man! D-mak bumped fists with Sameer and army saluted him and walked out of the store in a good mood. Instantly he stopped outside of the store’s door and looked at the flier. It was a picture of a pretty older white woman with blonde hair and a shapely body of a softball player walking a white expensive looking Pomeranian. It had a cellphone number and a date of when the dog ran away.
D-Mak sat on a small white fence knowing the Newport he was about to smoke would make him light headed. He inhaled the cool menthol smoke instantly feeling the satisfaction of a pleasure only a true smokers name brand can give. He opened the Slim Jim and took a bite chewing and looking up at the clear blue sky as his mind raced — thinking about just being released from jail in Arlington, VA and he had less than a hundred dollars to his name and was stressing the fact that he had lost is 98 Ford Contour with all of his main clothes in the backseat in a expensive designer duffle gab. But he wanted to badly see his three children and spend much needed time with them and was planning to move back to his hometown to Manassas, VA and to try and get his job back which was mandatory at this point having to start over from ground zero.
Rerfff!!! Ruffereff!!! The sharp barking sound scared D-Mak and broke him out of his racing thoughts making him look down fast.
Dam you little bastard you scared the hell out of me! D-Mak squinted his eyes staring at the small dog noticing it was real dirty and mangy with gum stuck in its fur looking like it had just jumped out of a dumpster.
Refff!!! Rufffef!!!
The small dog barked at D-Mak and started wagging it’s tail then danced on it’s back legs turning in circles like a show dog. Dam I wonder where you learned that!? He said to himself amazed at the dogs little performance. He broke off a piece of the Slim Jim pitching it in the air and the dog jumped about 3 feet off the ground catching it in it’s mouth and doing a backflip all in one motion.
Holy shit!!! D-Mak was impressed and wondered what else the dog could do. He gave him another piece and the dog quickly stood on it’s front legs like a handstand then started draging it’s ass on the ground with it’s back legs kicked out in front of him leaving behind a trail of blood and started yelping in pain.
The dog stood in front of D-Mak with a pleading look in it’s eyes and he noticed that the dog was dripping drops of blood behind him. D-Mak quickly went into his Eddie Bauer book bag and grabbed some paper fast food napkins and the dog walked toward D-Mak like he knew what was going to happen next. He lightly grabbed the dog with care and turned him to the side.
D-Mak lifted the dogs tail seeing now that the dogs rectum was down to the next layer of skin and bleeding so bad that D-Mak knew the dog needed veterinary emergency care. D-Mak thickly folded the napkins and started dabbing where the dog was bleeding at. It started yelping three times louder than it did the first time as D-Mak kept dabbing not paying attention to his surroundings trying to slow down the bleeding.
The bleeding started to slow down as the dog started to lightly wimper and howl and D-Mak stopped. Still holding it’s tail up a small turd the size of a Snickers bite size candy fell out of the dogs rectum with blood and small worms moving wildly on it.
Got-Dam dog you need serious help! D-Mak said out loud. He noticed the bleeding had mostly stopped and he decided to pour water on a napkin and do one more dab and try to get the dog some help. The dog made a howling sound so loud and shocking it scared D-Mak.
He looked down to see something that looked like a piece of rope dangling out of the dog and picked the dog up and layed it down on its side and D-Mak went into his book bag and pulled out a plastic bag, lifted the dogs tail then grabbed ahold of what was now almost touched the ground. D-Mak slowly pulled and the dog cried out like it was getting kicked and abused.
A young white man comes out of the Cricket cellphone store and stops in the doorway. What in the fuck are you doing man!!! The Cricket store employee yelled more like a teenage girl than a young man.
I’m try’na help this dog now call animal control and shut the fuck up! D-Mak yelled at the man. And went back to slowly pulling what was now as thick as a mans pinky finger and about three feet long that looked like a leech and D-Mak slung it over in the grass. He slowly poured water into the dogs mouth as it weakly drank it with pleading eyes looking up at D-Mak.
I’m sorry little buddy I’m figuring I had to do it. He said to the dog.
Get the fuck away from the dog now motherfucker!!! D-Mak looked up but already knew who it was by the authoritative tone of voice.
Motherfucker get down now! The police officer shouted.
Man I ain’t do nothing! D-Mak yelled.
Both officers put D-Mak in a wrestling move, one with a knee in his back and one had him in a headlock. Sameer came out of his store shocked at what he was seeing and his friend in handcuffs. D-Mak was thrown in the backseat knowing he was going to Fairfax County Jail. A frustrating tear came from his right eye knowing he was up shits creek with no paddle.
D-Mak was charged with animal cruelty, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, loitering, verbal assault.
And being black kneeling over a expensive white dog laying by a pool of blood.
D-Mak got processed and then put in a cell.
Busted lip, black eye and Nike boots to the ribs D-Mak layed there thinking in reality terms. Probation violation, and bogus charges and most of all lose of freedom with a high ass bail.
Haley your bail has been posted! A sheriff yelled.
D-Mak didn’t get up thinking the sheriff maybe said Bailey. The sheriff opened the cell and D-Mak was thinking to himself who posted my bail.
D-Mak gets released realizing his cellphone is turned off, low on cash and it was after 10 pm. A silver Mercedes CLS 550 pulled to a stop in front of D-Mak. He couldn’t see inside from the tint. A pretty older white lady with blonde hair wearing a black spandex Nike suit walks over to D-Mak and gives him a hug catching him off guard and she smelled like his favorite perfume.
I’m Taylor and thank you for trying to help Hope.
Who in the hell is Hope. He asked confused.
My special dog Hope you tried to help by your friend Sameer’s store, I’ve seen it on his security system!
So you posted my bail?
Yes I did and look at your face they really did a number on you. She lightly touched his face turning it to get a better look.
My bail was pretty high.
Oh that’s peanuts to a queen. Taylor said like she was talking about five dollars instead of five thousand dollars like it was nothing. Well where do you live? She asked.
Well I just got out yesterday and I was gonna try to get to Manassas and see if my cousin would let me couch surf for a few days until I come up with something because I’m low on cash.
Dam I totally forgot, I owe you for the reward.
What reward? He asked still confused.
You didn’t know Hope had a reward for up to $10,000.
What the fuck for real?!
Yes and how would like your currency? Direct deposit, prepaid credit card, bitcoin or cash. She asked.
Dam your serious! He said not believing his luck.
Well get in we gotta ways to go!
Where are we going?
You’ll see when we get there.
Dam this is nice Taylor.
It’s ok my Corvette is in the shop.
Dam you own a Vet shit!
To be correct I own five vehicals.
D-Mak whistled and threw his book bag in the backseat. Taylor typed on her cellphone then instantly August Alsina. “FEAT” Young Jeezy/make it home tonight sounded good on the premium sound system.
Taylor pulled off fast then sparked a joint.
Dam that smell like the chronic girl.
I only smoke that good D-Mak. She said with pride.
So do you know I good lawyer Tayler?
I am a lawyer and don’t stress I’ll take care of everything.
D-Mak smiled to himself reclining the leather seat. Taylor went through her playlist surprising D-Mak.
Did you eat?
Naw I didn’t want that shit.
Well I’ll cook you something when we get to my house.
D-Mak nodded his head in agreement. Minutes later pulling up to a 4 bedtroom, 4 full bath, 2 car garage, heated pool, a full gym, hot tub, pool table, x-box, flat screens and everything else you could want at home.
They get out of the Benz talking about tomorrow, little white Hope and a lawsuite.
I have already writting 3 books starting in 2009 when I could see the story line easy with no writers block. First book is titled Fa$t Money. Second is Extreme Chances. And the third is Black Girls Lost $oul. I can draw but I’m a writer at heart. And thank you for taking time out to read this short which is my first and it was fun. Better dayz to you.
by redclay | Dec 25, 2019 | Creative Writing, Detention Center Writing Contests
From a Boy to a Man
Troy L. Sweetney
Fiction, Heard/Arlington County Detention Center writing contest, August, 2019
Lamont Fayney was born in Washington, DC on the day of September 14, 2004. Born to an unbelievably wealthy family that he wouldn’t soon to know until he was much older. But as far as he knew, he only has a brother 2 years older than him, a mother and a step-father. Lamont was introduced to things a at very young age that made him curious as he grew. Living in Southview Apartments on Southern Avenue, he had his first encounter with a girl at his age of 7. He would never forget it. Although Lamont was active in inappropriate ways for his age, he also stumbled upon some good qualities. He won the Spelling-B in the 3rd and 4th grade that were on 7th and 8th grade levels, he played the violin and also was skipped from the 5th grade to the 7th. Lamont was very intelligent indeed for his age. He was as some people would call him, an “educated-nut.” But a lot would soon change in years to come for Lamont that he never would have intended to happen.
Lamont, his brother Bernard, mother and step-father moved out of the rough ghettos of Washington, DC to a small town in Maryland named Langley Park. “Ma,” Lamont called to his mother, whose name is Sonja. “I’m headed to work in an hour, do you need me to do anything for you before I leave?” She replied, “Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. Go get me some Newport’s from Andre real quick.” Andre is Lamont’s step-father. He didn’t like him much but he still called him “dad” for the sake of normality. Lamont never knew his real biological father. “Damn ma, can you just call dad and tell him to bring you some?” She replied, “What I just say?” “Ok, I’ll go ma, wasn’t asking to leave the house though. Thought you might’ve wanted something done ‘around’ the house but whatever.”
While Lamont was walking to his step-father’s job site, which is 5 minutes from where they live, some guy named Ghost caught up to him. Lamont didn’t know Ghost so he was skeptical as Ghost approached him. “What’s up Rock?” Few people called Lamont “Rock.” He was given the nickname from around the neighborhood because of his solid body like a rock and he was only 15 years old. Lamont replied, “What up bro, do I know you?” “No, but people told me a lot about you. I think you’re a good candidate for the cause.” Lamont said, “What cause the hell you talking about man?” “I know this is probably ‘weird’ but we been watching you for a while now, we like your style. Just wondering if you trying to get some real money other than working at that crusty burger joint,” said Ghost. Although Lamont didn’t know Ghost, he was curious as to what he was offering, so they exchanged phone numbers. Ghost set a time and date for them two to meet.
The day came for Lamont to meet Ghost and as expected Ghost called Lamont early in the morning at 8 am sharp. “Yo what’s up Rock? I need you to meet me in downtown Silver Spring near the hotels at the Subway.” Lamont replied, “Damn bro, I know we spoke on this a couple weeks ago but my job called me in today even though I took off. Can we reschedule this man?” Ghost said, “Rock, what we got to offer you, you’ll never have to work in your life, neither will your kids. Look Rock don’t get it confused. We don’t need you bro, we want you. So come on man forget that rinky dink burger joint. I’m talking real money. Plus, I put in a good word for you so don’t make me look dumb.” Lamont pondered on it, not even knowing what he was getting himself into but gave-in and replied, “Ok, I’ll meet you there. Hope it’s worth me losing my job, I’m still on my probation period; I’ll get fired for not going in.”
So, for the sake of money for his immediate and only family he knew, Lamont met up with Ghost at the appointed destination gambling the risk of him losing his job. As they spoke, Ghost went over every little detail of the plan of what him and his team wanted Lamont to do. Lamont thought they probably wanted him to be a get-away driver or a muscle-man to rob a bank, but he was wrong. Ghost and his team wanted Lamont to enter into a multi-billion dollar company office building, locate the treasury department, find the safe, crack it open and take all the financial papers that are in there. The only problem about cracking the safe is he has to solve an algorithm, but not a mathematical algorithm; it’s an alphabetical algorithm. It’s a very hi-tech sophisticated safe and he only as 3 attempts to open the safe before police are notified. Lamont still wonders why he was nominated to attempt this task but know he’s smart and slick enough to fulfill it.
Now is the day when Lamont is to put to the test, risking everything behind it. If he gets caught, he would be looking at serious jail time. Ghost calls Lamont around 7:30 am and gives him the run-down once more. “Rock today is the day you go from a boy to a man,” said Ghost. Lamont was ready, dressed fully in business attire. Although Lamont is 15 years old, his facial features and physique would make him pass for a 20 year old intern. Ghost’s team specialized in a lot of things, so Lamont was given an ID badge and a key card courtesy of Ghost’s team. Once in the building, Lamont went straight to the building’s directions, then to the treasury department unnoticed. Surprised that his key could work for the treasury department’s main office, Lamont went in and hid in a janitor’s closet near a corner far off until 9 pm when everybody was completely gone. Once clear, he went to the safe; although nervous, cracked it open on the second attempt. “One step closer to pay day,” Lamont thought, now he just needed to leave. But little did Lamont know he dropped a sheet of paper near the safe.
There was no way for Lamont to leave the building without the hallway motion sensor detecting that somebody is there alerting security, so Lamont slept in the closet. He was awoken by chatter near-by and heard his last name “Fayney.” Lamont’s heart dropped, he just knew he was caught maybe by a hidden camera, but that wasn’t the case. Lamont heard his last name again, “Mr. Fayney, who could have possibly known the code to get into the safe other than you?” a lady said. The lady is Mr. Fayney’s personal assistant. Mr. Fayney is the founder of the company being ran throughout the building and their business being to sell and ship “hi-tech automatic self-buffering machines” to all hospitals and government facilities across the nation. As Lamont tuned into their conversation, he suddenly became curious when he seen that him and the founder has the same last name. Lamont had a plan.
Stepping out of the close unnoticed, he slipped into the bathroom to freshen up. Going over to himself in the bathroom as to what he was going to say until, coincidentally Mr. Fayney suddenly appeared. “Like a sign from the heavens” Lamont thought, he went straight to work. Seeing Mr. Fayney’s ID badge, Lamont said, “Wow, Mr. Fayney I was just headed to your office to request to speak with you. I’m from a firm in Virginia that would like to consult and do business with you.” It was 11:30 am so Mr. Fayney invited Lamont to lunch to further their discussion.
As Mr. Fayney spoke on things that didn’t interest Lamont, Lamont waited patiently to speak on what he really wanted to say. Lamont thought to himself, if there is no relation, then he’ll just turn the financial papers to Ghost. But if there was his conscience wouldn’t let him go through with it. Lamont now took the floor to speak and asked Mr. Fayney some personal questions such as, did he have any siblings, nieces or nephews etc? Mr. Fayney felt Lamont was out of pocket asking such questions but he answered them as asked. And to Lamont’s surprise, Mr. Fayney said, “I have one sister named Lois Fayney and one niece named Sonja Fayney.” Lamont shouted, “That’s my mother’s name!” Then Mr. Fayney said, “My sister was a ‘hard egg shell,’ she kept her daughter away from the rest of the family and never said why.” It was like a family reunion to Lamont.
Lamont confessed about the financial papers and explained he only did it to better his family. He gave the papers back to Mr. Fayney. Then Mr. Fayney said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you and ‘our’ family.” And so he did, so Lamont never contacted Ghost again.
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