Saturday, March 22, 2008

For Writers...

Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.
Joseph Pulitzer

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

The Reconditioning of Roderick

end
To bring to a conclusion
be·gin
To come into being

When Roderick Benton was leaving the Hornswell Correctional facility he knew a few things.
He was starting over.
His life was scarred by a prison term that, however unfair it was, would follow him forever.
And he was alone.
There were no homies waiting to snatch him up to take him to the local spot to get some highly used, low quality bootie. No lady, waiting to throw her elegant reassuring arms around him cooing “I missed you baby” softly in his ear. No babies, hollering out “Daddy, Daddy” and jumping into his arms planting sloppy, wet, kisses all over his cheek. That wasn’t happening.
But, it wasn’t really just him out there. He did have someone to come home to.
Mama Tee was still around, waiting for him to get out. He had to give her what was her due. She hung in there with him when no one else did. Loving him and lettering him to death. But she was like a mother, not a partner.
So, in essence, it was just him.
Roderick Benton.
Felon.
Ex- Con
Life-saver.
Life-taker.
He was all of those things. And now was the time to deal with being every bit. He hoped he was ready.