Prisons

by Rob Edwards

  Her father’s smile faded and he looked away.

  Judith’s phone buzzed before she had the chance to tell him that she was proud to have a guy she liked meet her father. She reached for her phone to check the message. It was a group text from Dr. Fitzpatrick. “The Marmont project has ended. Please do not bring your children to the facility any longer. Thank you for your participation.”

  “What the hell?” Judith said.

  “What is it?” Darlene asked.

  Judith looked up from her phone. “It’s a text from Dr. Fitzpatrick. It says the project is over, and not to bring our kids in anymore.”

  “Just like that?” Darlene said. “They just say it’s over, with no warning?”

  Judith looked down at Noah. “What’s he going to do when he realizes he can’t see Delton anymore?” She jumped from her seat. “Dar, stay here. I’ve got to call Dr. Fitzpatrick about this.”

  “No problem.”

  “Excuse me, Dad,” Judith said, walking from the room. She pushed Dr. Fitzpatrick’s number on her speed dial and walked down the hall. The phone rang four times and went to generic voice mail. “Dr. Fitzpatrick, this is Judith Higgins. Please call me. Noah has become very dependent upon this program. Is there a way he can still see Delton, even if the project is over?” She dialed Rena next.

  Rena answered, but her voice sounded shaky. “Hi, Judith.”

  “Rena, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know the whole story…but the project is over.”

  “Rena, Noah needs this project,” Judith said. “Is there any possible way he can still see Delton?”

  “Judith….” Rena paused.

  “What is it?” Judith said, her heart in her throat. “Did something happen to Delton?”

  “All I know is that there was an altercation,” Rena’s voice shook. “And Delton is hurt.”

  Judith had to lean against the wall to steady herself. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know all the details. All I know is that Delton is hurt, and the project is over.” Rena’s breath quivered. “I’m sorry. I hope Noah...”

  Judith tapped off the call. She walked out the front door and paced in the shade of the overhang. She was stressed about the well-being of this young man that she had so much contempt for when they first met. Delton had made himself one of the most important people in her son’s life, and her life. If he was hurt she had to know what was going on and see if there was anything she could do.

  She called Taysha.

  “Hello,” Taysha said, quietly.

  “Taysha, it’s Judith. Please tell me you know what’s going on with Delton.”

  “I do, honey,” Taysha said. “I’m at Two Rivers now, but they won’t let me see him.”

  “Rena said he’s hurt. Is that true?”

  “It is. He’s in the infirmary getting fixed up.”

  “But the project is canceled.” Judith’s own voice cracked. “Do you think it’s possible that Delton can still see Noah on his own?”

  “I’m sorry, honey, but that won’t be possible. It doesn’t sound like Delton will be seeing anybody for quite a while,” Taysha said. “He killed a man this morning.”

  The following is the article that appeared on michigan-online.com, July 27, 20xx.

  A Death Ends Marmont/Two Rivers Program

  Posted 8:35 pm

  By Jason Kitchener jkitchener@michigan-online.com

  The unorthodox rehabilitation project contrived between Marmont State College and Two Rivers Correctional Facility has ended. According to information received from a source at the Michigan Department of Corrections, one of the inmates involved in the program killed another inmate, who was also involved in the program.

  The project consisted of a select group of inmates from Two Rivers Correctional Facility, giving care to special needs children. Spokespersons from both institutions have declined to make any official statements while an investigation is in process. However, Sheriff Kevin Gossinger of the Two Rivers Police Department has indicated that drugs were involved.

  Although names are currently being withheld, Sheriff Gossinger, said the inmate that was killed had received drugs from the mother of one of the special needs children. She has since been taken into custody and charged with drug trafficking and child endangerment, and the child has been delivered into the care of a relative.

  Dr. Warren Q. Fitzpatrick, professor at Marmont State and the man behind the project, has let the parents know the project is over, with no plans to continue.

  Michigan-online will remain on top of this story, and update as the facts become available.

  COMMENTS:

  TammyG381: I wondered what kind of parents would put their kids in with criminals. Now I know. The kind of parents who are criminals themselves!

  EWarner: some things sound so much like a bad idea you should avoid em at all costs. This was one of those from the start.

  Tigerfan25: Stupid, stupid, and stupid. They’re in prison for a reason.

  Blexxk: Everyone involved in this program was asking for trouble. It was only a matter of time before these guys showed their true colors.

  RStandish: I actually knew Fitzpatrick in high school. He was a complete bonehead back then, and it don’t seem like he’s changed much.

  SusanQ: Thank God only the inmates were hurt and no children were hurt.

  EWArner: As far as we now no children were hurt. still don’t have all the facts.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Pain throbbed in his shoulder, down his arm, and through the palm of his hand. It was clear to Delton his meds were wearing off. As he lay on the bunk in his new cell, he looked around, realizing he could hold out his left hand and almost touch the far wall.

  A guard had overheard Rick Simpson’s buddies promise that Delton would pay for their friend’s death, so after he was given stitches and drugs in the infirmary he was whisked down into solitary, or “protective custody,” as the guards described it.

  The cell consisted of a sink and toilet at the end of his bunk, and a small desk jutting out from the wall with a stool bolted to the floor. He was definitely in the “no frills” suite in the prison.

  Keys rattled in the solid metal door and Delton sat up gingerly. Hopefully they were bringing food because he was hungry.

  The door opened with a creak and in walked Johnson with one of the doctors from the infirmary. Delton was happy to see Johnson. Ever since the guard had screwed up and pulled his gun on Delton during Noah’s meltdown, he had sort of been watching out for Delton.

  “How ya doin’, bud?” Johnson said.

  “It’s really starting to hurt.”

  The doctor sat on the bunk next to him and peeled back the bandage on Delton’s shoulder.

  “Well, sit tight. The doc here’ll get you all set.”

  “How long I gotta be in here?” Delton said.

  “Until we’re sure you’re gonna be safe,” Johnson said.

  The doctor replaced the bandage on his shoulder, then unwrapped his hand.

  “But what’re we gonna do about getting me to the Marmont program? Is somebody going to come get me?”

  Johnson sighed. “Listen, Delton. I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but the program’s been shut down.”

  “What?” Delton pulled his hand from the doctor and stood shakily. “No. It can’t be. What about Noah?”

  Johnson put up his hands. “Hey, sit down.”

  Delton leaned back and dropped on the bunk, shaking his head. “Who canceled it?”

  “The warden,” Johnson said. “It is becoming a media shitstorm out there, with two guys, who are supposed to be taking care of kids, fighting and killing each other.”

  “But the guy who started it is dead. Everyone is safe now.”

  Johnson shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way and you know it.”

  Delton stared at a scratch on the wall. “But what about Noah? He needs me.”

  “Noah and Mi
ss Higgins are just going to have to figure it out.”

  There was now a searing pain right through his heart, to match those of his shoulder and hand. But the doc couldn’t help with this one. Not seeing Noah again, hearing his little giggles, seeing his joy when they fist-bumped, hurt right through the center of his chest. Delton saw his vision blur with tears. He closed his eyes and tried not to in front of these men.

  “But you helped that little guy,” Johnson said. “You gave him a great footing to build on in life. You should feel real proud of that, Delton. You made a real difference.”

  “Okay, things still look fine here,” the doctor said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet of pills and set it on the desk. Take these with your food when it arrives. And I’ll check on you again in a couple of days.”

  Delton nodded and the doctor walked out.

  “Dinner should be here real soon, bud,” Johnson said. “I’m sorry again.” He walked out, closed the heavy door, and locked it.

  Delton stood, picked up the packet of pills, tore it open and popped them in his mouth. He didn’t care to wait for the food. He was suddenly not hungry at all. He lay down on his bunk, resting his head on the ridiculously small pillow they supplied and stared at the ceiling. Tears ran from his eyes and soaked the little pillow until the drugs did their work, and dragged him off to sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  As Judith had feared, Noah had trouble adjusting. She explained to him Sunday night that they wouldn’t be seeing Delton the next day. He had said “Okay,” and acted as if he’d understood, but when Monday morning came around, Noah was upset they weren’t going to see Delton. When she took Noah into Keener to get him enrolled, he had a meltdown, and she was late to work again.

  Judith called Dr. Fitzpatrick to try to get more information. He answered, but had very little to say. “All I know is that there was a fight between two of the participants,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said. “Delton came out of it quite severely injured, but Rick Simpson didn’t come out of it at all.” That’s all Dr. Fitzpatrick said. He didn’t mention that drugs were involved. She learned that from the news Monday night.

  The story was run on all three news stations. The experiment that not one station had cared about when it began, were now all over it once blood was shed. Like vultures, they were circling, descending, ready to tear apart the carcass. Delton was made out to be a crazed violent criminal, who should never have been included in such a program after being locked up for armed robbery. The entire thing was portrayed as a huge boondoggle, with Dr. Fitzpatrick the idiot-in-charge.

  Tuesday morning was a repeat of Monday morning. Noah struggled with going to Keener and not going to see Delton.

  Tuesday night Noah was agitated at every little thing. Either his spoon for his chili was too big, or the chili was too spicy, or he was too hot. Each little thing seemed to require a great amount of screaming, and each time he made it clear he wanted to see Delton.

  The reception at work throughout the week was cold. Her teammates spoke to her only when required, and then only about specific work topics. They did not engage her in any conversation regarding her son or the end of the program. On Wednesday, Judith couldn’t take it any longer. When Simon walked past her cubicle she called out to him. He poked his head back in and she asked point blank. “Why is everybody treating me this way?”

  Simon leaned on the cubicle door jam. “What way?”

  “You know what way. Like I have shit in my hair, or something.”

  Simon flipped through the papers in his hand anxiously.

  “What is it?” Judith asked. “Are you blaming me for what happened with the Marmont project? I had nothing to do with what happened.”

  Simon sighed. “We know Judith. We are trying very hard not to judge, but you willingly put your son in a dangerous situation and some of us struggle with that.”

  Judith nearly choked on Simon’s verbal Heimlich. “Are you kidding me? I would never have put Noah in any danger. This didn’t even happen at the center. It happened at the prison.”

  “But it was the same men in both places,” Simon said.

  Judith stood. She didn’t want to look up at him any longer. She wanted to look him in the eye. “You don’t judge me, but you do judge Delton. And I’m guilty by association. Is that it?”

  Simon raised his hands in a calming manner. “I’m sorry, Judith. I don’t want to get you upset.”

  “Too late,” Judith said.

  “Well next time don’t ask me anything, if you’re just going to get angry with my answer.” Simon stepped out of the cubicle but turned to give his parting shot. “If you’ll remember, I tried to be supportive through the whole thing, even though I had misgivings with the program from the start. I couldn’t understand how a mother could put her son in such an environment, but you did. And now you want everyone to feel sorry for you because a really bad decision blew up in your face.” He opened his mouth to say more, but obviously thought the better of it. He shook his head and walked off.

  Judith drove over to the Fountain’s after work, to see if they had heard anything. But before she had put the car in park, Reggie Fountain burst out the door and descended on her. “I don’t want you coming over here. Just get the hell out of my driveway.”

  Judith rolled down her window. “I just wanted to know if you’ve spoken to Delton.”

  “Oh, you mean that great guy you told us about?” Reggie said. “That terrific guy that I let the whole family meet? Well, in fact, no, we haven’t talked to him. Because he’s a murderer!” Reggie stood back and pointed toward the street. “Now back your car out of my driveway and stay the hell away from my house and my family.”

  Judith rolled her window up and drove off.

  By Thursday evening, Noah stopped speaking completely. It was as if he’d never started the program. After two months of steady progress with Delton, he had regressed in less than a week’s time to his pre-program status.

  Judith felt like there was a growing hole in her stomach—like her anger was eating her from the inside out. She wanted to stand in front of Delton, scream at him, let him know that when you take on a responsibility with someone else, your selfishness has to be put aside. You can’t just go off and do whatever the hell you want to do, because you have someone very fragile depending on you. She mulled over how little she had trusted Delton when this thing began, and how much he had come through since. It’s true Noah had been lifted to heights he had never reached before, but her son had crashed now. And, although Delton had been the hand that lifted Noah out of the darkness, he was also the hand that freely let go, and let her son tumble back into the abyss.

  And Judith wasn’t sure she could forgive.

  Her phone buzzed. It was Neil. Another hurdle to get over. She let it ring a couple more times while she thought of how she would say this. When nothing specifically came to mind, she hit the button. “Hello,” She said, trying to sound as “matter-of-fact” as possible.

  “Hey, Judith,” Neil said. His voice was pleasant as always. “How’s the boy?” And, as always, concerned about the right things.

  “He’s not doing well. Still not speaking.”

  “You sound stressed,” Neil said. “Perhaps a nice dinner will help. Some wine…and maybe dancing?”

  Why did he have to be so kind and supportive? It made the whole thing much harder. “I can’t do this right now,” she said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Should I call back later?”

  “No. I can’t do us.” Judith’s voice cracked. “With Noah the way he is, I can’t go ahead and have a relationship, and pretend that everything is okay.”

  “What are you saying?” Neil said, slowly, carefully, cautiously. “Are you breaking up with me?”

  “There’s no break-up,” Judith said, a little too irritated. “This isn’t high school. I’m not wearing your damn letterman jacket. What I’m saying is that I have to concentrate on Noah right now, and I can’t have anybody
else getting in the way of that.”

  “Judith, I don’t want to get in your way. But you need support too.”

  “Neil, don’t make this harder than it has to be. Can’t you just listen to what I’m saying and not argue?”

  There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Judith was afraid to say anything, lest she apologize and tell him she wanted to see him, wanted him to hold her, and tell her everything would be fine. “I understand,” Neil finally said. “Goodbye, Judith.” Then the call beeped off.

  Judith slowly placed her phone on the table in front of her, sat back, and cried uncontrollably.

  “You ended it?” Dar said as soon as Judith opened the door.

  “Dar, not now.” Judith walked back into the kitchen and continued to work on the spaghetti.

  “Not now?” Dar said, closing the door behind her and following, in step, right into the kitchen. “You had something, Judith. He accepted you and Noah. And he liked you both. Why are you turning your back on all that?”

  “I have to concentrate on Noah right now. I have to figure this out.”

  “Figure what out?” Dar said. “That Noah has autism, and he struggles with things?”

  Judith raised her hand. “Don’t, Dar.”

  “Look Judith, Noah responded to Delton—a man. Neil is a man. Perhaps Neil is just what Noah needs.”

  Judith glared at her sister. “Don’t tell me what Noah needs. I’m his mother. I know what he needs.”

  “Right. You’re his mother.” Dar said. “But because of the choice you made, that’s all he has.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that perhaps it would be a good idea if there were a man in his life, and since you have no clue who his father is…”