by Todd Kirby
man’s footsteps, eh?”
“Yeah.” Ronnie said awkwardly. “I just graduated from the academy earlier this year. This is my first ‘real’ job.”
“That’s great man, congratulations.” Jeremy said. “Well…” he laughed, “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah.” Ronnie smiled a little. “I’m sure.”
While it was nice to know someone in a place like this, the dichotomy was not lost on Jeremy. He and Ronnie were the same age, but going in completely opposite directions in their lives. This wasn’t two kids playing cops and robbers anymore, this was life - and life had consequences. There aren’t a lot of things you have in abundance in jail, but one thing you do have is time. Time to think about life, and choices... and consequences.
Occasionally Jeremy would have the opportunity to talk with Ronnie in passing, and he discovered that Ronnie was married to a sweet country girl. They were very involved in their church, and considering having children. Of course, Ronnie wanted to make sure his job was stable before he got into all of that. Jeremy had always thought in the past that the biker life was preferable to ‘normal society’. After all, there was power and camaraderie, a different girl every night if you wanted, and no rules. But the more they interacted, the more Jeremy admired Ronnie’s lifestyle - not vice versa.
Another ‘friend’ Jeremy met within his first few weeks was Mac. Mac was a body-builder type who sat down across from Jeremy at lunch one day. After performing the obligatory ‘what’s up’ nod, Mac asked out of the blue. “Hey, do you like Green Lantern?”
Jeremy looked up at Mac, then looked around to see if this was some kind of practical joke. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he looked back at Mac and said, “Excuse me?”
“Do you like Green Lantern?” Mac repeated, a little more firmly.
“Ummmm…” Jeremy wasn’t sure how to answer. “Yes?” he finally replied.
“Good.” Mac said as he started eating. “I was hoping you were cool. Green Lantern is the most powerful superhero in the DC universe next to Superman. I mean, Superman is almost invincible, so it’s hard to compare anyone else to him, but Green Lantern is probably next.”
“What about Shazam?” Jeremy said.
“SHAZAM IS DUMB!” Mac said loudly. When everyone stopped and looked at him, Mac looked around and said, “Sorry, my bad.” Then he leaned in to say to Jeremy, “Sorry man, I’m working on my anger issues. By the way, I’m Mac.”
“Jeremy.” Jeremy returned, holding out his hand.
Mac shook Jeremy’s hand and went on, “Nice to meet you Jeremy. So who’s your favorite Green Lantern?”
Now Jeremy was completely lost, but mildly entertained. “Hard to say…” he began. “They all have their plusses.”
“I know, right?” Mac seemed to be really getting into the conversation now. “Some people like Hal Jordan best. He was okay, but I think John Stewart was the best Green Lantern. He was just bad, man… killer attitude.”
“I could see that.” Jeremy lied. “So how long are you in for, Mac?”
Mac sighed and said, “Ten years unless I can get early parole. There was a… weightlifting accident...”
Jeremy considered questioning the ‘accident’ part since it was a 10-year sentence, but discretion got the better of him, and he decided against it.
After Mac finished his meal, he scarfed down the dessert and said, “Man, these brownies are like crack, I’d kill for another one.”
Jeremy stopped chewing and looked at Mac.
“It’s just an expression.” Mac assured him before pointing at Jeremy’s brownie and saying, “You gonna eat that?”
“No.” Jeremy said slowly, “Go right ahead.”
“Thanks man,” Mac said, smiling. “I love these things.” After he inhaled the second dessert, Mac picked up his tray and said, “Well, I gotta go workout. Thanks for the brownie man.”
“Anytime.” Jeremy said.
Jeremy would run into Mac from time to time as well, sometimes at meals, sometimes at activity events. Despite his love for comics in general and Green Lantern in particular, Mac rarely read comics in jail. They just weren’t that available, especially the latest issues. It kind of made Jeremy sad for Mac. And that whole ‘dessert thing’ wasn’t a one-way-street either. Mac didn’t particularly like breads and rolls, but those were Jeremy’s favorite part of the meal. Often times, they would trade those items with each other.
Probably the only other ‘friend’ Jeremy had in his six months of incarceration wasn’t as much a friend as he was an object lesson. About Jeremy’s third month, a new guy came in named Ted Kinney. A short-timer, Ted was only in for about a month on some kind of alcohol-related charge. When he first came in, Ted was solitary. He kept to himself with everything, and seemed very solemn. But something happened over the course of that month, and Ted really opened up. He became almost... congenial. Before Ted left, Jeremy had a chance to ask him about it. They were out in the courtyard for activities, and Ted was sitting on a bench reading a book.
“Kinney,” Jeremy initiated the conversation, “every time I see you, you’re reading that book.”
Ted looked up and smiled. “Jeremy, isn’t it?” he said. Jeremy nodded, so Ted went on. “Great book, I encourage you to read it.”
“What is it?” Jeremy asked.
“The Bible.” Ted replied.
“Isn’t that for church?” said Jeremy.
“That’s what I used to think.” Ted continued. “But and old friend of mine gave me this a couple of weeks ago, and now I can’t put it down. What Jesus did was amazing.”
Jeremy pointed at the Bible and said, “So you believe all of that stuff?”
Ted looked down at the Bible in his hands and said, “Yeah. Yeah… I do. My friend can get you one of these, if you’re interested.”
“Nah, thanks anyway.” Jeremy declined. “Hey, you’re getting out soon, aren’t you?”
“Nine days,” Ted said, “but who’s counting, right?” They both laughed.
“Do me a favor, will you?” Jeremy asked.
“I’ll try.” said Ted.
“I know it’s kind of an odd request,” Jeremy seemed almost embarrassed, “but can you buy the latest Green Lantern comic and bring it to me?”
Ted got a quizzical look and replied, “I think I can do that. Anything else you want?”
“No,” Jeremy said, “but if you could do that for me, I promise to pay you back when I get out.”
Just then, a buzzer sounded. Jeremy looked up and said, “Sounds like it’s time to go in. Good talking with you Kinney.”
“Look forward to seeing you on the outside, Jeremy.” said Ted.
“No, actually, you probably don’t.” Jeremy stated coldly. “I’m not a very nice person out there.”
Ted smiled and said, “You know what? None of us are. Praise God for his mercy and grace.”
Jeremy just shrugged and walked away. But in the back of his mind he thought about Ted’s transformation. This was no third-person story. Jeremy saw Ted Kinney when he arrived, and he was no more a Christian than Jeremy was. Something happened to him, and it must have been huge.
After Ted was released, Jeremy waited patiently for the comic book. A couple of weeks passed, and he started wondering if Ted had forgotten. Then one day, the guard called his name: “Bonds! Visitor!” Jeremy went to the visitation area and nodded at Ronnie Murphy, who was the guard on duty at the time. But when he sat down at the window, there was a woman he’d never seen before on the other side. There was also a Green Lantern comic on his side of the window. The woman motioned for him to pick up the phone.
“You don’t know me,” she said, “but evidently we have a couple of mutual acquaintances. I’m Mary Lynn Dobson, Ronnie’s sister-in-law.” Jeremy looked up at Ronnie, who smiled and nodded back. Mary Lynn went on, “I help wit
h our church’s jail ministry, and we got an anonymous note last week to bring you the latest Green Lantern comic book. Do you want to tell me what that’s all about?”
Jeremy just smiled. “If the person who sent you that note wanted to remain anonymous,” he said, “I’m not going to call him out. But this is going to mean a lot to someone, thanks.”
“I was going to bring you a Bible,” Mary Lynn continued, “but I haven’t had much luck with those in here.”
“I don’t need a Bible, thanks. But I’d appreciate if you brought me one of these every month until I get out.” Jeremy said, holding up the comic book.
“I’ll make you a deal,” she said. “We’ve been trying to have a Bible study in there for a few months now and nobody wants to come. Can you tell me how I can get people to come?”
Jeremy thought for a moment, then grinned. “Brownies.” he said. “Bring them brownies and they’ll come.”
“I can do that.” said Mary Lynn, “but I want you to come too.”
Jeremy leaned in to the window. “You bring one of these every month,” he said, holding the comic book, “and I’ll come to your meetings.”
“Deal.”