Changed Lives

By Christopher Baskerville

We all have a past—some more cheerful than others. Hard times usually hit each and everyone at some point and time. What steps are taken by us to improve life? Earn more money, spend more time with one another, or move to islands and leave old troubles behind. New ones will most more than likely arise. Will you hurdle obstacles or stop persevering? The chance meetings of these souls built unbreakable bonds that changed lives! Plenty of action, twist and turns. Titillating your every emotion while keeping you glued to your seat, this book aims for unpredictability, hope, desperation, greed, and fun. The dangers of choosing the wrong road of life have consequences that most aren’t prepared to encounter. Is everyone that experiences prison bad? Who is most looked down upon here on earth? Who is commonly classified as scum or beneath others routinely? One never truly knows what can be handled in life until tested.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781662401640

Book preview

cover.jpg

Changed Lives

Christopher Baskerville

Copyright © 2020 Christopher Baskerville

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-6624-0163-3 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-0164-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

As credits and a soundtrack song begin, the camera shows an outside view of the penitentiary. Through the entrance and down the halls, the camera catches a few rowdy inmates. Two white inmates hold the arms of a weaker-looking white inmate as a large ponytailed Caucasian drills powerful punches to the midsection of the victim. A small crowd stops to witness the beating but continues on their way, laughing at the beaten man. Further down the hall is H-block. Inside the security-monitored door, an area of convicts enjoys their free time at metal picnic-type tables. Several tables are filled with checker players, chess and card competitors. A group of six black men crowds a table while engaging in a shit-talking game of dominoes. Four play while two await to play the winning team. Slump, the ringleader, takes notice of the shower stall that has been occupied for a time peaking his suspicion. Still participating in the game, he delivers a sly remark to whoever is in the stall.

Slump: Damn! Taking that long in the shower can mean only one thing. Who you in there fuckin’?

Slump’s cronies laugh and chime in comments to get in on the fun. Issa, who’s inside the shower, smiles to himself before speaking loud enough to be heard.

Issa: You know! It would be wise to be more cautious when yelling obscenities into the air. The wrong person may take it personal. You could be offending a monk slash killer!

Slump and crew hear the response but decide with a few twists of the lip and smirks to continue playing bones. Issa, after drying off, exits the divided shower stall and returns to his cell to dress. He doesn’t cast a glance at the noisy crowd of men below. After grooming himself, the block officer calls his name over the loudspeaker.

Guard: Inmate Warren. Visit!

Issa finishes up brushing his teeth and checks one last time in the mirror. He nods approval of what he sees, exits the cell, and retrieves the pass to the visiting area from the block officer. As he walks to the door, he senses the stare of Slump but pays it no mind. Thoughts of his wife anxiously waiting to see him overrides the nonsense. He leaves the block and strolls toward the visiting room. He passes a few inmates whom he acknowledges with slight nods. Africa, known as the funnyman on campus, crosses his path as well.

Africa: What’s up, good brother? Where are you headed?

They shake hands and give a brief hug to one another.

Issa: To a visit. I’ll holler at you later. I can’t wait to see my baby girl.

Africa: Oh yes! This is good. Make sure you let me smell your finger once you return.

Issa laughs at Africa’s remark then replies.

Issa: Man, you silly. I’ma put you on a stage to make us some money one day. (They are still talking as they depart from each other’s company.)

Africa: I am going to hold you to your very words, my brother.

With one last wave of his hand in the air, Issa continues his small trek. Once he enters the building designated for visitors, Issa goes through the strip-search procedures. He then enters the visiting room to be greeted by a smiling and excited wife. They embraced tightly and kiss passionately. Feeling himself becoming aroused, Issa breaks the hold and immediately sits down. With Keisha’s hand clasped between his own, Issa looks deeply into her eyes.

Issa: How are our babies?

Keisha: Baby, they are no longer babies. You’d be surprised to see how much they’ve grown. MoNae and Chase are both taller than me. I would have brought them this trip, but school’s priority. I promise to bring them along next time I come.

Issa: My love, you know it won’t be long now. A few more weeks and I’ll have you back in my arms for good. (He says, smiling warmly.)

Keisha: I know, and I can’t wait for my king to…(She whispers seductively into his ear.)

As time goes by, they eat vending machine food together. They share a few more laughs and quick kisses before visiting hours expire.

Issa: Time flies by every time we’re out here. I can’t wait for this all to be over and behind us.

Keisha: I know, baby. Soon and it will all be just a memory. We need a vacation bad.

They both stand and face each other, embracing for the last time before departing. Issa shares his final thought.

Issa: I promise you that vacations, food, and life in general, will be of the highest degree. We deserve the best, and that’s what we’ll have.

Keisha: I know that you have it in you, Is. I’m looking forward to our fresh start together.

After departing from the visit, Issa’s in the yard, talking to his right-hand man. A tall, muscular, dreadlocked, black man addresses his friend.

Amun: So is everything well with Keisha and the family?

Issa: Yes, everyone’s spirits are high, and they’re anticipating my return. Enough about me! You leave next week, my man. I’m anxious to get this new life experience underway. We have to do everything we can to get DT out of here also.

Amun: Yes, indeed! When the whole team is finally assembled, we’re going to be something to be reckoned with.

Issa: Oh, I have an idea concerning Africa. He can be a major asset, Mun.

Amun: What you have in mind?

Issa: I’m thinking about putting his talents on stage. We get out of here around the same time. Let me ponder on it in more depth, and when the time is right, it will happen. Speaking of DT, let’s go get some ice cream. He’s running the snack-shack.

Issa and Amun walk over to the yard shed. They greet DT and are both handed pints of ice cream of their choice.

Amun: What do you have going on in the courts concerning your case?

DT: Man, to tell you the truth. I exhausted all my remedies and now hoping this pardon comes through for me.

Issa: I almost have the mind