PROVERBS 3: 5-8
I ended up hiring my student who had received the forgiveness letter from his victims family. He was a work horse and had completed the Horticulture class in six months time. I let my students work at their own pace but they had to finish the course within in a year. This included 200 hours of working in the greenhouse and gardens. I called it “OJT,” their on the job training hours. All my students had to complete them. It guaranteed a hands on learning experience for them, labor to maintain the gardens, the production of about forty thousand vegetable plants, and another thirty thousand annual flowering plants. We had to grow plants for unit six which was a level one, minimum security prison, and the prisoners assigned there would be going home within a couple of years. We donated a lot of plants to the community as well. He would help with that effort.
I had another student who I had accepted in the class but could only speak Spanish. Between my tutors and I we were able to communicate with him quite effectively even though only knowing a basic level of Spanish. He was another work horse and would work long after my other students would return to the classroom. We were also trying to teach him English, so between his broken English and our broken Spanish we were told it all sounded pathetic by who ever stopped to listen. However, he did understand and was a fantastic student. I was shocked when they told me the following day he had been transferred. My students were to be held here to finish their programming. When I asked why he had been transferred, I was told he was sent to New York, Ryker’s Island. It seemed he had some unfinished business there. I didn’t think I’d see him again.
As the years went by my other work horse tutor had been transferred to level 1, the minimum security prison, and for the next two years he would help run a very successful garden program there. It also meant he would be going home within 5 years. I was able to accomplish much in the minimum security gardens with his help. We donated plants and vegetables to the community on a regular basis, and he proved to be a real leader. He was no longer the young 17 year old who had been incarcerated for Driving Under the Influence, committing vehicular homicide. He was reprieved from the victims family, and that meant the world to him. He would get a new chance. At the ripe age of 32 years old he was released from prison and would spend five years on probation. I got to say goodbye to him in the lobby of the prison and wished him well. As he was leaving, my Ryker’s Island student was returning, hand cuffed, belly chained and shackled. He was being led in by two New York Corrections Officers. He looked terrible. “I need to get back in your class.” he said it in perfect English. My reply in perfect Spanish, “tienes que ducharte”, (you need to take a shower). He smiled as he was led back inside the prison. TO BE CONTINUED…
A wanted man. Stay away from high-rise buildings and open windows. No rest for the wicked. Slava Ukraini Glory to the hero’s.
MJ-Way 