Category: Piece of the Week

by TL The one thing I fear the most right now while I’m in jail is the Coronavirus messing up court.  I heard that the Governor might shut down all prisons and youth detention facilities in California.    So, I don’t know what that means for kids who haven’t been sentenced yet, like someone such as myself.  I don’t know if I will be able to get out before that happens, or if I will be stuck here until it opens back up.    My entire life, I have been in control of what I can do or what times I can

by Jacob In my cell I’m praying to God that I want to changeTurn around I hear a voice it’s my brother baby JHe tellin’ me stop messing up before it’s too lateHis hand is reaching towards me saying it’ll be okThen I turn around and cry can’t look him in the faceAll I say maybe it’d be different if you was here todayMaybe mom and dad would be together and it wouldn’t be this wayTurn around I tell him to stay don’t leave me in this cageYelling that I’m losin all hope he said you can’t lose faithThen he

by CP, There are many things in life that are going to be challenging, like losing a family member or breaking a bone.  Or maybe you did something wrong and ended up in jail.  Or traumatizing, painful, indescribable things have happened to you.  It feels dark, like you slowly start losing yourself.  You question yourself like, “why has this happened to me?”  or “are things going to keep getting worse?”    Then, you want to give up, but then there is something inside of you that makes you keep going.  Maybe it’s the fact you weren’t physically broken.  I feel

by G I grew up with what I consider a very dysfunctional family.  We’re all crazy and have a hard time getting along with each other.  Although, when we do, we’re a delightful group and can joke all day long.   Despite our abilities to get along, everyone in my family is very strong and no matter what we go through, we keep our heads high.  My mother has raised all four of us on her own.   She is the strongest person I know, and her ability to solve any problem amazes me.  She has been through many obstacles

by L My mom was never in the picture.  I seen her three times.  First, when I was born.  Second, when my grandpa died, and third, when my sister graduated high school.  She ain’t my mom, though!   My mom aka my aunt said, “A mom is not a woman gave birth to you, it’s the woman who raised you.”  That’s always going to stay with me.  I love her.   It’s going to be hard to spend Mother’s Day here and not with her.  I missed her birthday because I was locked up.  Remember the first time, I got

by Sebastian As Mother’s Day gets closer and closer, it makes me even more excited about getting out so I can go see her. It’s been over two years since I last saw her, and she was crying because I was leaving.   She was crying because she was sad that day. Hopefully, when I see her again, if she’s crying, it’ll be because she’s happy.  My mom has done so much for me. I don’t know how I could ever even begin to repay her for all her love, support, and nourishment. She hasn’t just done a lot for

by Jesse Ayers Thanks for the letter and the prompt. I appreciate you reaching out. I’ll do my best to describe what “lockdown” is like for me, in a way that is relatable to anyone.  Being locked down is a lot like being a tree that just got pruned. Trees receive nutrients from the sun through what is called photo-synthesis. When a tree loses its leaves and branches, its roots grow deeper into the soil to soak up nutrients from the earth in order to survive. When the tree’s branches grow back and its leaves return, it is finally rooted

by LC I understand why the governor wants everybody at home instead of outside.  This Coronavirus is spreading faster and faster.    A lot of people are taking it as a joke.  They’re still doing what they want to do.  A lot of families are struggling to find food and toilet paper, and cleaning supplies.     People are buying everything they can get their hands on.  The president is giving out Stimulus checks for $1200 plus $500 for every American child.  This is because a lot of people are struggling to work and get hours to be able to pay for the rent.  Only American

by Eddy I define success when you don’t have to stress.  Put your mind to the test and you’re able to rest.  When you’re no longer in poverty, laughing and joking.   Thinking to yourself, like can’t nothing bother me.  Success is when you beat the statistics of what they said you were gonna be and your standing at the top thinking, I know they envy me.   Success is when you got consistency and stability and where you don’t have to fake anything.  Walk anywhere with your head held high like this is the real me.  Success is when

by Baby K I’ve said goodbye to a lot of people before and after they died. The first goodbye I ever said was to my mom when I realized that there was no fixing our relationship.   The second goodbye I’ve said was to my baby sister. We had my little sister from birth until she just turned one-year-old. It really hurt me to say goodbye because she had just started to say my name, and whenever I wouldn’t pick her up she would cry. What hurts me the most, though, is that I will never be able to see her again because the