On the bus to San Quentin, Don was thinking about what went wrong. Here he was, an educated person with two engineering degrees and an MBA. He was going to prison. The judge was kind, and gave him only 16 months, but he still had to shutter his lucrative consulting business. And a felony doesn't look good on your resume. Don's felony was minor, and is not important here.
His girl friend, Margaret, promised to write to him almost every day. The real problem was Margaret. She had a consuming sex drive. She had the heart of a whore - generous, but an easy lay. Don wondered what her letters would be like. Would she tell him what she's really up to? Or send him some psycho-babble about the courses she's taking to become a better wife.
Don had never been to prison before. He wished he could have stayed at the county jail, but anything over a year sentence lands you in prison. Moreover, the food at the county jail was so bad, inmates usually tossed their dinner in the trash barrel and tried to survive on candy bars.
Prison food is usually good. It's not like eating at a 5-star restaurant, but if you tell the prison chef you need more protein, he will fix you a high protein meal. It's not rib eye steak, but you will get more chicken and fish.
After getting assigned to a bunk, with a bunk mate, it takes about ten days to get your first letter. The delay is due to censorship. All incoming mail is opened, and all outgoing mail is inspected first. The only mail not opened is correspondence between you and your attorney.
Margaret's first letter wasn't too long, but she enclosed a photo of herself in a swimsuit.
"Dear Don,
I miss you already and it's only been a week since you licked my pussy. It seems like forever. Mom got me a job at the hardware store. It's fun in a way because I'm learning some Spanish and Vietnamese. I have to wear a store uniform so my boobs aren't too obvious. I miss you sucking on my nipples. I am masturbating much more since you are not here. But I think of us together always. I am
Your love,
Margaret
P.S. Here's the photo you took of me at the beach."
Don's bunkie tried to grab the swimsuit photo. "Wow!! Is she stacked!!"
"Lay off, skinhead!!"
His bunkie's name was Ollo, or something that sounded like Ollo. Ollo was a repeat offender drug dealer. He had no teeth, and was only 30 years old.
Before Don had a chance to write something newsworthy he received a second letter from Margaret.
"Dear Don,
I guess you are getting used to being locked up, so you don't have much to say. How is your bunk mate? Is he cute? I wouldn't mind fucking both of you at the same time. I am making new friends at work. Mostly guys, of course. The girls don't speak to me because they think I'm slutty. I don't know why they're like that. Anyway, two guys (cashiers) cornered me in the break room and fingered my pussy and made me climax. Those guys were rude. But since I'm new I have to be nice to everyone.
I'll write again soon.
Love,
Margaret"
Don decided to respond.
"Dear Margaret,
Thanks for your letters. I got both of them, and miss you terribly. I don't understand why you're writing such nasty stuff in your letters. You were always a respectable woman, church going and all.
My bunkie is a white skinhead, and is always begging for food. He's always hungry, but I suppose coming down from drugs makes you hungry.
I get to go out into the yard once a day in the morning. The blacks stay together and the Hispanics hang together. Sometimes they rumble, and the CO's let them fight. It's chow time, and I want to mail this before dinner.
Love you,
Don"
Don didn't mix well with his bunkmate. Ollo was rolling cigarettes from Bible paper. He was broke, so begged Don to get him stuff from the commissary. Don was allowed to go to commissary once a month.
The noise in prison was deafening, especially in the 'general population'. All day long there was screaming and shouting from one cell to another. Or across several cells. Or they scream just to vent their anger. When inmates were allowed to go outside the shouting stopped. When they came back in, an hour later, the shouting resumed. The correction officers (CO's) ignored the noise. They were used to it. Strangely enough, at 10 PM, one of the inmates (a shot caller) yelled something and the noise stopped. You could hear a pin drop.
Margaret's third letter arrived a week later.
"Dear Don,
A lot has happened since I last wrote you. I got terminated at work because they said I was a bad influence on their employees. Mom tried to get me a new job at the pharmacy but she was arrested for shoplifting. She didn't think taking some candy bars was a big deal.
Did you ever meet Lois? I don't think so. Anyway Lois is a lesbian and wants to hang out with me. She says I'm sexy. Lois and I went clubbing last Friday. Most of the girls there were dykes. I remember you telling me not to be judgmental. Also, Pastor Richard says the same thing. So I guess you don't mind too much if Lois and I fool around? I won't need to masturbate so much. Write soon ...
Love,
Margaret"
Don realized there was not much he could do in prison. San Quentin was usually utilized for executing killers. The only amusement was watching Mexicans fighting in the yard. There were those from the north
(Nortenos)