**Author's Note**
I apologize to my readers and followers. I know it's been a long time coming. After the Lit police rejected Chapter 31, I was at a loss, as it completely destroyed my story line as I had planned it, and I fell into a severe 'writers block.'
I finally settled down a couple weeks ago, threw out the original Ch 31 and started on this—The final Chapter. Had Chapter 31 not been rejected there likely would have been 3 or 4 more chapters, but I guess that was not to be.
Hopefully, this Final Chapter will be acceptable, and then I will get back to work on another story I was writing, "DJ."
As always, comments are appreciated, and also tend to spur me on to write more.
* * * * * * * * * * *
(from the tail end of Chapter 30)
It was just about 4:30 PM on Thursday afternoon when the fax machine spit out a message addressed to Ruben Styles from the State Department of Corrections. Sean retrieved the message, read it, and his heart sank. He picked it up and knocked on Ruben's door. Ruben called for Sean to come in.
Sean, entering Ruben's office, "This just came in on the fax, bad news, boss, real bad!" He handed the fax to Ruben.
Ruben read the fax, first scowling, then frowning, then holding his head in his hands.
"Sean, did you read it?"
"Yes, sir."
"It's classified information. You must promise me you will not mention this to any of the students. They will need to know. I will have a meeting tomorrow night and break it to them, as gently as I can."
"Those fuckin' bastards! They're reneging on their agreement with us. Thirty days! That's all they're giving us, thirty fucking days! Sean, please don't breathe a word about this. I'll present all the information to the students tomorrow night, and let them know what we're up against."
Final Chapter - W-11 Friday Morning
Ruben walked into the cafeteria and caught Mike on the line.
"I would guess you're the cook in charge this morning?" Ruben asked, with a facial expression much more serious than normal.
"Yes, sir," Mike responded, "Are you okay, sir?"
"Not really, Mike, this is not a very good day for me. Today is the last for both Ivan and Mitch, if I can ask you to do the cake thing?"
"Certainly, Mr. Styles," Mike answered, "Can I ask what is wrong?"
"You can ask, but I cannot tell you. The school is heading into major crises. I'm going to have another mandatory meeting tonight after chow, and I will explain to everyone just what we are facing. I know you and Troy opened this morning, but I still want you at the meeting. We can celebrate our departing friends after the meeting. I want to start the meeting at 6:00 PM."
"I will give Vern and the others a heads up about the meeting and farewell party," Mike said. Styles fixed a light plate of food and then headed back toward his office.
No sooner had Ruben arrived at the office, he noticed a new fax had arrived. He retrieved it immediately, with hopes that the DOC had maybe had a change of heart. When he read it, what little appetite he may have had completely disappeared, and he shoved the plate of food to the side.
Hoping he had misread the order from DOC, Styles read it again and went into frenzy, yelling, screaming and banging the desk with his fists. Sean, just walking into the front office, was alarmed, hearing the commotion in Ruben's office. Instead of knocking, he just walked in. He'd never seen Mr. Styles so upset as he was today.
"Mr. Styles," Sean yelled, "What's happened?"
Ruben wasn't even able to speak coherently, he just pointed to the fax, and Sean picked it up and started to read it.
* * * * * * * * * *The fax* * * * * * * * * * *
From: Department of Corrections
To: Mr. Ruben Styles
Subject: Transition of Prison School to Juvenile Detention Center
After careful consideration, we have decided to move the complete transition to this coming Monday, (Date). As previously arranged, the first busload of detainees will be arriving sometime between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
Please ensure that your remaining twenty inmates are prepared to board the same bus which will transport them to the Penitentiary for in-processing and to complete their time of incarceration. There will be armed security on the bus.
Just to insure safety for everyone, we have already placed armed security around the perimeter of the campus, and will have some armed security inside before 5:00 PM today (Friday), just in case of any uprisings.
We hope, with your cooperation, this transition will go smoothly.
You may go ahead and lay off your current cafeteria staff effective Sunday night as our new cafeteria crew will be arriving to take over at 6:00 AM Monday morning, and they will prepare breakfast for your remaining inmates on Monday morning, as well as lunch for the new detainees.
The second busload of detainees will arrive Tuesday morning, however this should not be of any concern to you.
* * * * * * * * * * *
W-11 Friday evening after 5:00 PM:
Most of the students entering the cafeteria were alarmed and apprehensive as to the presence of the two armed security officers they didn't recognize.
Jeremy, as the trainers and trainees came through the chow line in the cafeteria, "Hang around after dinner, Mr. Styles is having a mandatory meeting at 6:00 PM, and then we're having a going away celebration for Mitch and Ivan after the meeting."
All 22 of the remaining students were either just sitting around, or, some that came in late were still eating when Ruben came into the cafeteria, pulling the podium out from the wall, and placing a stack of papers on it.
"Gentlemen," Styles announced, with a serious expression on his face "I have a mixed bag of information to present to you this evening. A couple of good things, and a major setback. I'll start with the positive items. Mitch, Ivan, can you come up here please."
Ruben continued, as Mitch and Ivan approached the podium, "We appreciate the service these two trainers have given us, and I am pleased to announce that they will be returning to society tomorrow. I am going to ask them to do their last service to the school right now."
Ivan spoke, "It has been my pleasure to have helped to train quite a number of students in this school, to get certified as carpenters. This week, I would like to thank Darin for really coming to the front, coaching Bryan, so that he could pass his certification test yesterday. Bryan, please come up and accept your certificate."
Bryan and Darin both stood, and Darin hugged Bryan with a smile on his face, and Bryan then walked to the podium. Ivan, while shaking Bryan's hand, gave him the certificate, and offered congratulations.
Mitch then spoke, "Ivan couldn't have presented our feelings any better. Both he and I are pleased that we have completed the training of our students, and I have to thank Rick for helping Corey to pass his exam yesterday. It's incredible, both Corey and Bryan completed their training in these fields, in only 10 weeks! Corey, come on up here."
Corey stood, smiling, and told Rick a quiet 'thank you' and walked up, receiving both his certification, and a hug from Mitch. All four men then returned to their seats.
"Before I forget, Ivan, Mitch, please be in the office about 8:00 AM tomorrow morning, the man from security will be here to remove those bracelets from your wrists."
"As you know," Ruben resumed, "We are going through a major transition, from the school as we know it, to a Juvenile Detention Facility. We previously expected this change to take place over a few weeks, however, DOC has changed their plans. On Monday morning, the State is bringing in the first batch of J***'* and they will occupy Dorm Two."
"Now," Ruben continued, "I need to explain some changes I would have hoped I never would need to discuss. I received a startling and upsetting fax today, from the Department of Corrections. We had made a deal earlier, that all of you students would be able to complete your training here and finish your time here. They have reneged on that agreement."
"It would seem that the profits of operating a detention center has taken precedence over our agreement. As per the order we received today, the DOC has given us 3 days to vacate Dorm One. I have run off several copies of the fax, which you are welcome to read."
"We have, I believe, eight students here, two in Masonry, two in Plumbing, and four in Culinary Arts, that have not taken their certification exams yet. The best case scenario, is for the trainers in these fields to push the hell out of you guys and prepare you to take those exams Sunday, and maybe you will all get certified."
"I have contacted the people at certification and explained the situation here. They told me to go ahead and have you guys take the exams this weekend, and if I fax them in Sunday night they will grade them Monday morning,
"I know I'm not usually around here on Sunday, but I will be here this week. It is my intention to administer the certification exams at 8:00 PM Sunday evening, here in this room. I will fax them in Sunday night, however, I know it will may a couple of days to get the results back. It is highly doubtful we'll get the results before you guys leave."
Sean raised his hand.
"Sean, you want to speak?"
"Mr. Styles," Sean asked, "what becomes of those of us who still have time to serve?"
"That," Ruben stated, "is the most devastating and heartbreaking part of the order! As per the fax, any students still here Monday will be returned to the penitentiary to finish their time. At least," Ruben continued, "if we can get you men all certified, they can't take away your certifications. When I can find someone to talk to, there may be a possibility that some of you may be able to get some 'good time' applied, and, hopefully, not have to go back to the pen. I swear I'm going to do whatever I can. This whole dilemma is breaking my heart!"
Ruben used his sleeve to wipe some tears that were sliding down his cheek. Most of the students were nearly in a state of shock, and were just looking at each other, and many also were grabbing napkins. This was a fate that none of them were prepared for. Ivan stood up, and Ruben acknowledged him.
Ivan spoke, "I certainly never expected this to happen. I feel very fortunate that Mitch and I are leaving tomorrow and will be returning to our families, but my heart cries for those of you who may be sent back. Not mentioning any names, (Ivan stares at Darin and Bryan) I know that some of you have developed some very close relationships. I think it appropriate to suggest that those of you who wish to maintain contact make sure you get some information from each other, such as home addresses and phone numbers, so you will be able to make contact down the line."
"Well stated," Ruben commented, "Thank you Ivan."
