Almost Lucky

Who are we when were young?  We often look back and hardly recognize that person who knew everything. The person who felt the world on their shoulders. Some of us muddled threw our teen years with barely a scratch. Others felt their only options were drugs and the life style that went with it. If they were lucky it became only a stage not easily forgotten. Those who weren't as lucky had mothers who mourned their deaths and wondered where they went wrong.

Some where in the middle are a few who were neither lucky or dead. They have became part of our penal system. That is my young man I meet on the bus.  He was sitting behind me. Gazing over at my book. He was the one who spoke to me first. He ask me what I was reading. That quickly became the bases of conversation. I found out in prison there is a lot of time to reflect and read. At the tender age of 18 he was caught using prescription drugs. I ask if that was a good thing or bad? His reply was simple and truthful. He said it was a good thing, because it probably saved his life.  I wondered if he would have been one of the lucky ones.  His option now was to finish the remainder of his sentence through the work release program in our city.

The work release program is not a walk in the park. First you must find full time employment. All forms of restitution must be meet. These include a variety of issues, child support, all debt and any court cost that have been involved in your incarceration. Then you must also pay room and board to the state. The list goes on . One of the requirements is to either ride the bus to and from work,secure private transportation or arrange for a taxi. That is where my young man came in. He was leaving work from his early morning shift. I'm not sure how he made it to work. I do know if he worked evenings our buses only run to 6:30 pm. I told him the city had considered dropping Saturday bus service. He told me without Saturday bus service his 250 roommates would probably lose their jobs. These were jobs required by the state. Jobs that required them to work Saturdays or any time they could squeeze them into the short schedule that our bus system runs.

The young man and I departed at the downtown station. I spent a couple more minutes talking with him. He pointed out where his home was for the remainder of his sentence. I could almost envision his front door from where we  were standing. After saying our goodbyes I reflected on our conversation.  He was a optimistic young man in spite of his situation. He wanted to continue his education and make a new life. His ambition and  motivation was testimony to those who helped him along the way. I pray on his new journey threw life that he finds what we all search for.  A life full of love and happiness.