His Salvation

Chapter Two

I received a letter in the mail from the state penitentiary about two weeks later. I laid back on the couch with the letter. Bandit jumped up on the couch and pushed my legs apart and laid down with his head on my thigh.

I opened the letter and rubbed Bandit's head while I read it.

Danny,

Thanks for your letter.

People call me Moose, not Marvin. A nickname I got on my high school football team. It kind of fits me.

It sounds like someone hurt you in the past. Don't let that stop you from living your life. A guy like you must have a big heart taking in strays and writing to convicts.

You didn't ask, but I know your dying to know. I killed someone. They called it vehicular manslaughter. I was drunk and driving. I got 10 yrs but probably deserve more. If you don't write back, I don't blame you.

Moose

I read the letter a second time. A tear fell down my right cheek and I wiped it away. What he did was so horrible I just couldn't believe it. But it sounded like he needed a friend. I got out a pen and paper and wrote him back. I didn't talk about what he did. Instead, I talked about myself.

Dear Moose,

It's me again, Danny.

I guess I should tell you a little more about myself.

I'm pretty much a loner. I guess it happened after my mom died. I was 14 when she got sick. She died when I was 15. It was so hard on both me and my dad. That was when I kind of closed myself in. I stopped hanging out with my friends and they all moved on. I never really figured out how to make friends after that.

Dad was always there for me, though. When I told him I was gay, I knew that he didn't like it and it made him really uncomfortable. But he tried to smile and he said he loves me no matter what. It's really hard for him to talk to me about guys and dating, but he tries. I think he is scared that I will be alone for the rest of my life, or that someone will hurt me if they find out I'm gay. I think it also makes him sad that I'm his only child and he will never have grandkids.

I've only had one boyfriend. I dated Silas for a few months. We met on my 21st birthday. I forced myself to go out and have a drink at the bar. I found out that I don't really like the taste of beer. I'd rather have a pop. But I did meet Silas there. He was my first and I was so in love with him. But apparently, he didn't feel the same way since he dumped me for someone else. I've gone out with a few guys since then, but nothing that lasted.

I know this is a stupid question, and you probably get asked it a lot and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but what is it like in prison?

I hope you had a happy New Year.

Danny

When he wrote me back a couple of weeks later, I was very excited to read his letter.

Dear Danny,

Thanks for writing back. I really didn't think you would.

My mom and dad disowned me after what I did. I don't blame them. I'm an only child, too.

I'm glad that your dad is trying with you. It means he really cares about you.

After I got out of high school, all my buddies pretty much left for college. I couldn't afford to go. I fell in with the wrong crowd. Partied too much. I got drunk and smoked and got high every weekend. I f****d up and now I'm paying the price.

Danny. Prison sucks. I hope you never have to find out first hand. We are locked up in our cells most of the day except for meals and showers and 1 hour of rec time. I do a lot of reading. My cellmate is a pig. He farts all day and all night long. All the guys here are animals. The worst thing is how lonely it is. You are never physically alone, but mentally it's just me and my thoughts.

Promise me that you will keep clean. I don't want you to ever end up here. The guys here would break you.

That picture you have of me is a couple of years old. Do you have a pic you can send me? I want to know what you look like. If you want.

Moose

I took a picture of myself with my digital camera and printed it out. I looked it over and nodded to myself. I thought I looked pretty good.

I'm 5'10" in height and have always had a thin build, but my tummy has gotten a little soft over the years. I have dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. I have a goatee and mustache and a very thin beard along my jawline. My left ear has a small titanium ball earring in it.

He can't see it in the picture since I'm wearing a shirt, but I have the Superman 'S' shield symbol tattooed on my left arm.

I put the picture in my next letter and mailed it out to him.

Dear Moose,

I enclosed a picture for you as you asked. I hope I match how you imagine me.

Prison life sounds very sad and very lonely. But I guess it's supposed to be a punishment. I think I would be terrified.

I promise that I will keep clean. It's pretty easy for me. I'm pretty straight-laced and always stayed out of trouble. I was always a good kid. I never gave my parents any trouble. This is going to sound really nerdy, but I have never tried any kind of drugs, I've never smoked and I've only had one alcoholic drink. Dad sometimes jokes that my being gay is to make up for me being such a good and easy kid. He doesn't mean it in a mean way, though.

If you want me to send you any books or magazines, I will get them for you.

Your friend,

Danny