Beneath the Mask - 6. Chapter 6

(ALEJANDRO’S POINT OF VIEW)

When I walked into that visitor’s room and saw Jacob Hernandez sitting there. I couldn’t believe the guy I gave hell to for over a year was sitting there. Not only did he get my letter, he actually came down.

Then we talked about things I never thought I would ever talk about to anyone. You know; my love life. Jacob understood everything I am going through. He not only listened but he advised me what to do. I have never felt this open with anyone in my life as I am feeling right now talking with Jacob.

Every good thing must come to end as this talk did. My time was up and the guards here make sure that no one ever gets a second longer then deserved. I walked out of the room more confident than I have felt in a long time.

Then my bubble gets burst. Officer Jackson pulled me into a call I didn’t want to have. A person I didn’t want to talk to right at this moment. A person that knows how to pull down anyone in a good mood! My father is waiting to speak with me.

I had to hear once again how weak I am. How I am not holding up the family name with how I’m managing things here. How I am embarrassing my father. Then he said the words I knew he always thought in his mind; words that no son or daughter should ever hear come out of there fathers mouth.

“Fuck the merchandise right now Alex. You aren’t getting control of things and you’re allowing others to think they can just run over you and take over the gang. Trust me Alex I will give the order to kill even my own son if I have to. Are you going to get things straight or do I have to do what I don’t want to do?”

I tried to explain to my father I am doing everything anyone in my shoes can do short of killing someone. The end result of that would be my life being in prison. I know my dad wants me to walk in his footsteps. That’s not what I want. I don’t want to go into the prison system. I don’t want to live this kind of life anymore. I have never wanted to live this kind of life. It was understood I had no other choice then to live the life the generations of males in my family have done.

I want to be normal kid, with a normal life. That is all fucked up right now. Still I can make something of my life. I just can’t screw this chance I have been given. I won’t get another chance again.

“Dad I am doing everything you have asked of me to do.”

“No, you aren’t. You know others are getting away with shit there that they shouldn’t. Damn it Alex, you aren’t listening to me. You are making excuses. You are leaving me no choice but to remove you. I need order and I need that order now. If that means you need to step into shit, do it. If you need to kill someone in order to make it clear you are in charge, do it. Just get it done soon or I will make the call.”

With that I heard my father slam his receiver down and the dial tone is all I heard before hanging up my receiver. I felt Officer Jackson looking at me from behind. I know he wants to hear what just happened on the other end.

“Alex I don’t want you worrying about a thing. We are making sure there isn’t any communication from anyone else in here to others in the prison system. The order that your father is threatening will never get here.”

I got up and looked at Officer Jackson. In his eyes is a look I have rarely seen. He had a look of concern and worry. It might be actually concerned for my wellbeing. He, at the same time, is worried that this might blow up in our face!

“Officer Jackson, my dad has his ways. If he wants to remove me he will. There is no stopping him from getting that message through. I can’t even begin to explain all the ways my father could send the message through.”

“Look Alex, if keeping you safe means is locking down every gang member in here, we will. If it means they can’t write out to any one or receive letters from anyone, we will. We can even stop their visitors. We can play it all off on the recent gang violence that’s happened. That killing was ganged related.”

Officer Jackson is right, they can do those things. There’s one thing we tend to forget in here; we don’t actually run the show like we think we do. These guards can pull everything away from us in a second. They really don’t need a reason to do so. All they have to say is it is being done to protect the other inmates.

“Officer Jackson, I really think my father is going to screw things up for himself. The amount of merchandise he is asking to be sent to him tells me that things aren’t good at all.

Look at the merchandise he is asking me to send up. The only reason they aren’t buying this stuff from the prison store is that they would be caught. You can see what the stuff that is being sent to them can be turned into.

“Yes I can and so can Mr. Henderson. Trust me Alex we don’t let this stuff get out of here without letting the wardens know what is going their way. They know what is being sent to their prisons. They know who is getting it and how they are getting it. This whole thing is unveiling a lot to us that we didn’t know before.”

“I am just worried here though. I need to keep peace in this gang at any cost. Right now I don’t know how I am going to be able to do that. It seems like everyone I put in place wants to lead it all.

Everyone that has been moved out of a leadership position wants it back and they are going to do whatever it takes in order to get it done. I am getting hit from all sides here right now.”

“The new guy you put in charge, do you fear him?”

“No. He is a ‘yes sir’, ‘no sir’ kind of guy but the others that have been removed will do all they can to get back their position if given the slightest chance.”

“If we take that threat away will the others in the gang follow the man you choose to bark out your orders in there?”

“Yes they will. But if you go out and remove the others that were once in leadership, the others will see through it. In return it will cause more trouble rather than help. I need to find a way to get all onboard and stop causing me problems.”

“No Alex it is time for you to let us help you out. If we keep allowing you to go in there and beat someone half to death, that doesn’t work for us. There are ways we can get things done that won’t destroy your cover in anyway.”

“First we take the old leaders and put them in lockdown. They will spend the rest of their time here in lockdown. We can sell it to the judge we know that they were involved with the killing.

That way you are left with the one guy you want in the position. You have to make damn sure that is the guy you want and that he’ll work out. Once we make the moves, we can’t do it again. The cover story can’t be used again. Are you certain this guy is the one we have nothing to worry about?”

I sat there thinking over the question carefully. What Officer Jackson just said makes sense. He can make the moves he suggested. No one would be the wiser of it. In return Ashton won’t be pushed into a corner.

“You know this will work Officer Jackson. All of us know you guys know how to read our gang tags. It is well known that each leader is tagged a certain way. You guys know that. Ashton isn’t tagged right now.

You can go in and remove all leaders that have the tag. Put them in lockdown and will ensure Ashton doesn’t get the tag in order for him to stay in charge. Whenever any of them are asked who took over, many will say they did.

Since you guys don’t have the proof they did, they can’t be removed. Yes this will work. It will keep Ashton and the others in their spot. In return they will understand why I need to stay where I am.”

Officer Jackson and I sat there for awhile planning it all out. The move will be done first thing tomorrow morning. It won’t strip the gang down, because we have the guards on our side. The other gangs will try to move, and be stopped.

When they are stopped, the guards will know who is making the calls into those other gangs. The guards will remove them which will keep the gang members in my old gang safe. It is a win, win situation here.

After Officer Jackson and I crossed our t’s and dotted our i’s, we have a plan. I walked out of the room confident the plan will work as long as every player in this is on our side! Nothing can get out that gives it away.

Between my visits with Jacob, the phone call with my father and making plans with Officer Jackson when I finally got back into my room it was already after lights out. I couldn’t believe it was that late already. Friday and Saturday nights we get to stay up several hours later.

Once Officer Jackson signed me back in with the guards on duty, I headed to my room. I went in as quietly as possible so I wouldn’t wake Matt up. Before shutting the door to our room I made sure there weren’t any guards around.

When I felt the coast is clear, I shut the door. I walked over to my bed making sure I didn’t make any noise. I knew Matt is already asleep because I heard him snoring softly. I love hearing Matt snore. It isn’t that normal loud snore; it is this very light and soft snore, almost a purr.

After taking off my shoes and pants, I jumped into some sweats and then I walked over to Matt’s bed to get a glimpse of him before I go to sleep. He is my strength right now. He is the main reason I am doing what I am doing with the gang. It is very rare that a member of a gang turns on their own.

As I looked down at Matt, I went weak in the knees. I couldn’t help it. Matt is everything I have ever hoped for in a boyfriend. Man that sounds weird even just thinking it. I never thought that word would ever come across my mind in reference to myself.

I couldn’t help myself. I leaned down until my lips touched Matt’s. At first the kiss was just one way, but it changed. Matt started to return the kiss. Before I knew it, Matt wrapped his arms around my neck pulling me down on top of him.

We started to tumble around on his bed not wanting to let the kiss end. I want to spend one night in his bed, just one night. But I know that isn’t going to happen while we are locked up in here.

(ALENDRO SR’s POINT OF VIEW)

After getting off the phone with my son I headed back to my cell. It wasn’t my intent to threaten my son the way I did. But he kept me on hold for a while. I don’t get put on hold for anyone, including my son. I need to have a one on one with that Officer Jackson. He needs to understand that I want whoever I call at the phone within minutes of my call.

Once I arrived back to my cell bloc, it looked like all hell wants to break out. Not even flinching to the other ethnic gangs as they approached me as I made my way back to my cell. I can’t show any kind of fear to any of these animals and monkeys in here.

Aaron was waiting for me when I arrived. He doesn’t look happy at all. To tell you the truth I am not happy either. I was gone for about an hour and when I return everyone has lost all their senses.

“Tell me Aaron what is going on in here? I just left for an hour or so. Now as I return I see we might have a fight on our hands.”

“Alex the blacks killed one of the Asians gang members. Now the Asian gang wants revenge at any cost. They want us to take sides. But as they know we do not have a standing agreement with either of the gangs that we will support one of them if they end up at war with the other.”

“Your right on all points Aaron. No matter what happens we will never have any kind of agreement with the blacks in here. They want to run things and to hell with us. At least with the Asians we can reason with them.”

“So then we deal with the Asians?”

“No we don’t deal with any of them. In fact they them tear each other part as far as I care. We will step in at the end and take over everything. Those two groups will do us the favor on killing each other off. We don’t even have to get our hands dirty to control one hundred percent of everything that goes on in here.”

I made my way to my bunk. Just then I noticed something very weird. The guards haven’t put us in lockdown yet. That is something they do whenever there might be a race war about to happen. Maybe this is opening up the door for what I have been planning to do.

I got back up and walked over to the door of the cell. I looked out to see where the guards were. I couldn’t see even a single guard. In fact, the guard station looks like it has been abandoned. This race outbreak between the blacks and the Asians has actually pushed the guards back in retreat. I turned to Aaron;

“Aaron, gather the lieutenants in here right away. We need to take advantage of this situation as it unfolds no matter if it works or not. We won’t get the blame for starting it but we sure as hell can control what goes on from this moment on.”

Moments later Aaron and all of the lieutenants walked into my cell. They stood there waiting for my orders. I want this to go right no matter what. For what I have in mind, to happen, we have to control and direct this uprising and the outcome.

“All right you guys, we didn’t start this, but we must lead it to the outcome we need. As you all know we have been preparing for a takeover for a while now. We have objectives we want to have happen once we do take over this prison. Now we must execute plans to achieve our objectives.

This isn’t the time we wanted it and this isn’t the way we wanted it to go down but there isn’t going to be another chance like this again for a very long time. Let the blacks and Asians start it and we will control it.”

I sat there explaining to my leadership what I wanted to have done at first. By the looks of it, the Asians have control of most of the prison right now. How they did that, I can’t say. The blacks out number both the Asians and the Mexicans in here! Still the Asians got control and have the blacks locked up.

First we need to find out what kind of weapons the Asians have. That is the only way they got control and ran off the guards. One thing I can’t understand is why in the world the guards would stick the leader of one of the largest gangs in here. That is a question for another time for now.

Aaron and a couple others came back and reported to me that the Asians don’t really have any weapons. They were just in the right spot at the right time. Now that gives us the chance to gain the control from the Asians since they have no way of fending us off.

The first thing we need to do is gain control of the guard station. We can’t afford those in control of it right now to open the cells of the blacks. That could mean losing control of everything. If they can’t control it, no one will.

Once the order went out to take control of each section, it didn’t take much to get it done. The Asians didn’t have the manpower or the weapons to stop us. It only took us less than twenty minutes to have every part of the cell block in our control.

Here in our prison, once the guards lose control of a section, they loose control of the prison. It is an older prison that can’t be locked down a section at a time to keep the uprising contained to one area. Once the Asians got control of the prison, they controlled it all. Now we control it all.

The control stops at the gates leading to different buildings and to the yard, but this building we have will take a lot for them to regain that control. I will take advantage of it. The governor and the Warden won’t use force unless everything else fails. We won’t let the talks fail.

I walked out to the dayroom to have a sit down with the leaders from each gang. No matter if they like it or not, we are in control. This means we are going to make the calls from this moment on.

When the leader of the African American gang came to the table, I noticed it wasn’t the leader but a lower ranking member of the gang. I won’t sit down with lower ranking members of a gang. It is beneath me and stature of the position I hold. Even in my own gang I don’t sit down with lower members of this guys ranking.

“I won’t talk with you. Either Jenell comes out and speaks with us at this table, or you guys don’t get represented in these talks,” I said with complete authority.

“Jenell was killed when all this broke out.”

“Then his second in command. No harm will come to him or anyone at this meeting. If anyone threatens the other, they are gone. You all know what I mean by gone,” I said.

“When they killed Jenell they got to Baron too. It was their way of getting revenge for the killing of one of their members” the lower ranking Black reported.

I looked at the Asian leader not understanding his thinking. One thing all gangs have is respect for the leader of the other gang. Even if the order came from the leader, you don’t kill the leader and his second in command. Not for a gang member, not even for a gang member in leadership.

The only time a green light goes out on a leader is when they order the killing of a leader of another gang. It is just the respect that leaders show each other. If we kill off the leaders, and the peons of the gang try to control things. Let’s just say it would be like a high school and there would be no control or respect of the rules.

“Who is the next in command of the gang? You aren’t in leadership position to say you are now in charge. If I am not mistaken, your next in command is Deon. Don’t tell me he’s is dead too.”

“No sir he isn’t. He is in command and ordered me to come out here to sit in his place in these talks for us.”

My fist slammed down on the metal table; “No you won’t sit here in his place. Either he comes out here, or you guys have no say in what is being discussed!”

“We won’t have any say on what is being discussed because we are weak right now. The leadership is in array. Plus you will feel that we only will want revenge for the killing of our leaders. I will go pass your message to Deon”

In a few minutes, Deon appeared and I said, “Deon take a seat where your peon is sitting. You will get the respect shown to you as I would hope my second and third in command will get from you if the situation were flipped. We need to discuss several items, and now we have one more item to discuss.”

Before Deon could even take his seat, Chet’s face hit the table. I didn’t even have to give the order. One of his own did the deed. Several of the Asian gang members dragged his lifeless body away.

I looked around to make sure none of that gang is standing near me. I don’t want to be stabbed I the back like he just got. The second in command sat down looking more afraid than Deon is looking right now.

“Hulin nothing is going to happen with you from the hands of my people or the others. It is your own members you will have to worry about. If any harm comes to you, those that do it will be dealt with.”

I looked around the table before speaking again. “Those of us here recognize you as the leader of the Asian gang and will talk with you. There will be no more killing of leadership in any gang. In fact the killing off of each gang is over.

Your gang got your revenge. I don’t agree with the ones that were killed, but I can’t turn the clock back. If it happens again, this will be a different talk. In fact I will open the flood gates to your gang and see who ends up swimming and who drowns.”

Nothing more needed to be said about what happened. I needed to get down to business and fast. I laid out what is going to happen and who is going to do what. We might have control of this prison for a week, if not a little longer. In that time period the next stage of my plan needs to get on its way.

Once everyone understood what their gang is going to control, the meeting ended. One thing I made sure of in this meeting was that each of them got something to run, but nothing major. All major things stayed in my hands.

Once the guards regain control, I am going down to the hole for a very long time. I need to make sure Aaron understands what needs to be done. All orders will still come through me, but he is the one giving them.

By early morning the Warden wanted to know our demands. A list had already been made up during the night. Most of the items on the list are bullshit and we know we won’t get them. Still they need to go through the list, turn them down. That will buy as time as they do that. Time is what we need.

My main objective when this is all said is done is simple. As the guards retake control of the prison, we take complete control of everything that runs through this place. From drugs, to sex, all the way to who has what. At this time we share this stuff and it isn’t even an even split.

When I get out of the hole I will run everything; something my father tried to accomplish, but never did. I am a lifer, and for that I want the system to return back to ways of old days. In those days we had all the respect and control.

(FRANSECA’S POINT OF VIEW)

As I walked into my house so tired I couldn’t move much. Only six hours of rest before I have to go into my third job. I don’t know what I am going to do anymore. I can’t afford to stop, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.

Let me explain what is going on. My name is Franseca Garcia. Garcia by marriage, but the last name I have known since I was fifteen. In Mexico you marry as soon as you could deliver a child to your husband.

I got pregnant at the age of fourteen with Alejandro, my oldest of four children. Alejandro Sr., my husband and children’s father, moved us to Texas before I gave birth to Alejandro, making Alejandro and all my boys American citizens. My husband of course is an American as well.

The only time in our marriage I ever saw my husband was when he got released from prison for a few months. Then he broke his parole somehow and landed right back in. Every time he got out, I got pregnant with yet another son. That made my husband happy, but for me, it is a nightmare.

Not only has my husband messed up his name, he has done a great job pulling down our oldest boy with him. In Alejandro Sr.’s it mind is very simple; gang life is the family business and his children must follow that tradition.

My older son Alejandro means too much to me. He is my first born and always has been there whenever I needed him. Everyone sees an evil kid in my son, but he is nowhere near that evil kid they see. He has such great soul and is in love with the beauty of life.

He never brought stolen property in the house. He knew if he did, he wouldn’t be able to sit for a week. I really don’t think he ever stole. Yes he hung around kids that did, but I really don’t think he did himself. He needed to act all tough and be like he was the man, but I know deep inside him he wants nothing to do with that kind of life his father created for him.

Then he goes and try’s to prove that he is worthy of his father’s love. He goes and shoots up the school trying to get the kids of the witnesses that put his father away for life. Alex was so dumb to that part of his father’s life that he messed up. Then he made it worse by trying to silence the one that could put him away for a long time.

I tried everything to keep my son away from the life that his father demanded him to fall into. For awhile I was getting the job done but the last time his father got out on parole, I lost Alejandro to his father. Just like any son, no matter what the father has done they look up to their father.

I am not trying to make excuses for my son. He was wrong and deserves to be punished but I don’t think his life should be totally taken away from him. I am glad the judge saw that as well. Now I go to bed every night worrying for Alex in that place. His father has a long reach. A reach that can touch my son in there and I can’t do a thing about it.

That was it for Alejandro, and I cried myself to sleep many nights since. So far I have kept my three other sons out of the life. I know I will succeed in doing so because my husband will never see the light of day again. The only way I might lose my sons to that life is the neighborhood.

I am working three jobs in order to make ends meet from putting food on the table, to a roof over our heads and clothes on the back of three growing boys. I still have to send a certain amount of money to my husband. That money needs to be sent every month or I will get a visit from his friends. Trust me when I say that kind of visit you don’t want.

I know this is my life and I decided to stay around for it. You must understand my upbringing. We can’t ever divorce our husband. If we do, none of our family will ever talk with me again. Once married we have to stand by the husband we married till death do us part. Sometimes that death comes to us by the hands of our husbands.

Just as I put dinner on the table. I heard a knock on the door. I quickly looked at the calendar making sure I wasn’t late on getting money to my husband. I wasn’t, so the second thing that came to my mind is the police are here for one of my other sons.

I walked up to the door worried for my family. Alejandro Jr. covered the peep hole with metal because it has been known people get shot while looking through it.

Leaving the chain on the door, like it protects much, I opened the door. At first I didn’t know who this young boy standing on my porch was. He looked more scared standing there then I am of him. Then when he turned to knock again, I saw his face, I knew who he was. I closed the door and took off the chain.

“Please come on in, please!”

“Thank you ma’am, I am sorry for coming unannounced like this. I tried to look you up in the phone book and even tried information, but you aren’t listed.”

“No I can’t afford a phone. Please take a seat anywhere you want. I was just about to call my other boys to eat. Do you want anything to eat or drink?”

“No ma’am I am fine. Please eat, don’t stop because of me. I can come back when you have a little bit of time. I really didn’t mean to interrupt your meal.”

“Nonsense!” I said. Please take a seat and let me call my kids down to eat.”

I went over to the hallway and called the boys to eat. They came running to the table not even noticing our visitor. In one way I was glad, but at the same time I had hoped they saw him so they could meet him.

As soon as the boys had their plates and something to drink, I went back to the living room. I couldn’t believe this young man is actually here. I don’t know if I would ever visit a family of the kid that tried to kill me.

“Jacob, I am thankful for all of what you have done for my son. If it wasn’t for your forgiveness and testimony, my son would be in prison with his father. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, but thank you so much.”

“No ma’am it does mean a lot hearing it from you. It wasn’t anything at all. I have spoken with your son since he got locked up in the detention facility. At first it was a couple of letters, and then last night I stopped by and paid a visit in person.”

“Oh you did Jacob? That had to mean a lot to my son. He really does regret and wishes he never did what he did to you. He is a very good kid inside. I know every parent says that about their kids, but he is.”

“Ma’am I know he is a very good kid. When I sat there looking straight into his eyes, I saw a totally different person. There across from me was a person I never met before in my life. Not the one that shot me and tried several times again. No, I saw a person that looked like a frightened little boy.”

“Exactly Jacob, you are right there. He was forced to grow up way too fast. I have just as much blame for that as his father does. No parent should ever lean on their kids for anything. It should always be the other way around.”

“Well I am not a parent and I probably will never have any kids of my own; at least blood, maybe adopted ones. I made a promise to your son that I will check in on you from time to time. He is really worried about you.”

I couldn’t help but get choked up over what Jacob just said. My son is in the horrible place and he is worried about me. I must have done something right somewhere along the line with his upbringing.

“Look ma’am Alex told me you work several jobs just to make ends meet. I suspect they are probably minimum wage jobs only. Right now my family is huge. My grandfather just moved in with my grandmother. Plus…..”

Jacob sat there explaining to me his entire family set up. From the three houses being bought, worked on, and eventually becoming one big house to all those that live in the houses and several coming in as they please.

He told me about his brother Jeremy and how his boyfriend’s mother is helping with him. I didn’t even get bothered when Jake talked about his boyfriend Joey. He looks like he is really in love with him. All that really matters is finding someone to love with every ounce of your being and then spending the rest of your life with that person.

He went on and explained that he feels the work in the house is way too much for one woman to do. She isn’t complaining, but he doesn’t feel right. His grandfather and grandmother are getting old and he doesn’t want them cleaning up after everyone.

“This is if you want ma’am. I will pay you fifteen dollars an hour, forty hours a week, to come down and help out in the house. Beth will tell you where she needs help, but you will have a job with us as long as you want.”

I couldn’t believe what Jacob is doing. He not only is going to pay me what I make in all three jobs, but a little more. One is a full time job and the other two are part time jobs. All of which pays me minimum wage of four dollars and seventy five cents an hour.

It is doing the same work I am doing right now. My full time job is cleaning offices in an insurance office. My other part time jobs are cleaning rooms at two different motels here in town. This would allow me to breathe and spend time here at home with my boys. I really don’t know what to say to this young man.

“Jacob you really don’t have to do that. It is fine that you come down and visit whenever you want. I would feel better if you continue visiting my son but giving me a very good paying job, you don’t have to do that.”

“Ma’am Joey and I discussed this several times. We had planned originally to hire several ladies that come across the border every day. Then Joey’s mom moved in, but the house and everything in it has gotten bigger.

Trust me you might not want the job once you pay us a visit for the first time! From the house cleaning, to Jeremy, to all the traffic coming and going, you might just take the first chance to get out of there! It is a lot of work with four to five teenage boys, plus Jeremy and my grandparents.”

I really didn’t know what to say or think. All I could do is sit there and look at this guy that seems to be an angel sent to my family. He first saves my son, and then he comes in here and wants to help me out.

“Ma’am, here’s something else you don’t know. Your son did me the biggest favor when he did what he did. He actually saved my life. I would have never known about the cancer if it wasn’t for him. I would be dead today because I would have never gone in and gotten checked out. The pain was there, but I thought it was just me. I am alive thanks to your son. For that I want to do what I can to help him out. He didn’t mean to do what he did, and I know that.

So let me help where I can. I have a little money. I can afford to help out. What good does it do a person to have a little bit of money and not help out others when needed? It isn’t charity, trust me you will earn your pay.”

“When do you need me to start Jacob?”

“How about Monday? Is that good for you ma’am?”

“That is fine; just leave me your address and directions to your house. I will never quit or let you down Jacob. You can always depend on me being there when you need me. Thank you so much for this, thank you.”

We sat in my living room for another thirty minutes or so. We talked about a lot of things. He seemed to be worried for my son. He also made me a promise that he will do everything to get my son out of there when he turns twenty one. I know it depends all on Alex, but I know he can do it.

Before Jacob left, he left me his address and phone number. I couldn’t let him leave with kissing him on the cheek. He is a sweet young man I know there is a reason he was saved. There is a reason God put him on this earth. I really do believe the reason is to shine light in lives where there hasn’t been any light for a very long time.

(ALEJANDRO’S POINT OF VIEW)

After spending most of the night dodging the guards coming in and out of Matt’s and my room, I couldn’t keep my eyes open during breakfast. No one said anything about it. I think they all thought I was up doing gang business.

It wasn’t gang business at all. I spent the night with my lover. We kissed each other as we cuddled in each of our beds. The reason we used both of our beds is because the guards. We knew when the guards were coming in to do head count, so we kept jumping from bed to bed each time the guards counted.

You know when the guards left, either he or I would jump out of our bed and head to the others bed. We knew we didn’t have time to have sex between look ins, but it didn’t stop us from exploring each others bodies.

I looked at ever inch of naked flesh of Matt’s body. He did the same with me. Now I know every mole and scrape on his body. I know about the broken leg he got falling off the school bus during middle school. That story is pretty funny, but will save it for another time.

He knows about every cut and mole on my body and how I got them. I promised Matt that I will grow my hair out, but stay clean shaven. We agreed on a short hair length but not a saved head either. We decided on a somewhat normal hair style that is worn by our age group today!

I couldn’t help much enjoy every minute I had with Matt. I want every minute of the rest of my life to be that full of love and fun we had last night. It made me forget the phone call I had with my father.

After breakfast, Matt and I headed to the dayroom. We knew we couldn’t cuddle or even get close to each other in there but we need to be seen outside our room more than inside. Even without proof, rumors would start floating around about what we are doing locked in our room all the time.

Every Saturday morning a guard comes in with deposit slips. You know, money that a family member or friend puts in your account so you can buy stuff from the store. I have never gotten a slip so I don’t expect to get one.

My mom is barely holding things together. She can’t afford to put one dime on my books no matter how much she wants to, she just can’t.

So I kept minding my own business watching television. Once again I didn’t even hear the guard call out my name. I didn’t hear the first time or even the second time. All of a sudden I felt the guards hand on my shoulder. I looked around to see what he needed.

“Alex you might want to go into the nurse and get you hearing checked. Once your back is turned, you can’t hear whenever someone is talking to you. Have you ever noticed that before?”

“No sir I have not. I have always heard when someone is talking with me.”

“Well just stop by the nurse’s office and get it checked will you? Here is a deposit slip for you. Someone finally put together some money for you.”

I couldn’t believe someone actually deposited money on my books. The guard handed me my deposit slip as he walked off with a smile. I looked at it and got another surprise, the amount. I got deposited one hundred and fifty dollars on my books. I know it couldn’t be my mother. She would have to go without food in the house for this.

I looked for Matt or Carlos. I spotted Matt first and walked over to him. He is playing pool with several other guys. I felt bad bothering him, but I needed to know if there was a way to find out who deposited the money.

“Matt do you have a second?”

Matt looked at me and shook his head in the positive. He walked over to me with a smile. I know what is going through his mind right now. He thinks I called him over where we could take off somewhere to have sex or at least get into a full make out session. I really hate to burst his bubble.

“Hey Matt, is there any way I can find out who deposited money on my account here? Someone deposited money on my account, and I don’t know who it was.”

“Let me see the deposit slip you were given.” I gave Matt the deposit slip. He looked it over several times. “Let’s see here on the right hand corner of the deposit slip has the first initial, followed by the last name of the person that made the deposit.”

Matt gave me back the deposit slip with his finger on top of the name. Once he removed his finger I saw the name, J. Hernandez. I couldn’t believe Jacob not only visited me, but he deposited money into my account!

I walked off thinking what a guy Jacob is. I hope to have this guy in my corner. Not for the money, but for his friendship. It looks like he is willing to give me a friendship. It will be up to me if I slap it away or treasure it. My life is really changing. I’m getting control of things I’ve never even had in my life before. I hope I know how to handle it and don’t screw up.

I sat in front of the television dozing off every ten minutes. I think I slept more than I actually watched TV. When Matt came and got me for lunch, I was well rested. I was rested enough to go out and play football.

I really don’t like football, but I was out voted. I am glad I wasn’t out voted for soccer. I know that sounds weird hearing that from a Mexican kid. But it is not true that all Mexicans know and like soccer. Just like it isn’t true that all white boys can’t play basketball! There are a few white boys out there that can play the game.

We played football the rest of the afternoon. We know tomorrow we are going to spend the entire day in front of the television watching the games, not playing them. So we’d better well take advantage of the time we have with the ball and being out here in the yard to play the game.

As we walked in for dinner, I looked over to where building “B” normally is out getting exercise. Not a soul was outside. That means they are still in lockdown over there. The lockdown might be lifted when Officer Jackson finishes with what he has planned.

I started to think he should not only pull the leaders of my gang out, but to the rest of the gangs as well. It would look like they are cracking down once and for all on gang violence in here. It doesn’t matter what gang the inmate is part of, they will all be treated equally no matter what.

Dinner went by fast. All we did is rant on about tomorrow’s games. Several of the guys actually bet a small wager on the outcome of the games. No one at the table would bet against the Cowboys. They knew if they did, they would be ragged on till the end of time.

I myself didn’t put a wager on any game. I have never had money on my books. Once it is gone, who knows when I will get any again? I need to play smart with the money and spend it only on things I really need.

I couldn’t wait to get back in the room after lights out. I want to cuddle with Matt as much as we could between counts. We really could only get away with this on Fridays and Saturdays. Those are the only days we can sleep in the next day.

(CARLOS’ POINT OF VIEW)

I have been locked up in here for now close to a year. During that time I have gotten to know the ins and outs of this place. There is a women’s dorm next to Building “B” and I know how to get there with out being caught.

The first time I went there I met this young lady. She just got there and seemed to be afraid of her own shadow. Over time we became friends and then that friendship developed into a relationship.

Now we meet each other half between the buildings. I use my time when I go to the nurse to get my medicine. I am signed out to the medical wing. So when the guards do their count I am accounted for. No worries about getting into any trouble.

At the same time Dabria would use that opportunity to get her medicine. Although we couldn’t have sex or anything like that, the nurses and staff would leave the rooms long enough for us to be together. We would make plans to meet under the medical wing after we were done here.

That is when Dabria and I would normally fool around. We still haven’t had full out sex yet, but very close to it. The other day when we met I asked her to see if there is a girl that wants to meet my friend Alex. She promised to check for me.

When we met in the medical wing today she told me she has someone for Alex. I had given her a picture if Alex and me when we were younger. Alex hasn’t changed much from that picture. If anything he got more developed and better looking.

We made plans to try to get all of us together next Saturday. Saturdays are a lot easier to do things because the guard staff is more at ease than during the week. These guards are just part time and not here during the week so they really don’t care much about the facility just as long as it doesn’t burn to the ground.

Everything else that goes on during the weekend they don’t care. So we take advantage of it. Many times I wondered if Mr. Henderson is ever going to tighten the screws on the weekend staff. He has to know what is going on in here over the weekend.

For now I should thank my lucky stars he hasn’t. As soon as I got back to my building I went looking for Alex. I looked for him the last place I saw him, in the dayroom. He wasn’t there, so I looked for him outside and then I headed over to his room. When I arrived to his room the door was shut.

I know how he is if regular people like me just bust in on him without knocking. So I knocked on the door, and waited to hear him to ask me to come in. Shortly after I knocked his voice came through the door.

“Hey Alex I have something to tell you if you have time?”

I spoke as I walked into the room. I looked over and saw Matt sitting on his bed. I need to find a way to get Matt out of the room without sounding like a prick. I know how Alex seems to have taken him under his wing.

“Alex it is business talk I need to go over with you right now.”

That did the trick. Alex didn’t even have to ask Matt to leave us alone. Once the words left my mouth he got up and left the room. Out of respect he shut the door as he left. When I looked back to Alex he looked a little angry with me.

“I am sorry Alex for being so blunt, but what I have to say is for your ears only. It can get me into a lot a trouble if anyone hears and then goes running back to a guard. You might trust this kid Matt, but I don’t know him. I can’t trust a person I don’t know.”

“First Carlos if I trust someone and say he or she is cool, then they are. There are no questions asked, no second guessing my decisions, or making me look like a fool. I am getting very tired of everyone thinking they can override my decisions. Once I make them that is it, it is law as far as any of you guys are concerned.”

I stayed quiet wondering to myself I screwed up here. I went at this the wrong way, really wrong. Alex is been trying to get control and the way I just talked made it look like I am one of those trying to take control. Damn it I don’t see any way to tell Alex my news now. Simply he is too mad to listen to me.

“Alex I am sorry for my wording. I really worded what I just said wrong. I trust your decision making on everything. You know me I never will question your leadership. In fact I am sitting here not having to look over my shoulder anymore because of you. I will never screw with the ones that are my true friends and backers.”

“Fine, fine, just get on with it Carlos. What did you come in here to tell me? As far as I know everyone is in lockdown right now. Unless you got a kite from one of them, what is there to tell?”

Right then I remembered what I heard being discussed in the nurse’s office. Since it didn’t come from any of our gang members I didn’t put much to it. Still, this will smooth the waters for me to tell Alex what I really came in here to tell him.

“Look I have a couple of things to speak with you about. First I don’t know how true any of this is, but I need to tell you what I heard up there. Keep in mind this came from other guys in the dorm where our guys are at. Not gang members, but they…….”

I went on to tell Alex about what they were talking about. They discussed with the nurses staff about the crack down on the gangs. Because of the killing last week, the guards came in and took all the known leaders and sent them to lockdown

Alex looked surprised as I told him what I heard. In fact he actually jumped up from his bed and started to walk back and forth in the room. I know him really well and he is thinking right now about what I have told him.

“If what you have told me Carlos is true, I wonder when they are coming for me. These guys aren’t going to lockdown everyone else except the main leader. They have to know I’m still involved with the gang, I can run things from here.”

“Alex I don’t think you or I have anything to worry about. They did this move according to these guys, early this morning. They moved them before breakfast even. They don’t get to eat breakfast later on the weekend like we do.”

“Ok that means they are giving us the benefit of the doubt here. That means we have to be even more careful in the days to come. We have Mr. Henderson and Officer Jackson behind us, but the other guards don’t know that. They will be looking for us to screw up, and if we do. Trust me they will jump on that, leaving Mr. Henderson no other choice then to lock us up with the others.”

“I know, but we have nothing to worry about since we have Mr. Henderson and Officer Jackson. Look Alex I think they are doing this in order for you to keep control and keep you from having to make decisions that they can’t cover up. The beatings and things like that can be covered up for only so long, and you know that.”

“You’re right, I know you’re right. Let’s just be careful and deal only with those two. Even if other guards come up and tells us they are on the take, we won’t deal with them at least until we get the ok from Henderson or Jackson.”

I agreed with Alex on that. I know he is walking a very thin line here. One screw up and he is dead. His father would not even think twice ordering the killing of his own son. I can see why he is worried. Even with the backup we have, we know if we want to get to someone, nothing could stop us doing so.”

After Alex seemed to settle down, I took that time to get into the main reason I came in to talk to him, Dabria and her friend. Explaining to him how things work in order to meet them and get away with some free time. It looked like Alex liked the idea, but then he changed his mind.

“Right now Carlos we can’t do anything out of the ordinary. I have no reason to go down to the medical wing and I won’t make up a reason. You keep doing what you are doing, just be careful. Let the young lady know I want to meet her, but I can’t get there right now. Use the excuse the guards won’t let me.”

I understood where Alex is coming from and agreed with him about it. He can’t be seen doing something out of the ordinary right now. As for me, I need to watch myself and stop things with Dabria for now. Until things blow over with the gang, I will have to be a good little boy.”

(ALEJANDRO’S POINT OF VIEW)

After Carlos left the room, Matt came in. He didn’t ask me what was discussed. He respects that part of my life. He knows it is best that he knows as little as possible. If anything heats up or is going bad I will tell him.

I needed to act surprised with Carlos on the news although I knew it was going to happen. Don’t get me wrong, I do trust Carlos, but I need to cover my own butt and his. The less that he knows, the less they can get from him if they ever figure out what I am doing in here. Trust me; they will beat Carlos to an inch of his life for information.

I let it go quickly once Matt walked over to my bed and started to kiss me. Just his smell and lips on mine, can make anything go away. No matter what it is, just being with Matt gets my mind off of my troubles.

We spent the evening in the dayroom watching TV. Until the announcement of lights out in thirty minutes, we pretty much stayed with our group of friends. Matt is with the guys I met the first day I arrived and I with Carlos.

I took that time to confirm up any doubts that Carlos might have. There is not question I need those around me to not get any idea about me and Matt. Think about it, I am already having trouble trying to get the gang to follow me. If it gets out that I am gay, it is over for me.

As Carlos and I spoke I felt better about the whole thing. If needed I will go along with him in order to keep the truth from coming out! But it seems that Carlos didn’t understand my thinking, but recommends that we do what I decided on doing.

Once the count was done, Matt and I sat up in the middle of the room talking. We cuddled and kissed, but talked. We mainly talked on where we want to be once we leave this place. One thing we both agree on is taking advantage of all the education it has to offer us. From high school to college, take it all.

Around midnight Matt went to sleep using my shoulder as a pillow. I slowly moved him until he landed softly on the ground. That is when I picked him up and carried him to bed. I love carrying Matt to bed. It gives me the feeling of someone depending on me. Matt trusts me enough that he isn’t afraid to fall asleep on my shoulders like his does.

After laying Matt on his bed and covering him up. I stole a kiss and then headed to bed myself. Last thing that went through my mind before falling to sleep is Matt and me in the free, living our lives together as one.

(JACKSON’S POINT OF VIEW)

The minute I arrived to work on Monday morning I headed over to Mr. Henderson’s office. He doesn’t know about what I had ordered over the weekend. I know Mr. Henderson isn’t going to mind; in fact he has wanted it to be done for a while now.

When Mr. Henderson walked in I was sitting there waiting for him. He noticed me and right away asked me to follow him into his office. Once we were in, I shut the door and started to tell him what I had came in to tell him.

“Wait a minute Tustin, just wait a minute. I have this fax here from the State Prison Board. There has been an up rising in the prison where Alex’s father is at. This doesn’t bode well for Alex or us. Let me finish reading this for a minute.”

I sat down and watched as Mr. Henderson read the fax. Somewhere towards the bottom of the fax got Mr. Henderson to smile. He finished reading it and then handed it over to me. I skimmed it as Mr. Henderson started to talk again.

“Well, well, well, it looks like Alex’s father stepped into it this time. Although his gang didn’t start it, they are running the uprising now. I don’t understand these prisoners. They know we will get back our prisons either through talks or through force, we will get our prisons back no matter what.”

“How does this work in our favor. It is listed that the Mexican gang has weapons. Once they race back to how they got the weapons in there, we are done. We knew what was being sent and what the reason they needed those items.”

“Yes you are right about that, but we did report it to the warden and he’s ok with it. No we aren’t in trouble at all. At least the warden knows what weapons they have and how many. All of what we did here is actually helping the warden with the uprising.”

I thought about what Mr. Henderson said. He is right, with what we are doing here. The warden down there knows exactly what they have. In fact we are controlling every single thing that is being sent through. We have complete control even when the inmates think they do.

“So why did you need to see me so early in the morning by the way?”

“Well Mr. Henderson you may not like what I have to say. It needed to be done and done quickly. Let me explain why I did it…..”

I explained from A to Z on what is going on from the call Alex had with his father and the threat he received, to the potential of the former leaders trying to retake control of the gang with Alex over in Building A.

Mr. Henderson did agree with me that moving Alex into Building “B” isn’t the answer. In fact we would more than likely lose Alex if we did that. No, what I did is the only logical answer we had before us.

“Ok that isn’t a problem moving them into lockdown. Now with the uprising and the killing we had here no one will be crying civil rights or anything. We will be seen as staff in the facility trying to protect ourselves and the inmates that want to see the light of day when they turn twenty one.

Why don’t we also separate the leaders of the other gangs as well? We need to look like we are cracking down on all gangs no matter race or who did the killing. Gangs are bad no matter which ones they are.”

I agreed with Mr. Henderson on that. As soon as we finish meeting in here, we will get right on it. This will ensure there isn’t any gang ready to break out an uprising in here. We can’t lose control of any part of the facility after having a killing.

(CARLOS’ POINT OF VIEW)

As always I met up with Alex in the cafeteria for breakfast. We grabbed our grub and headed to the table. I have never seen Alex this happy. Well let me take it back. I have seen this happy, but when we were kids.

We sat there joking around with the other guys at the table. I didn’t even notice someone walking up behind Alex until it was too late. I turn when I heard Alex yell out in painful scream and then hitting the table.

I right away lifted Alex’s face from the plate. He was in pain grabbing for his back. I couldn’t believe he got stabbed. We are supposed to be safe in this building.

Matt took Alex from me. Letting me be free where I can get the son-of-a-bitch that stabbed Alex. I looked and saw the crowd of on lookers is trying to hold the guy trying to run from the scene. I jumped from the table and went after him.

As I ran after the kid that stabbed Alex, I heard Matt yelling on the top of his lungs to the others looking on and doing nothing. Over and over again I heard him yelling the same thing.

“Get Alex to medical wing now, he has been stabbed. Get a guard down here to move Alex to the medical wing. Some one please help, get a guard damn it.”

Matt’s words hit me like a bullet in my chest. I let my guard down, in return Alex got stabbed. I ran after the one that did the stabbing. Before he could turn the corner, I tackled him.

Once I got on top of the guy, I started to hit him in his back. I didn’t stop until he stopped moving under me. As soon as he did that I flipped him over. I want to see the face of the guy that tried to kill Alex. I want to see this guys face before I rip it off of his shoulders.

After I turned him around, I started to knock the shit out of him again. As I looked at his face, just for a minute, I froze. I couldn’t believe who it was. How in the world did he get in here? How in the world did he get back so soon?

TO BE CONTINUED…………..

OVER VIEW:

{Alright everyone a lot happened from beginning to end. Just like my other two stories, more plots open and others get deeper. We are just in chapter six and there has already been a lot of violence. Keep in mind where these kids are and what happens where they are. There is going to be a lot of violence to come.

Through the violence I love what is developing between Alex and Matt. No one would ever think a person would find their love of their life in a lockdown facility but with Matt and Alex it is a different story. Not only they found one another, they are falling head over heels for each other every passing minute.

I wonder if Alex is going to take advantage of the place where Carlos goes to make love with his girlfriend. You know, Carlos told us about meeting a girl from the women’s dorm. Then falling for her and her him! The rest is history for them as they say.

You might be thinking wait a minute before saying anything. Didn’t Alex get stabbed at the end of the chapter? Yes he did, but there is no way our main character is going to be killed off. He is going to be in a lot of pain, but he won’t die. Alex and Carlos let their guard down one two many times.

Now, we know Carlos knows who it was that stabbed Alex, but we don’t. I wonder who it was. Alex being a gang leader has made many enemies in his short life span on this earth. It could really be anyone. I just wonder who it was.

Jacob appeared in this chapter as well. He visited Alex’s mother as he promised. I can’t say enough about Jacob. He seems to care about everyone, no matter who they are. He wants to help so much, but there is going to come a time that help might back fire. Please don’t get used to having Jacob appear in each chapter, he won’t. He has his own story going on right now.

From Alex’s dad taking over his prison to threatening his son; what a father! He has won the worst dad award of the year. He only cares about himself and no one else. What about that old saying, blood is thicker than water. In Alex’s father’s case, look out and take of your own interests irrespective of who you run over to get what you want.

So much going on and still a lot more to come! New characters still to be introduced, old ones to return. Things are heating up in all areas of Alex’s life; you want to stick around to see what is to come.

I do not want to say too much more and spoil the future chapters to come, so I won’t. I warn you though! Do not skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!}
EDITOR’S CORNER:

There’s not much that I can add to our author’s summation. I’m most anxious to find out who tried to kill Alex, as I’m sure you are.

Let us hear from you with your thoughts and suggestions. You never know when an idea YOU have will end up included in the story. It has happened before. Also, those e-mails are the ‘paycheck’ for both author and editor. Keep us both pumped to keep bringing you high quality stories to read.
Until next time,
“Daddy” Rick