Greatest Day of My Life
My heart raced with anticipation for what lay a head. I’d waited eight years and eight months for this day. I was finally being released from Federal custody to the halfway house. Technically I would still be in Federal custody, but I would be able to maneuver on the streets.
The cell door had been unlocked since 5:30am and the unit was bustling with morning activity. Every five minutes I would peak out the window waiting for the guard to call my name.
I had a small close-knit group of friends that I associated with. They had all gathered in my cell to say their goodbyes. I was sad I was leaving them behind, but excited to start a new chapter in my life. All the years of studying and preparing myself mentally were now going to be put to use.
My celly, was like my brother. He had arranged for his girl Gina to pick me up from the Greyhound bus station. She had agreed to drive me from Herlong to Los Angeles thus saving me the long bus ride.
“Timmons, Roll it up,” the guard shouted out.
Those words were music to my ears. I hugged all the homies and exited the cell with just a notepad in my hand. The haters in the unit looked on with bitterness, but I paid them no mind. It was my time to shine. I had clothes waiting for me at R & D that I had sent in and a few dollars on my books to cash out.
The CO working receiving and discharge was laid back. There were a couple of other inmates also dressing out to be discharged, but no one spoke to each other. I’m sure they were all contemplating their next moves. The majority of them had spent their time playing games and watching TV and now reality was kicking in.
We had to get buzzed through a series of gates before we finally existed the prison. When I walked through the last gate it felt like I had been transported in time. I was leaving the nightmare behind me. Starting a new chapter in my life.
An inmate from the camp was our driver to the bus station. As he drove, I starred out the van window enjoying the view. I would never take any of this for granted again I thought to myself.
The bus station appeared empty except for the one person working behind the counter. I played it off and had my ticket stamped then walked outside looking for my ride. I’d never met Gina in person but she had been holding down the homies for a couple of years.
I noticed someone waving at me up the street in a Chevy PT Cruiser and I assumed that was her. Who else would be waving at me? I walked over, jumped into the car and we immediately started chatting like old friends.
Gina had a great smile, long hair and an average body. Seeing a woman on the streets for the first time in almost nine years I didn’t miss a beat. We had an eight-hour drive a head of us and I was looking forward to seeing the sites. I felt like I had woke up from a bad dream. Riding in the car took me back to the days when I was a kid and we would drive to the store. Prison was a bad memory and I was excited to have a new start.
I had made a few dollars in prison that I sent Gina to get some stuff done before I got out. I’d written several books and had her publish one of them, “ How To Get Down In The Porn Game”. I’d also had her purchase a video camera so I could document my first day out. I wanted to use the footage for a series I’d come up with in prison called “ Fresh Out”. The treatment I’d come up with was far from polished, but I knew the show concept was solid.
Gina gave me lots of encouragement as we talked and handed me a copy of the book we had published. This was my first time holding the book and I was proud of my accomplishment. It felt good to have someone on my team that believed in me. She was like family and had done more for me than my biological family.
I wanted to try some free food the first chance I got. Taco Bell was the first place we saw so I had her pull into the parking lot. I ordered a bean burrito, beef burrito and a taco. I ate my food with a big grin on my face. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was better than any prison food. We got back on the road as soon as I finished and tried to pace the drive so I could get to Los Angeles a little early. I had to be at the halfway house by 10:30pm and didn’t want to be late. As we drove though the Grapevine a flood of memories went through my mind. I had driven through the Grapevine numerous times and the feeling of coming home was sinking in.
From the 5 freeway we merged onto the 170 then to the 134 to the 101. I saw the Hollywood Blvd exit and I had her get off the freeway so I could stop and grab one last bite before I hit the halfway house. I also wanted to grab a few hygiene products.
Hollywood Blvd was packed with tourist and it looked exactly how it looked when I left almost a decade ago. This is where drams were made into reality and my dreams were about to come true.
I usually try to eat pretty healthy, but that was the last thing I was thinking about today. I ordered a slice of pizza and chomped that down before going to get a few hygiene items that I need to stay fresh.
Time was winding down and I knew Gina had a long drive ahead of her. She was driving back to Sacramento as soon as she dropped me off.
The halfway house was in South Central right smack in the hood. When we pulled up it looked non-descript and I had her drop me off around the corner in case anyone was watching. I had my duffle bag with my things and a couple hundred dollars that was left over from my stash I’d sent to Gina.
I had to get buzzed in through the front doors and there were two brotha’s working the front desk. I gave them my name and number, they glanced through my bag, then led me into a room with about seven other guys sleeping. This would be my home for the next three months and I had to make the best of it. They didn’t ask to see my bus ticket, which told me this could be a cakewalk if I played my cards right.
