Russell got his G2 status revoked after our first physical contact visit three years ago due to some poor choices, so Beverly and I have stayed on him to not get himself in any trouble and stay "case free" so we could meet him at the picnic table for Saturday's visit. We told Russell we are tired of visiting him through glass, and that he has to work on making good choices himself, since obviously we can't do it for him. Russell promised us he would start working on that, and that he would let us know when he got his G2 status again. About four weeks ago and after three years of "behind the glass visits", he sent Beverly a card that simply said, "G2 status is back and you both have been approved for a physical contact visit."
In prison, only family members are eligible for physical contact visits, and since neither Bev nor I gave birth to this boy, we aren't considered family, and therefore shouldn't be eligible for a physical contact visit...ever. The great thing though about being a kid's teachers, is that we feel like family since they are with us for the majority of their school day, and even more so, we consider our students as our own. With Russell; however, we truly have become his family now, and I don't think it's premature to say, Bev and I are all he has. Russell's mom has been to see him one time in the 11 years (next month) he will have been in prison. I have no doubt there are reasons of her own she has been unable to visit him, and I don't for a second discredit her love for her son, but something, whatever it is, has prevented her from being able to visit. Because of that, Beverly and I feel an even greater sense of being there for and encouraging Russell over the last eight years we've been writing and visiting him. And with Russell now being a year away from his parole eligibility, we feel an even greater sense and need to continue being there and encouraging him.
Russell thinks and talks a lot now about being paroled and being able to enter the "free world." Now that he has G2 status again, he's gotten a job working in the chow hall, and is understanding the value of hard work and consistency. He is even about to sign up for a vocational course in either HVAC or carpentry. When he completes the course, the prison has a little "graduation" ceremony, and Bev told Russell that we will definitely be there. He just looked at us and said, "You two would come for that?" We just looked at him, smiled, and said, "Of course we would...we wouldn't miss it."
Russell told us that when he makes parole, he doesn't want to take anything with him from prison, except his mail and pictures. Since we have already told Russell that we'll be there when he makes parole, he asked us if we could take him to get new clothes. Bev and I just grinned and told him that yes, we'll take him to get new clothes. I imagine after all these years of only wearing white elastic pants and a white shirt, he's pretty excited to one day (hopefully soon) put a pair of jeans on. It's funny the small things we take for granted living in the free world, but we also know that not having those small freedoms is the consequence of choices made.
After about an hour and a half into our visit, Russell had to excuse himself to use the restroom. While he was gone, one of the guards walked over to the prisoner who was seated next to us to tell him that his visitation time was up. The prisoner's guests got up, hugged him, then walked to the exit. Once a prisoner's guests have left, the prisoner must remain at the picnic table until a guard comes to escort them back to their cell. This prisoner was getting ready to leave when he stood up and introduced himself to Beverly and I. We introduced ourselves back, and then he told us that he knows Russell and that they have shared a cell block several times throughout their years in prison and have gotten to know each other well. He then looked at us and said, "I want to say thank you both for what you're doing for him. I can't begin to tell you what that means to us in here. Russell talks about how his former teachers come to visit him in prison, and it's nice to finally meet you two." We thanked "Gio" and then told him that our time with Russell has been just as wonderful for us. Russell came back soon after and we had a terrific remainder of our visit with him, until the guard came to tell us our time was up. We hugged Russell, told him we love him, and we'll write and see him again soon.
Bev and I will continue on this journey with Russell, keep him in our prayers, and of course look forward to more times of great conversation...and a picnic table.
