Thirty-Four
____________
A Game of Solitaire
Current Svalbard Super Y-MAX Perimeter Temperature: -3 Celsius / 27
Fahrenheit
Later that evening, Poppy,
Akiko, Graham, Cornell and Renwick sat in the staff lounge conversing.
Cornell related how he often suffered
in his heart and mind about the crimes he had committed despite all that Christ
had done for him, “I wrestle with this heavy cross all the time. I feel so
alone sometimes. I wonder if the Apostle Paul felt that way sometimes too.”
Poppy inquired, “Explain.”
“When Paul was called Saul he
went around rounding up Christians. This Christian named Stephen was killed
with rocks people threw at him and Saul was there approving of it all.
Later, Paul wrote in the first chapter of the book of Timothy that he was
thankful God showed him mercy because he did stuff like that out of
ignorance and because he was not a believer in Jesus at the time.”
Graham Zelany offered counsel,
“I know you boys have heard this before, but most people feel remorseful and
overwhelmed by guilt and grief at times, even forgiven Christians, it’s
our nature. Even though we know God has forgiven us we can be plagued by our
past mistakes… some people experience this more than others do. Just
remember,” Mr. Zelany sat forward, “the one who is forgiven much loves much.”
“I’ve been forgiven much,”
Cornell lamented.
“I have too,” Renie affirmed.
“Look,” Akiko pointed out of the
Staff Lounge window, “Northern Lights, wow!”
“I never dreamed we’d see them
this time of the year. Is it possible to go out and view them?” Poppy asked
everyone.
Mr. Zelany replied, “I am not
sure. Do you boys know?”
“I don’t be thinkin’ Ren and I
can go out without an official escort, but you folks probably can,” Cornell
answered. “Let’s ask. It don’t hurt to ask.”
Akiko said, “I’ll do it,” and
hurried to find someone to question. She returned with Officer Krims who
informed the group she would accompany them to just outside the fence line
near the armed observation post Tower-6.
“What about us?” Renie curiously
asked.
“You too, let’s go and suit up,”
the C/O commanded.
“Aurora Borealis here we come!”
Akiko exclaimed.
As the group readied themselves
each took their place in a single line to exit the facility.
“We look like a bunch of inmates
standing in a morning med line,” commented Renie.
“You got that right, Ren,”
agreed Cornell.
After over one hour of
observation and below freezing temperatures the group returned to the confines
of the Super-Max prison’s warm interior.
Cornell went with Poppy and
Akiko for a personal interview in the staff lounge while Renie returned to his
room to put the finishing touches on a painting he had started weeks
before.
“Finally,” Renie said to his
audience of walls, furniture, and assorted art supplies, “done at last.”
Renwick Stone signed his name to
the bottom right corner of his work in black oil with a small brush and stood
back to admire his handiwork.
Renie greatly respected the
biblical patriarch, Caleb, and he desired to paint a depiction of him defeating
the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, at his ripe old age
of eighty-five.
Renie was thrilled to have
achieved his goal, Caleb,
that’s faith!
The remainder of the week and
the following weekend with the participants of Final Hope proved to be an
enormous success. Poppy Fields and Akiko Takahashi captured the program’s
vision and goals, as well as many intense analytical verbal discourses between
participants, with the literary expertise the Final Hope program deserved.
The two reporters spent many evenings working on their news articles together.
Their final evening the two women met with Renie and Cornell to discuss
and review their writings before departing.
Once work efforts were
completed, the four took a quick tour of the prison before settling down for
some casual conversation in the staff lounge.
“Well,” Poppy stated rather
sadly, “tomorrow’s Monday and Akiko and I must return to sunny Berkeley,
California, back to the literary grindstone.”
Akiko stood momentarily, “Thanks
so much for all you have done for us and for all of your input.”
Renie and Cornell were
speechless for the moment.
Once Akiko sat back down, Poppy
stood, lifting her water glass for a toast, “To Renie and Cornell, may your
futures exceed your wildest dreams!”
Poppy had barely sat down when
Warden Khan entered the lounge. The warden approached them, smiling from ear to
ear.
“Looks like something exciting
is in the air,” commented Poppy.
Cornell turned around in his
chair gazing around the lounge to ensure nobody else had entered unawares and
that they would be the individual or individuals the warden wished to
address, “Looks like whatever is going on is for us, seein’ we’re the only ones
here.”
Warden Khan stood in silence for
a moment before addressing Cornell Purdue, “I have some news for you, Inmate
Purdue. You will leave this next Wednesday for Australia—“
Cornell jumped up smiling, “Wow!
The prison construction is starting and I’m approved to go. Imagine that… from
the icebox into the furnace. I hear it’s mighty hot down where they be
buildin’ the next Y-MAX.”
Warden Khan affirmed Cornell’s
excited summation and provided him with the details of his departure while
Renie, Poppy, and Akiko listened closely.
When the warden bid her farewell
to the group and turned to leave, Renie blurted out, “What about me, Warden
Khan, will I be going? Or,” Renie took a deep breath, “will I be returning
to my former residence in the Y-MAX desert prison?”
“Oh,” the warden said as she
turned around slowly, “I almost forgot….”
The seated group could see the
beaming smile on Warden Khan’s face and immediately knew something wonderful
was about to come out of the warden’s mouth.
“I’m going too,” Renie guessed.
Warden Khan replied
mysteriously, “Well, young man, that is entirely up to you.”
Perplexed, Renie inquired, “Up
to me? Why wouldn’t I want to go, Warden Khan?”
Smiling profusely, Warden Khan
replied, “You may wish to just go home instead.”
“Home?” Renie’s heart fluttered
like a colony of migrating butterflies.
“Yes, Renwick Stone,” the warden
announced, “formerly known as Inmate Renwick Stone, you are a free man. The
official documents will be faxed in tomorrow, but I have scanned copies
that just arrived by email. So, Renwick Stone, you will need to come to my
office bright and early tomorrow morning for us to review some final
details before your release.”
Renie felt as though he could
not breathe. He did not know what to say or how to react. He just stared
forward with a blank expression on his face.
Cornell asked the Warden, “Can
you tell us more about all of this, or is it private, or somethin’?”
Warden Sundar Khan sat down with
the group of eager listeners and explained details as to the hows and whys of
Renie’s newly acquired freedom, “A Federal investigation was underway when
Renie and the others involved in the crime that sent him to prison, occurred.
It was not until about one month ago that the results of that
investigation came to light in Federal Court. It had to do with Homeland
Security, USA’s National Security, and other factors I do not have direct
knowledge of or information regarding. But, it is clear that Renwick was not
intentionally involved in any actual crime or crimes.”
Poppy interjected, “This would
make a great story.”
Akiko agreed.
Warden Khan addressed Renwick,
“I have more news for you if you would like to have it now. Or, we can wait
until the morning if you need time to digest all of this first.”
“No, now is good, please,
Warden, go on.”
“If you have a desire to
continue with prison construction as an employee of the Y-MAX international
building program, you have the option of taking a job with constructing
the new prison in Australia. You would be working with Cornell, other free
staff, and other inmates down there.
I’ll remind you that where that
prison will be constructed is extremely warm and plans include night shift
working hours.”
“Well,” Renie appeared deep in
thought.
“And,” the warden added, “your
mother has agreed to take a job there as a cook in the cafeteria once the
cafeteria is completed, should you decide to go there, Renwick. Tentative
approval for your sister to either continue her education in an Australian
University, or be employed in an internship, for which she is qualified
for, is also forthcoming.”
“I want to do it, I really do.”
“I’ll let you sleep on it,
Renwick, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Cornell whispered into Renie’s
ear, “Looks like the cards for a new life be dealt for you and you be playin’ a
game of solitaire, buddy. God be with you and your decisions. You know I’d
love to keep workin’ with ya, but I also know how much goin’ home would mean to
me.”
After Warden Khan departed,
Renie excused himself from his three friends to return to his and Cornell’s
room. Cornell, Poppy, and Akiko remained in the staff lounge to converse.
Renie prayed, thanked God, read
a few Psalms, then grabbed a pen to write some words from his heart to the girl
he met at the Y-MAX teen women’s prison…
I guess the future holds the
mysteries of my unfolding life in Christ.
Until I write again, God bless,
Renwick Stone – A Free man!
Next Chapter: New Child - Old Criminal
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