Chapter 1: Proverbs 25:17 - The Cell Next Door

PART 1

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Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

Unit 11 in Dodge Correctional is an SMU, Special management unit, where they house people who need to be in a single cell.  This includes inmates who are troubled, disabled, or considered high profile.  Based on my introduction, it is self-explanatory about which category I reside in.  My cell was a decent size.  I had to lock in because we only came out of our cell in the morning on non-shower days for an hour.  However, it was usually less because we would be let out late.  At night, we were supposed to be let out from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  

It was mid-afternoon when I set my bible down and decided to knock on my wall to see who my neighbor next to me in cell 14 was.  (Banging on the wall.) “Yea” A very soft, humble, somewhat shy voice responded.  "Come to the electrical outlet on the wall," I said.  I told him this because I knew from prior experience that we would be able to hear each other clearly as day through them as they are connected to the same spot.  "Can you hear me?"  He asked.  "Yeah, what's your name, bro?  I asked.  "It's Chris," he answered." “I'm Dylan,” I replied.  We traded introductions.  Chris explained who he was, and I elaborated some things about my cases and my situation.  He seemed like a very nice, normal guy and humble as ever.  He told me that he had a life sentence, and I asked him why.  He told me that he is accused of killing his family. I leaned off of that subject and we started talking about where we were originally from.  I'm from Michigan, whereas he is from North Carolina as I noticed from his accent.  

Chris asked me, what is your faith?  I am a believer in Christ. How about you ask?  "Same," he answered.  "I was relieved that he was not a Muslim, as I had this conversation before, with a few people and wasn't a fan of doing so and didn't want too again.  "Do you have a Bible, I ask?  "Absolutely,” Chris replied quickly and surely without hesitation.  "Let's perhaps study then.  Are you busy?"  I asked.  I asked this to challenge his spiritual knowledge, because I was so well versed in the Word of God.  I doubted he was anywhere near my level of knowledge of the word.  I was wrong.  To my surprise, he matched me with biblical knowledge.  So, the day we met, we studied until two or three in the morning and this became our routine.  

We went to the gym, we went to chapel, we ate, we went to the day room and used the phones.  We studied the word of God.  I was in a rut mentally.  I hated my miserable existence until I met Chris and got into our routine.  I hardly wanted to go on anymore until I felt awakened again spiritually and Chris had something to do with that.  I finally had someone that was actually intelligent enough to talk to now and I didn't have to be cuffed up before leaving my cell anymore.  My sanity was returning as I conformed to A&E status.  I was still not a convicted prisoner yet.