Age:
Middle School
Reading Level: 3.2
September 10
I don’t belong here. I freaking don’t belong here!! This place SUCKS.
#MustGoHomeNOW
#FREEME
September 17
The boys here are really bad. A lot of them have rap sheets. One kid even has a baby!!
I don’t know why I have to write in a journal. What do I say? Any stupid thing that comes into my brain? What is the point?
Can’t believe they stuck me in jail. I need to get out of here. Like, NOW.
We have to get up way too early: 6 AM! The food in the chow hall is actually pretty okay. But every day is the same snack at 10:30. A person can only eat so many apples and granola bars. AND we only get to eat at meal times. Some boys said they know how to sneak into the refrigerators, but they won’t tell how. I can’t figure that out because the Direct Care staff guards us 24/7.
I wonder why Ezra didn’t come when they dumped me here…
September 24
I don’t know why Mom and Dad are making me be here. We were having a nice vacation. I should have known something was up that last day, when Ezra refused to come with us to check out a college for Casey. Dad bribed me to go by saying we could eat at a fancy steakhouse.
Which we did. But after all that driving, when we finally pulled up to the buildings — it didn’t look like any college to me. I would’ve run away if I knew.
It still creeps me out, thinking about it. Mom was ugly crying after all those guys in army outfits surrounded the car. I didn’t even want to look at her. Dad was kind of stiff, or something. And Casey turned so all I saw was her hair. I tried to get out of the car but this huge guy — Mr. Todd, I know now, because he’s one of the Direct Cares — made everyone get out of the car except me.
He talked to Dad and Mom for a long time and then told me to get out and stand spread eagle. I did, but he said, “Turn around, you’re not getting arrested. You’re in a program for 18 months and you have to say ‘yes, ma’am’ and ‘yes, sir.’ You got that?”
And I said, “Yeah” and he said, “Yes, sir.”
“Yessssss, sirrrrrr.”
Then he patted me down. They stood all around me in a circle and made me walk into the building in my socks. I remember thinking, How can the sunset be so nice when this is so horrible?
I haven’t seen Mom or Dad or Casey since then. I am real sad because I miss them so much, but at the same time I hate their guts.
Plus there are no girls here — that’s whacked!
CADET,
We’ve been doing this for a long time. We know what works and what doesn’t. You’ll understand in time.
–Pastor Fred