Terrence
April 12, 1944
Release time was noon. Terrence could hardly stand waiting and paced back and forth at the cell door. He checked the clock in the corridor. Eleven o’clock.
Back and forth. Back and forth. How many paces until noon?
He figured Momma was counting the minutes too. She was probably already waiting outside. Last time she came to visit, she told him she could hardly believe it would be the last time she’d have to see Terrence from behind a window.
Remembering her tear-filled eyes made him smile. She’d tried to hide it, but he knew her too well.
“Son, next time we come, it’s gonna be to take you home.” She’d dug a hanky out of her purse and blew her nose in a funny, honking way that always made him chuckle. “And I be able to give you a good, long hug ’stead of just wishing I could.”
He inhaled long and deep. The next two hours were going to seem longer than the 730 days he’d already waited.
“Hey, Tee,” Carter called from his bunk, “you ready to get out of here or something? Settle down. You’re making me nervous.”
Much as he wanted out, he was gonna miss the white boy. He worried about leaving him alone there. Wondered how he’d do if he had to go to San Quentin when his trial was over.
The thought made Terrence queasy, even tempered his impatience to get out. What a waste, Carter being in prison the rest of his life. With what went on between his daddy and Jenny, maybe he’d get off with a lighter sentence. But he also knew life didn’t always work out that way.
Memories of his 730 days flooded his mind. Arriving at the facility. Wondering how he’d survive two years in prison. The haunting nightmares of Mr. Kimura. The way the guards snickered when they threw Carter in the cell with him. Peachie and his gang. He chuckled. And of course, the day Carter came back from the dead.
Yeah, it was Carter who’d made the whole thing bearable. Maybe Terrence had made it a little more bearable for Carter too. Now, he’d be gone, and he couldn’t imagine being left like Carter was about to be left. Who would the guards throw in with Carter now? Another colored? One of Peachie’s gang? A feeling of desperation penetrated him like a chill.
Less than an hour left. He had to say something to his cell mate. “Carter?”
“Yeah?”
What should he say? How could he put his thoughts into words without sounding like a wimp? “Can you believe it’s almost time?”
“Yeah. The way you’re pacing back and forth, I can believe it. Hell. What time you supposed to get outta here anyways?”
“Noon.”
“Well, it’s about damn time.”
Terrence smiled. Carter wasn’t gonna be no wimp, neither. “You right about that. Heck, I ’bout had enough of being stuck in this tiny cell with a white boy.”
They were quiet for what seemed like a long time. Terrence flopped onto his bunk and stared at Carter’s bunk above him. “Sure feel sorry for whoever’s here after me, what with your snoring and all.”
“Bet he won’t whine about it as much. And I’m guessing for sure he won’t have a cockroach for a pet. You got Archy packed with all your books and stuff you’re taking?”
Archy. ’Course he couldn’t take him. No way Momma would allow it. He’d kinda miss that cockroach. “Nah,” he said, “I’ll leave him for you. He doesn’t need much care. Just sneak a few crumbs from the cafeteria every once in a while.”
“Yeah, right. Like I’m gonna take care of your cockroach.”
Quiet again.
Terrence ran his fingers over the marks on the wall, then dug his pencil out from under the mattress. One last mark. Seven hundred thirty.
“What do you think your momma’s gonna cook for dinner tonight?” Carter asked.
Terrence’s mouth watered with the thought. “Don’t know, but I’m guessing pot roast. She knows it’s my favorite. Whatever, it’ll be better than the crap around this place.”
“Hell, yeah. What I wouldn’t give for a home-cooked meal. But that’s never gonna happen.”
Never. The word sent Terrence into a deep, dark hole and covered him with a heavy sadness. “Maybe I’ll bring you something some time,” he replied. But could he ever bring himself to return to that place? Much as he’d miss Carter, would he come to visit?
“Yeah, and my name’s Franklin Roosevelt. You ain’t never coming back here.” Carter cleared his throat.
Terrence couldn’t take the defeat in Carter’s voice. A surge of resolution shot through his body and he sat up. “I’ll be back. Just wait and see.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“What if those ideas Mr. Blake’s been pushing on me come true? What if I finish my education? Get a law degree? Maybe someday I could file an appeal for you. Get you outta here. It’d take a while, but least I could get you outta here something short of forever.”
“Come on, Tee. What if it came true? You mean like a wish? Man, you living in a fairy tale. There ain’t no happy-ever-afters. Trust me. I know. I ain’t never seen one yet.”
“It ain’t—isn’t—just wishing, Carter. I’m gonna do it. Been sitting in this cell for 730 days, wondering what I was gonna do with my life. Everything’s been pointing in one direction. All started with realizing how stupid I was when I went after Mr. Kimura for being Japanese—then all that wondering about how to make that right. Then, there was Peachie and his goons. That made me think about how many stupid people there are on the outside. I knew I had to do something to change it. And what about what Patty told me about what those bullies did to William? So, why couldn’t I help you someday?”
“I don’t want to spoil your dreams or nothing, Tee. But I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“‘Suppose that’s all I can ask.” He walked over to check the clock again. Eleven fifty-five. They’d come for him in five minutes. He thought he might jump out of his pants with excitement. But he also felt like he was getting ready to be ripped apart.
He looked over at Carter’s bunk. Still and quiet.
“It’s about time,” Terrence said.
“Yep.”
He walked slowly toward Carter’s top bunk. “You take care of yourself.”
Carter stared at the ceiling. “Hey, you’re the one going out into that mean world. You be careful. Just remember what I said. It ain’t no fairy tale.”
Terrence reached to shake his cell mate’s hand. “Guess I’ll see you around.”
Carter extended his hand, but his gaze remained fixed on the ceiling. “Yep.”
Terrence looked up at where Carter stared. Nothing but dull, gray stucco.
The guard’s keys jingled at the door. “Time to go.”
Time to go. Seven hundred thirty days.
Yet, he hesitated.
He took a last look at his cell mate—his friend—picked up his box of books and walked out.
The guard slammed the door. Hard metal against hard metal.
Carter spoke through the ringing echo it left. “Take care of yourself, Tee.”
He stepped outside and took a deep breath. Blue sky, so blue. Wind rattled through the leaves in the trees just outside the yard.
And there. Beyond the gate. Momma, Patty, and Missy. And Mr. Blake.
Gravel crackled beneath his feet as his steps quickened, like his heartbeat.
Momma held out her arms.
He could see her quivering with anticipation.
Missy jumped up and down, clapping her hands. Patty watched quietly, her hands covering her mouth.
Mr. Blake beamed and wore a smile that reminded him of Daddy’s.
A guard opened the gate and Terrence ran until he reached Momma’s arms. She wrapped them around his body and squeezed. So warm. So soft.
Home.