The Comeback Kid by Marshall Byers 4 of 11

Not even 24 hours in prison, and I had made the biggest mistake. Extremely terrified, overwhelming anxiety, so alone and helpless. I had never experienced feelings like this. Segregation "The Hole ". The worst of the worst living in a lifeless place seeking any form of distraction, which happened to be me.

24/7 no sleeping, pure unrest, I was the enemy. These inmate's kicked my cell walls over and over none stop, yelling, screaming things I could never repeat. I had offended these prisoners by assaulting their gang leader. It made no difference that what I did was an accident, they kept trying to rip the door off the track and brutally attack me. It would quiet down at times, that's when they whispered through the vents, things like, we're going to cave your head in and fill your mouth with shit.

Every moment, each frame of mind, I had no clue what was going to happen next. With both hands pressed hard plugging my ears, tears dripping to the ground, it became clear. This was all a direct result of my thoughts and actions. I created this very reality. I went from having the darkest outlook, thick, cold and callous, to ultimate surrender. I mean completely naked. Broken in a zillon pieces. Screaming I WANT TO LIVE over and over till I lost my voice and threw up.

Absolute transformation. I went from dying in a tomb, to becoming brand new inside a womb. Learning mental fortitude, believing I can change. I started planning for the future. I wrote many letters to my family expressing my current situation. " Dear loved one's, if I don't make it, I want you to know I feel the gravity of my poor choices, that I aim to succeed in making things right". Repeatedly telling myself "I will survive, I will survive" out loud.

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With Love,
Marshall Byers

or mail me at:

Marshall Byers # 769274

MCC-TRU

PO Box 888

Monroe WA  98272

or email me at Jpay.com using Marshall Byers # 769274

Writing That Paints An Image by Jeff aka Ruth Utnage

I am a numbers and data woman. I find statistics to be more stimulating than a chiseled, slightly sweaty, neatly trimmed man. If given the choice between watching movies and reading novels or non-fiction and writing essays, I will always choose the latter.

I'm not a savant who sees numbers and equations floating in front of me like light bulb filaments, glowing white and yellow like lightning. No, I just have an addiction to information. I mean, let's not get carried away, it's at least healthy. Of all the things for me to suck up into my brain, information is the least of worries, mmkay.

However, creative writing is useful and enjoyable for me and I need to practice using imagery when I write so it is easier on you, the reader, to digest the information of the piece. I want to create relationships with you, not just pass sentences through your retinas. I want you to contact me, write me letters, visit me, volunteer for the site. I want to get to know you.

So this is what I am going to do, I am going to begin writing more often using imagery and creativity, let me know how it works. Tell me your thoughts on how I can improve so I can get more readers, get people to interact with me more, and even build a few actual relationships.

Please send me your thoughts. :)

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With Love
Jeff aka Ruth Utnage

Mail To:
Jeff aka Ruth Utnage 823469 D-610-2
MCC-TRU
P.O. Box 888
Monroe, WA 98272

or email through jpay.com
DOC: 823469
Name: Utnage, Jeff (though I am legally Ruth)

The Comeback Kid 3 of 11 by Marshall Byers

Didn't sleep a wink that night, to much commotion, no escape from the chatter in the open bar cells, and plugging my ears left me alone with someone I no longer knew. I skipped breakfast and waited in that lifeless cell for big yard to be called, going over all the violent possiblities that will happen out there in ten minutes, five, four, three, two, one.

---SERIOUS INFRACTION REPORT------

On 5-5-07 at 0918 hours one assault took place in the big yard near tower eight. Inmate Byers approached inmate Lamp and had a short conversation, then Byers assaulted inmate Lamp by throwing numerous closed fist punches in a very short period of time. This incident is a direct result of white supremacist activitiy that this inmate has willingly elected to become involved in. Byers was found guilty of assault on an inmate and unauthorized STG (security threat group) activity. Video evidence has been reviewed and submitted and clearly supports these charges. This inmate currently poses a threat to others, security, and the orderly operation of this facility.

So, up until this point I had every intention of being a long term violent hate filled inmate. What this above infraction fails to explain is this.......The moment I attacked this inmate I heard someone yell " NO, NOT HIM ". The inmate I assaulted was the wrong guy, which happened to be the white supremacist gang leader.

In all the commotion, my adrenaline, and the extreme hate for myself and the world, I also heard the tower above screaming........." STOP FIGHTING, OR I WILL SHOOT YOU ". After being tackled, handcuffed and walked off the yard to "The Hole", the guard's filled me in on what I just did, and how I would most likely be killed because of it.

Subscribe, Follow, Interact, Comment and change Your community.

With Love,
Marshall Byers

or mail me at:

Marshall Byers # 769274

MCC-TRU

PO Box 888

Monroe WA  98272

or email me at Jpay.com using Marshall Byers # 769274

The Comeback Kid by Marshall Byers 2 of 11

Processed off the chain bus into a strange looking castle, lead into a prison movie setting like Shaw Shank. Walking into the unit block I felt three tiers of eyes looking down at me. It's difficult to describe the smell, sounds and visuals, what I can tell you is this..........Standing there, hands clamped around cold hard metal bars, I realized I had been starring over at a dirty medical gurney parked against the wall without blinking or breathing for a long while.

Walking into the chow hall for dinner with all the guys I rode the bus with was intense, like a hurd of water buffalo crossing the Nile River while giant Crocodiles look on. No shit, I took a quick glancing sweep over all the prisoners eating, and noticed every single one of them starring at me! This one guy particularly stuck out, his eye was crudely bandaged, I later found out that someone held him down while another stabbed him in the face.

After dinner the big yard opened for recreation, fifty foot high concrete walls, gun towers with guards carrying some type of gun across their chest looking down on us with great disgust. My shoes felt heavy walking the track, it was extremely intimidating being "fresh meat" every eye on me. Fear and anxiety oozing from my every pour, I remember my socks being wet from all the sweat.

It happened just like everyone said it would. Two skinheaded heavily tattooed men approached me, asked me if I wanted in, and if I didn't...........well, one can guess what happens to them. Before they walked away one of them said I'll see ya in the morning out here in the big yard, be ready. Not ten seconds later a fight broke out, before I even turned around to look, gun towers sounded the alarms, and yelling from a bullhorn GET DOWN ON THE GROUND! over and over till we all were laying face down in the dirt.

Subscribe, Follow, Interact, Comment and change Your community.

With Love,
Marshall Byers

or mail me at:

Marshall Byers # 769274

MCC-TRU

PO Box 888

Monroe WA  98272

or email me at Jpay.com using Marshall Byers # 769274