Since September I have been working closely with 12 inmates (it was originally 13 but one left…) in the local prison and have developed strong friendships with them. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a “high school graduation”. They had been taking classes in the prison and six of them had reached graduation and planned a big event. They held it in the prison school room and decorated everything very well, invited a band and had tables set up for the families of each graduate. It was really wonderful to be there to see them graduate. I felt so proud of them that they have taken advantage of their situation and worked to better their lives. It is great to talk to them and recognize that they are thinking about their future and what they can do to improve their lives for when they leave. After the ceremony they had a dance with a live band and some of them asked me to dance, which was slightly awkward, but I got through it.
The rest of the prisoners were locked up in their cells and watching through the bars so the central part of the prison was completely empty. Maybe that is why the guards weren’t on high alert…
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