B was so excited the night before my release. She told me how she’d tossed and turned until the sun came up and how my face appeared constantly in all her thoughts. “S, it drove me crazy.” “Bet it did. I went through it myself.” “Hold on real quick. Somebody’s calling me from a 2-4-0 number.” “You better get it then. Might be one of those dudes you hooked up with while I been in here.” “Boy, stop. You know better than that.” “I only know what you tell me. The mouth will say anything.” “S, not right now… hold on.” A loud, distorted voice came over the unit’s intercom system and I couldn’t understand a word of what was being said. Then a squad of ten CO’s entered the dorm and went straight to cell 226. There was a fight going on inside of it. Of course, all the inmates knew what was going on so a snitch must have informed them. “Lock down! In your cells now!” One of the CO’s yelled. “Damn,” I said. Now I’m mad because I know I’m not going to be able to call her back again today. After hanging up 2 STEFEN FARMER the phone, I went straight to my cell like everybody else. Back in the cell I’m thinking, what a way to spend my last day. Right after count, around 6:30 p.m., the cell doors opened. Nobody expected that, because usually we’re on lock for the rest of the night. And like always, everybody ran for the phones. New arguments erupted immediately. My celly called from across the dorm, holding a phone’s receiver in the air. I rushed over with my mind on the streets. I had to get these last couple of calls in to make sure things run smoothly when I touch down. “What’s up, Brown? That’s for me?” “Yeah, man. Mike is after you.” He pointed, showing me where Mike was standing. B excepted my call and sounded so relieved to hear my voice. One thing about her, I can always tell how much she misses me. There is nothing fake about her. She’s sincere and keeps a level head. “What you goin’ wear for me?” “I just brought some new jeans.” We both broke out into a laugh at the same time, because she knew I was talking about bedroom garments. Our way of communicating is what I love most. It keeps things exciting, because you’ll never know where our talks will take us. Somebody tapped my shoulder and I spun around with my mug twisted. “S, who after you?” A scrawny white guy asked. “Mike.” I said, making sure he heard how annoyed I was by the disturbance. 3 INTERSTATE NARCOS “S… what’s going on?” “Nuffin’. Somebody asked who was next on the phone. Anyway… “ “I might have something to throw on for you.” She said, knowing what I was going to say before I said it. “So, how has your last day been?” “I’m anxious as hell to get out of here. It’s been draggin’, babe. And earlier, somebody tried to call me out.” “Don’t do anything to messed this up, S. Everybody’s expecting to see you tomorrow.” “Listen, I don’t have time for no knuckle-heads. I’m focused on bigger things. I’m tryn’ get this truckin’ company up an’ runnin’. And me and dude settled our differences. But I still can’t believe he waited to my last day to pull sumpn’ like that.” A trucking company, like you had before, huh?” she said sarcastically. “Anyway, you figured out where you gonna stay yet?” “I told you it’s goin’ be all legal this time. And my home plan has my mother’s address on it, but I’m stayin’ with you?” “How are you gonna get home?” “I told you the other day all that has been arranged, remember?” “Now I do.” We’d both agreed to keep the phone call time to a minimum, just so we’ll have plenty to talk about later. Even still, the call left me in a daze, but I had others to make. I’d lined up a few things far as my money is concerned, and afterwards I played chess. I was hoping to make the time go 4 STEFEN FARMER by faster. I also tried going to bed early, but I couldn’t sleep. I kind of figured I wouldn’t be able to. In the morning, every time a voice came over the intercom system, I waited to hear my name called to depart. It took so long that I was starting to worry, wondering if I had warrants in another state. I’ve seen dudes go to intake thinking they were going home, only to return to the unit with sad faces. My nerves wouldn’t let me relax for nothing. My mind was on freedom, breathing some fresh air and wearing civilian clothes. I thought I’d taken my last look at this place when I woke up, but It didn’t happen like that. It was close to 9 a.m. when they got around to calling my name. By then, I was suffering from anxiety so bad that I had to wipe moister from my hands every few minutes and my throat was dry. But I’ve heard stories from other dudes who’ve done time before, about how they had to take a dump from all the excitement. Some can’t even talk. Being processed out seemed to take forever. The papers I had to waste time signing could’ve been signed anytime during my last week. It’s all just one big inconvenience. I stepped outside of Pocahontas State Prison into a rainstorm. Didn’t care one bit, though. This time the cold wetness felt so good coming down on me. And being on the opposite side of the fence, unbelievable. I smiled hard when I saw my associate standing outside of a red Ford Explorer. I’m sure he was just as happy to see me, knowing how I was about to change his future