Jazariah's POV
"Why should you be granted parole Miss Tindale?" a member of the parole board asked.
If it wasn't for Mr Taylor, I'd be at a loss for words. Not knowing much about the specifics, I stuck to the script because I wanted to get out but I was sure if I said it blatantly I would've been turned down.
"My time spent in prison has allowed me to accept full responsibility of my actions. I wish to be granted parole so my transition back into the society will allow me to comfortably exercise various rehabilitation methods and fulfill my civic duties.”
They went on to ask the correctional officers about my behavior in prison and even my father about my rehabilitation. Ultimately, I was granted parole.
Over the course of a week I had daily meetings with my parole officer, going over the conditions which I would be released in. It was recommended that I stayed with my father for a month, though it was not my preferred decision but it was better than any other option, so I agreed.
"Mi cya believe seh yah guh weh, mi ago miss yuh eno." My cellmate Melissa sobbed.
“Watch last moments.” I chuckled.
Me a talk like me sure seh me nah guh kill a bwoy or a gyal again.
I manage to squeeze a tight smile.
“Melissa, me a shub out eno, if yuh eva in need fi nothing nuh fraid fi ring me bird. Yuh know me nuh too chatty chatty, but yuh nah guh suffer once mi deh bout." I blurted out as I saw the correctional officer at the cell waiting for me.
Dat sound soft nuh bloodclaat.
“Ah, next time yere cokes, put mi pon yuh call log. ” I said as tears dared to exit my eye socket.
To be honest, I felt guilty knowing Melissa was in here because of me.
"You mean you neva yet feel so bout nobody since dem two clown deh." My conscience spoke.
Melissa save me life,she nuh deserve this.
"Until we meet again.” She said sniffing.
Chro fuck, Melissa nuh wull medz eno.
“Inna a next lifetime Melissa? cause me muss a dead ” I stated, wiping her eyes as we chuckled for what felt like the last time.
Just about fifteen minutes before my official release, a call came in from my father informing me that my little cousin, Jermaine would be picking me up.
I approached the exit gate and the peaking intensity of the harsh sun burnt my skin.
Dis a one ting mi neva miss, house colour ago cut inna the blink of an eye.
The mechanical sounding gate opened and I walked out.
I walked through the gates I was once intimated by, not as Inmate #438 but as Jazariah Tindale, a free woman.
“BUPPPP BUPPPP BUPPP BUPPP!!!!” I shouted with everything in me, pointing my gun finger to the air.
Who could it be but God?
Matter a fact….
“Hello God, a me again. Thanks! Thank yuh Jesussss!” I shouted.
I noted Mr Taylor entering the prison, more than likely to speak to another inmate.
“Yow Anthony, big up yuh self eno, even though yuh move like ediat inna the beginning, yuh come through fi mi and mi respect dat. As soon as the thing dem clear up me gi yuh a shout an yuh can check yuh bank account after dat. Look like dem neva wrong bout yuh afterall. Bwoy ave ambition eno." I said drifting off into laughter.
“Alright Miss Tindale, calm down now.” he said slightly smiling.
"Whatever nerd.” I said beginning to walk in the direction of the pick up spot.
A white car, which I made out to be a Honda Civic fastly approached us and came to a screeching hault. My once pre pubescent fidgety cousin had grown into a well rounded man. He now had muscles and for once his hair was properly groomed.
"Wah gwaan Jeremiah." I said matching his grin.
"A Jermaine, Jazariah." He said quickly replacing his smile with a frown.
As a big cousin, I made it my duty to torment my little cousins, driving some to the extreme fear. From forcing them to watch horror movies, throwing insects and small reptiles on them and even introducing them to their biggest fear.
Affi toughen dem up eno.
Driving off , Jermaine began talking about his university life, how he regretted studying medicine, but I sat quietly taking in the new aesthetic that was remodeled.
He mumbled something but I was too captivated by the velvety leather spread over the handrest.
"Yeh man, mi did affi fuck off one a di gyal dem from round deh fi get it." He said
"WAH!?" I said frightened.
" Exactly, yuh nah listen me Jazariah, before you lecture mi, mi nuh fuck nobody, mi did a seh mi might switch mi major." He said.
I exhaled.
"Sorry man, mi just a admire you car, why you wah switch fa, from ya ute yuh wah turn doctor eno, you used to always borrow grandpa stethoscope fi listen we heart." I said smiling at the memory.
"Mi know but the more mi surrounded by it the more mi realize a nuh wah mi nuh wah do dis fi di rest a mi life, mi cya manage the pressure of having nobody relative blood pon mi hand." He said gripping the steering wheel firmly.
"Ah mi get you, wah you woulda wah do den?" I asked
"Funny enough, mi did a tink bout law eno" he said
"All di better, you can get mi out next time." I saw laughing
"Yuh feel yuh funny eno, yuh fada wah hear yuh." He said
"Wah him ago do? Heng mi? Memba my fada and yours different eno." I said now gasping for breath recalling the time my uncle had caught Jermaine smoking weed.
"Yuh nuh funny." He said and hissed his teeth.
Fucka yuh.
As the gates to my father’s apartment opened, I saw his once straight face, turn into a smiling orange. The car drove up the driveway and my single luggage was removed before I exited. I exhaled loudly as I looked at Jermaine.
“A next time eno ute.” I uttered nervously.
“Yeah Mon” his response flew from his mouth sensing the atmosphere .
Before I could hold my head up, my father came running with a warm hug.
Dah man yah neva hug me suh yet.
“Evening daddy.” I said looking away with a smile.
YOU ARE READING
Dangerous Addiction
RomanceI have had my fair share of love, not the type you see in cartoons and movies instead being used, abused and manipulated just because I stood up for my basic human rights. How one could loose every bit of sense they had when infatuated with an indi...
