I am sitting in my holding cell at Bradfort Correctional Juvenile Detention Center. I arrived here at 15 years of age for a stupid thing that I did. I'm wearing a medium jump suit with orange pants. The tag on my shirt says "Jefferson". Then, I hear the bell ring for lunch. An officer unlocked my cell door, and handcuffed me with my hands behind my back. I question myself as a prisoner trapped within the walls of this place because I deserve to play videogames, shoot some hoops, and swim, but it ended when I was arrested in 2005 for tying up a kid and holding him aganist his will.
His name was Jonathan, age 12 with black hair, black eyes, and large hands. I had approached him at the gas station, and he seemed like the type of boy who would talk to anyone. I asked him where he lived, and he said he lives by a river in Trenton, New Jersey. I became his friend when I shook his limpy hand and patted him on his back. He told me that he loved to pretend to be a knight, rescuing princesses from evil people and he also enjoys playing on his game boy advance. When his father came out of the store, I asked the boy if we could hang out, but he just shrug his shoulders and said "I'll let you know". His father was mad at his son because he had talked to me, and I was a stranger and told him to get in the car. The boy had tears flowing down his cheecks as he unwillingly went inside the SUV. As the vehicle sped off in the distance, in my mind, I wanted to see him again. Fate seemed to make that happen because my cousin's birthday party was going to be held in New Jersey. I was excited, and packed my belongings to my cousin's house. He was turning 13 and it would be a milestone for my cousin Kevin. We left New York City around noon, and I was bored with the traffic and nothing interesting happened as I sat in the back seat with my brother Guz. Guz was 11 years old, and had the same physical characteritics as me, with blue eyes, dyed red hair, and small hands. Being 12, and just six days away from my birthday in June was incredible, but I didn't know that I would run into trouble before it happened. At around 4 in the afternoon, my family and I finally arrived at my cousin's house. He was excited to see me, and gave me a hug and shook my hand. His parents was in the kitchen making dinner, which consisted of frank and beans with corn on the cob. My cousin had also invited me to spend the night, so I said yes, and my parents expressed their approval. I was so content with this decision.
My cousin took my hand, and showed me to my room in the corner downstairs near his study room. It had posters of animals, mainly oceanic, and coastal beaches. I unpacked my stuff, and went outside with my cousin to play in the driveway in a game of catch. I was a pitcher for my little league team, so I knew how to pitch well and effectivetly. My cousin had grown in his skills too, and I couldn't catch anything he threw at me. Then, after playing for about one hour, my cousin's neighbor house door opened, and out stepped Jonathan. I was shocked that he lived there because this was unexpected. Jonathan saw me playing with my cousin, and he asked if he could join in the fun. I accepted his request, but we only had two gloves and a ball, so we switched roles throughout the game.
At around 6:30, my cousin's mom called us in for dinner, and we had to go in. Jonathan went home after that. After eating my plate of food, I farted, and it didn't fare so well with the other guests. My cousin and brother laughed, but the grown ups put me in time out. I was told to put my nose at a corner with my hands behind my back for disturbing them. I did not get a chance to eat the chocolate cake they served afterwards, and it bothered me and made me angry. After being released from time out, I went outside to think about things I could also do with my cousins. Then, Jonathan came out, and he changed as a person. He grabbed my arm, and tried to take me into his house. I said no thanks, and he could had fumes coming out of his ears. He said that I was spending less time with him, and more with my cousin. I was upset that he could value himself more then my cousin. I got my arm free, and punched him in his face. He was knocked out cold, but he was still breathing. I dragged him by his arms to my cousin's patio. I found some duct tape, and bind his hands and feet. When he awoke minutes later, he started to scream, so I put a piece of duct tape on his mouth.
Meanwhile, his parents became worried and had called the cops when their son did not return home. The police had taken their statements about him spending time with me at the gas station and at my cousin's house. The officers knocked on the front door of my cousin's house, and his parent answered. I was still oblivious to this, and was busy at the patio trying to get Jonathan out of there. Soon thereafter, my cousin called me to the living room. He said that cops was looking for me. I was scared with butterflies in my stomach and a single teardrop cascaded down my eyes. The police interrogated me, and asked me about my fun with Jonathan. They said that if I did not say anything, I could go to jail. I broke down in tears, and confessed that I was holding Jonathan hostage at my patio. Everyone around me at the room was taken by suprise by my statement. The police officer told me to get on my feet, and put my hands behind my back. I did, and I felt the clicking of handcuffs on my right hand and left hand. The cop found Jonathan, and released him to his parents. As for me, I was led away in handcuffs and my parents, my cousin's parents, and my cousin was silenced when this happened. I was put in the back of the police car, and was taken to the police station where my fingerprints was taken and I was photographed. The police charged me with false imprisonment, and ordered me to spend Five Years at a juvenile correctional detention center. My parents was so disgusted by what I did, that they refused to bail me out or fight for me.
So, as I am heading to breakfast handcuffed and in tears, I reflect on this day in which a poor decision to tie up a kid landed me here with no friends, surrounded by other juveniles who committed crime.
To be Continued