Believing That You Can
what's in store as this satin warmth trickles to the floor, you
realize nothing more.
Ashley Penniman is studying at ABE III Gadsden Correctional Facility.
Unfulfilled Love for Gina
Fifteen years ago I knew Gina, an 8 year old girl from
Colombia. She was a pretty girl. Though she had big
beautiful black eyes, they were very sad. All she wanted to
do was to please her family. She had a difficult time with
them. Her mother did not treat her nicely. She wanted to be
a doctor when she grew up. One night Gina became sick.
She vomited. She had a fever. It finally dawned on her
mother to take her to the hospital. At the hospital they were
surprised because they had to wait in the waiting room for
seven hours. Gina could not wait that long and she
gradually gave up her life in her mother’s arms. When the
doctors came to attend to her they were too late. Gina had
died.
On the day of her funeral she was dressed in white
raiment. I helped carry her coffin to the church. I felt sorry
for not giving her much love. I could still see her sad eyes
always begging me for love. From that day I learned to
always be loving and loveable towards children. From this
incident, I always treat people especially children very
nicely because I never know what they are going through. I
believe that we all should love one another. It is not easy
but we must try harder. Children should be always be
embraced and loved unconditionally.
Betty Artundaga is a student at the Adult and Alternative Education
Center in Key West. Her teacher is Ms. Josephson.
New Life
In 2011, I was sentenced to 11 months and 15 days in
the Escambia County Jail. I was in my WRAP class when a
guard entered and said, "Jones, special visitation." I was
like, “My mommy is in town, yeah! “ So I went in and had a
seat to wait for her to come up. When she arrived I could
see the stress in her face. I said, “Mom how are you doing?"
She shook her head and said, "I'm fine baby, how are you?"