He hated being called “Robert” by the others and would insist, “I’m Bobbyl”

He had an inferiority complex, no ambition of his own, and he lived like a sponge, soaking up ideas and thoughts of others, passing them off as his own. But when anyone suggested he do something, he would say, “I can’t do it.” He alone lacked confidence in his ability to carry out a plan.

When Bobby first heard about the hunger strike, he imagined himself leading it, setting an example for the other prisoners. Like the great Mahatma Gandhi of India, he woulc bring the repressive authorities to their knees by his fasting When the strike ended a week later, Bobby decided he wouldn’t stop. He lost a great deal of weight.

One evening when a guard opened his cell door to bring hi; food tray, Bobby pushed it back at him and threw the slop al over his face.

Arthur and Ragen agreed that though Bobby’s fantasie; helped them survive the long months in prison, his fasting wa; weakening the body. Ragen declared him undesirable.

Tommy walked out of the visiting room one afternoon after £ visit from Billy’s mom, who had come to celebrate her son’; twenty-first birthday. He looked back through the window anc saw something he hadn’t noticed before; In different parts o: the room, prisoners were sitting beside their women, hand; out of sight behind the small square tables, not talking or ever looking at each other, but staring straight ahtead, nonchalantly, almost glassy-eyed.

When he mentioned it to Jonsie, a prisoner in the cell nexi to his, Jonsie laughed. “Man, don’t you know nothin’? Hell, it’; Valentine’s Day. They’s hand-fiickin’.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Man, when you got a woman who’ll do anythin’ for you, she comes up here with a skirt ‘steada pants, and she don’t got or no underwear. Next time we’s visitin’ at the same time, IT show you my honey’s ass.”

The following week he was coming in to see Billy’s morr when Jonsie and his beautiful red-haired girl friend were heading out. Jonsie winked and flipped up the back of her skirt, showing her naked bottom.

Tommy blushed and turned away.

That night, in the middle of Tommy’s letter to Marlene, the handwriting changed. Philip wrote: “If you love me, next time you come, wear a skirt, but don’t wear no underwear.”

(5)

By March 1976, Allen began to hope for parole in June, but when the parole board put the hearing off for two more months, he became worried. He’d heard, through the prison grapevine, that the only way to ensure a parole was to pay ofl the clerk who filed the application in the central office/ Allen wheeled and dealed, sketching in pencil and charcoal, then selling the sketches to inmates and guards for items that could be stockpiled and traded. He wrote to Marlene, begging her once again to bring oranges spiked by hypodermic with hundred-proof vodka. One was for Ragen and the others were to sell.