“I don’t understand what’s happened to you. You wanted to be a lawyer once. You still read?”

“All the time. I got lots of time.”

“Then hold out just a little longer. I’ll get a larger apartment. You’ll have a place to stay. I’ll talk to my boss at the office about a job. Something. Anything. Too bad you’re not a dancer.”

“They all faggots anyway.”

“Not all of them. And besides, they say the same thing about prisoners.”

“Shit.” The sudden look on his face shut me up real quick. His eyes lowered and all the determination there, which would have made him strong against the guards or other prisoners or those months until parole, was fading. I was more afraid for him then than for myself. His frustration might never get him out of there.

“I’m sorry I said that, Phillip. I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”

“That’s all right.”

“Listen, I’ll be back in two weeks. I’ll bring Jesse. That’s his name. Jesse Durand. I told him about you. You were the most important man in my life. I didn’t even know Daddy. You did. And you were him for me. And you were yourself. You’re still important to me, Phillip.”

Phillip smiled, but his eyes were distant. “Sure,” he said. But his eyes searched around him on the prisoner’s side of the glass.

“Here, I’ve brought you cigarettes and a book. I’ll bring more, and you’ll meet Jesse. You’ll like him.”

“I hope I’m not here. They’re transferring me to Rikers since I’m so close to parole. You’ll come visit then? It’s closer than riding all the way up here.”

“Yes, for sure.”

“They think I’ll have a better chance getting into some prerelease counseling program. That way it’ll be easier to get work on the outside. I’ll have a better chance for parole, too.”

“You’ll be out soon after that?”

“Soon. You check with Rikers. The transfer should come in a few days. You’ll really come see me?”

“Yes, Phillip.”

“I’ll be looking for you.”

Somewhere behind me a bell rang. The guard by the door blew a whistle and people began leaving the room. I looked at Phillip again and hung the receiver back on its hook. Phillip didn’t get up right away, like he was waiting for something else. Another prisoner came up to him and patted him on the shoulder, almost leading him away. Phillip waved to me and smiled at the other prisoner. He spoke soundlessly to me again, his lips forming the word “soon,” his finger pointing at me. And before I knew it, he was gone. When I turned around, I saw I was the last visitor to leave.