My Convict Mate

I walked through the double doors and stepped out into a hot evening. The street was worn down with the lines barely visible. The sidewalk had weeds sprouting through the cracks.A few birds chirped from overhead perched on the power lines. There wasn’t much in this part of town. A few old factories, a few small shops in bad shape, and an old slightly rundown neighborhood a couple blocks away. I didn’t really expect anyone to be waiting for me anyway when I got out of jail. What little known family I had left washed their hands of me. This was the last thing they did. It was a few short weeks ago that my old Aunt Margret had called to let me know that this was absolutely it. They hired a lawyer for me and got me out of jail three years early. They had the money and connections in this city to do so anyway. I was supposed to be serving a five year sentence for aggravated assault and grand theft auto. I was unfortunate enough to get the same judge I did when I was fifteen on my first charge for petty theft. Of course he wasn’t happy to see me again, so I was slapped with five years. He claimed that he hoped it would help make me a better person by facing the consequences of my actions. I was far from happy of course. I was grateful that I was out. I promised myself that I would straighten up. I was going to leave this town, this whole state. Even though it probably isn’t a wise idea, in this day and age, I was going to hitchhike. I would find my way towards the highway and get a trucker to take me whichever way they were going. I’d stop when I find a place I like. I had the clothes on my back. They gave me my backpack back from when I was arrested. All it had was an old pack of gum, a few cigarettes, a lighter, and my old iPhone in it. I was flat broke, broke like I didn’t even have two pennies to rub together. I sat on the sidewalk trying to rack my brain on what to do for money. I had no one. My phone was dead but even if I get it charged the only people I could call would be putting me back into my old life. I honestly didn’t even want them to know I was out. I would have to swallow my pride and go and beg for money at one of the stores around the corner. As I stood up I could see a fancy black car coming down the street. It stopped in the street in front of me, and the window rolled down. I cautiously ducked my head and looked in the car to see who it was. It was Gregory, the lawyer who helped get me out. He was in his late forties. He had a streak of gray going through the left side of his brown hair that was slicked back. “Get in.” was all he said. He continued to look straight ahead. I got in the car and he pulled off. Five minutes later we were in some rundown diner. We sat in a booth towards the back. Gregory told me to order whatever I wanted. When the waitress came over I quickly scanned the menu. I of course after the last two years of jail cafeteria food didn’t hesitate to order practically everything on the menu. I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, a chili dog, a chocolate milkshake, and a country fried steak. Gregory ordered grilled cheese and tomato soup. We sat in awkward silence until the food came. We ate in silence, I somehow managed to eat everything I ordered and order a second milkshake. I didn’t realize how hungry I really was until I tasted that first bite. Gregory wiped his mouth and dug into his briefcase as the waitress cleared the plates. “I bet you're wondering why you are here.” Gregory says in his usual flat voice. I shook my head while rolling my eyes. It didn’t go unnoticed by Gregory. Who gave me a sharp glare in response. The waitress came and sat my second milkshake down and went back towards the front to take an order. “As you know your Aunt Margret, as well as the rest of the family is cutting all ties with you and to you. You are essentially being disowned. The reason I am here is to deliver this to you.” Gregory says sliding a brown envelope to me. “Consider it somewhat as a severance package from the family. Inside the envelope contains your social security card, birth certificate,identification, a new phone with three months of service, and five thousand dollars.” Gregory says with a slight smirk at five thousand dollars. The irony wasn’t missed on me. I guess they thought since I was supposed to serve five years that it would be funny to give me that amount. “Please sign these papers confirming that I have delivered all contents of this package to you. Afterwards you are free to go. From this moment on you are no longer Samantha Steelheart, your name has been changed for you to Samantha Grimes. Grimes being your mother’s maiden name. The family felt it appropriate since she was your mother and since they didn’t want you to keep the Steelheart name.” Gregory says with a tone of finality. I know I had put the family through a lot, but it still felt like a punch to the gut that they would go to these measures. I bit my lip to fight back the tears and with a heavy sigh I sighed the papers. I slid them back to Gregory and he released the envelope to me. A flash of what looked like guilt almost touched his eyes. It quickly dissolved as he gave me a nod. Took his belongings and left. I was a free agent, entirely on my own now.