Letter 11 - Heather Boggs

This is the eleventh story of the book.

   Inspired by the 2003 film Thirteen and A&E's TV Series Beyond Scared Straight


My name is Heather Boggs. I am a fourteen-year-old Caucasian girl from Boston, Massachusetts. I lived there in the urban community of Dorchester with my aunt Natasha Shea in an apartment complex on Pleasant Street. My aunt told me that my father Leonard Enner ran out on me before I was even born, and my mother Christy Boggs died when I was only five years old. On the dark rainy night that Christy died at the Boston General Hospital, I remember my aunt making a promise to mom to take care of me till the very last breath. The loss of both of my parents made me deeply long for parental attention and as I got older, I began to seek it from the friends I made at school. Because of that desperation for attention, it led me to becoming one of the most popular girls in school, but the friends I made only encouraged me to make awful choices instead of making the right ones. Since I had no parental authority at home, I thought that I could do whatever what I wanted in life and not have a care of who's feelings I’d hurt.
          One warm day at the Worthington Middle school where I attended the sixth grade, as I walked down the halls with my friends, I noticed a lone Caucasian girl was following me. That girl was wearing a hand-knitted long-sleeved shirt, a pair of black jeans and white sneakers. Out of curiosity, I looked down and saw a long path of tissue paper stuck onto her shoe. “Hey guys.  Look at this. Oh galore.” I spoke. One boy turned around and said, “Oh yeah that is so hilarious.” My friends and I began to die laughing at the girl in unison. We continued to laugh even after the girl walked away from us with her head facing the ground. “Pathetic.” I said as I resumed walking the hallways with my crowd of friends. One week later, as I was making my way to the bathroom, I noticed that the same girl was standing next to me. I became very fascinated by the clothes she was wearing, which was a jean-colored black sweater that matched her dark black jeans. “Hey there. Those are some nice clothes you have on there.” I spoke. “Thanks. You're looking good too Heather.” the unknown girl said. “Thank you. Say would you like to mingle around with me and my friends sometime? What's your name?” I spoke. “My name is Rachael. Rachael Washington.” Rachel said. “It's nice to meet you, Rachael.” I spoke. Rachel and I couldn’t help but smile at each other. That first meeting led us exchanging cell phone numbers and planning to meet to shop on a Saturday afternoon.
          Later that week, the Saturday afternoon finally arrived. As Rachel and I saw each other at the entrance of the shopping district of the Prudential Center on Boylston Street, we smiled brightly believing we were going to have a time together. “Hello Rachael.” I spoke. “Hello Heather.” Rachel said. Rachael noticed there the two other girls standing next to me. “Oh yeah, I forgot. These are my other friends. Come on you two say hi to her.” “Hey there. My name is Melissa Dougherty.” Melissa said. “And my name is Rebecca Crowe.” Rebecca said. “Cool. It's nice to meet the both of you.” Rachel said. After our friendly introduction, we headed into one of the many stores the Prudential had to offer. Melissa, Rebecca and I completely ignored Rachael's confusion as we began to take security tags off items and stuff them into our pockets. Deep down in my heart I laughed and felt entirely excited, believing that I was going to go home and enjoy the items I was stealing. Because I was superfluously fixated on my thievery, I barely noticed Rachael walking out of the store. After successfully stuffing the items, we wanted to steal into our purses, Melissa, Rebecca and I walked out of the store and as we did, we saw Rachael walking right back over to us. I noticed Rachael's eager look and said, “You look like you have something important to say. Did something good just happen or what?” “Yes, something good happened. Can I tell you three in private?” Rachel said. “Sure, you can.” Melissa said. Rachael led us to a private alley nearby where no one could hear us. “So, what's up?” I spoke. “I just stole all of this money.” Rachel said as she showed us a huge stack of money. “Oh my God. You are freaking awesome.” I said as my curious expression turned into an excited smile. “Yes, I sure am.” Rachel said as she split the money into even shares. I took my share and immediately went back into the store and bought more stuff as well as put the stolen items from my purse into the shopping bag. Because we were so fixated on the enjoyment of our shopping spree, the streetlights went on. “Hey guys the streetlights are coming on. My mother should be on her way to come pick me up.” “Okay then. Have had a wonderful day. We need to do this again.” I spoke. “Of course, we should.” Rachel said. In that moment, Rachel and I began to treat each other like sisters. As I saw Rachael go into her mother's car and drive away, I couldn't stop but wave goodbye to her.
            As the days go by for Rachel and me, we would find ourselves getting into fights both physical and verbal with other girls at school. Every time I heard a girl say any derogatory sentence about Rachel, I would yell curse words at them. Even though I was getting myself into trouble all the time, HI would smile and be very manipulative to teachers making them be lenient towards me. Being together with Rachael made every negative reinforcement feel like a positive one.
           On another day at school in the cafeteria, I smiled an intentional grin knowing that I introduced Rachael to a boy named Sean Kendall. I couldn't help but continue to watch and listen to Rachael and Sean's conversation. After Sean left the lunch table, the words he said to Rachael made me say, “Say Rachael you are one lucky girl you.” “What do you mean by that?” Rachel said. “Sean likes you.” I spoke. “I like him too.” Rachel said. “Great. I am happy for you Rachael.” I spoke. Deep down in my heart, I vowed to help Rachael build a relationship with Sean in any way that I could by any means necessary.
          Less than a month later after causing the introduction between Rachael and Sean, I decided to sneak them along with my boyfriend David Bacon into her family’s house at night while everyone was away. I kept a big smile on my face as I watched Rachael and Sean have their conversation. Out of the friendship I had for Rachael, I decided to heat up the moment by leading Sean and Rachael to kiss. Two hours later, we found ourselves lying in bed feeling no shame of what she had just done.
           Four months later, Rachael's mother Tea decided to take us to a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. During the baseball game, while Tea was enjoying the scenery, Rachel and I decided to head to the bathroom and fool around with our boyfriends in there. After a half hour of enjoying ourselves, we left the bathroom and headed back over to where Tea was standing and rooting for the Red Sox. I sprayed perfumes on Rachel and myself to cover up what we were doing in the bathroom before returning to Tea. I prepared a cover story at the ready if Tea were to ask about the smell coming from us but fortunately, she kept her focus on the game.
          One month later, I found myself sitting on a bench outside of school with Rachael after being called out by her. “So, sister what is it you like to talk about?” I spoke. “Heather. I need to talk about us.” Rachel said. “Us? What do you mean?” I spoke. “I mean our friendship. I don't think we should be friends anymore.” Rahcel said. “What?!! Why?!!” I said as I began to shed tears. “We shouldn't be friends anymore because if I continue this now, I will lose my life and the life growing inside me.” Rachel said as she gently touched her stomach. “What? Life growing inside you?” I said as I sniffed my nose and wiped my face with the sleeve of my shirt. “I am pregnant Heather. I need to end this relationship before I lose my baby from you and Sean.” Rachel said. “Do you really mean what you're saying to me?” I spoke. “Yes. Heather, I know it's hard for you to hear this, but it needs to be done. You have a wonderful life. Okay.” Rachel said as she got up off the bench and walked away. As I watched the very girl I loved like a sister leave, I tilted my head to the ground and cried my eyes out.
          A week later, after suffering the loss of my ex best friend Rachael, I decided to cover up the pain by continuing to do my activities with people I thought cared for me. I failed to see the incentive of where my life was leading and how it was affecting the very people who trusted me. It gotten worse up to the point where my aunt Natasha had enough of dealing with it, so she decided to sign me up to attend a program at the Correctional Center for Redemption on Bradston Street. Even after being notified about going to spend an entire day in prison, I didn't feel any aspect of worry over it. I just thought that prison was just going to be a fun experience like all the time I spent doing all of my depravity.
         After two more weeks of anticipation, the date of the prison visit finally arrived. I was driven there in a large white fifteen passenger van filled with girls of different races and who were in the same age group as me. Because of this, I had friendly conversations with the other girls, they're all accustomed to the same culture and language until we arrived at the prison. “Okay we're here now. Kids, I really hope you all take what you're going to experience here today as a wake-up call. Good luck to you all.” the van driver said. Within seconds I looked out the window and stared at the prison. The prison consisted of a heptagon shaped building on a large grass field. The exterior of the prison was surrounded by an electrified fence that showed a few zaps at various creases of it. With the van stopped on a concrete parking lot outside of the main entrance, an officer who was a large stocky Caucasian man with a clear cut wearing a dark black uniform came right up to the vehicle, opened the passenger door and said, “My name is Officer Jim Hiller. Now when you get out of this vehicle, I want you all to line up single file. Another thing is when you speak to me you will respond with 'yes sir' or 'no sir'. Is that understood?” We all did exactly what the officer commanded us to do and said, “Yes sir!!!” The officer then took us inside of the facility to the lone blue metal door that led to the yard. I smiled and silently snickered at the female inmates who were standing on the other side of that same doorway. One inmate, who was a heavy weighted African American woman wearing a light grey jump suit with a visible red stain on her forehead stared right at me through the medium sized window of the door and said, “You keep on laughing little girl. Wait till you come right through this door. We'll see who will be laughing then. You are done with it. As soon as this door opens you are done with it.” Instantaneously another African American female inmate wearing the same color jump suit looked at me and said, “Welcome to Hell. I'm the Devil.” “When this door opens you will be their property. You will be listening to what these people will be saying to you.” Officer Hiller said as he pointed his finger right at the inmates. Even in the face of peril, I continued to smile and snicker believing that nothing awful was going to happen to me throughout the day of the prison visit. The inmates continued to yell at us till Officer Hiller opened the gate and led us into the prison yard. As we stepped into that yard, it was like walking through the very gates of Hell itself.
          Immediately the inmates had us walk into a single file line around the yard with our hands to our sides. After thirty minutes of walking, an inmate stopped the line. “Okay before we continue this, I am going to say that whatever you all are accustomed to doing out there it's over today. Otherwise, you will end up here with us. My name is Red Shoes. I have been here for over thirty years for murder. I stomped a woman to death. The only reason why I am doing this is because I don't want to see you all end up here.” Red Shoes said. As I heard what Red-Shoes said, I couldn't help but snicker quietly. An African American inmate heard me, so she approached me and said, “Excuse me but I need to ask you. Why do you think something is funny?” “I don't think anything is funny.” I said in a very deceptive voice. The inmate quickly caught my deception and said, “Don't be dumb. If you keep on laughing, I will take you somewhere. There will be no one else but me and you. Do you understand me? Take what you are hearing seriously because if you don't you will be back here, and I will be your new mother and father. Now listen.” “Okay.” I said in a dissatisfied look.
        The inmates then led us to the electrified fence. Quickly one of the girls raised her hand and said, “Um...why are we standing over here?” “Good question. The reason why we brought you over here is because someone died by climbing this fence quite recently. She was a girl not much older than you girls. She desperately wanted to be free, so she climbed this fence. Her body gave in from the shocks of the fence before it landed on the ground. If you kids want freedom then you fight to make the right choices, and you won’t end up in a place like this. Now come on!!” Red Shoes said. Moments later, the inmates then led us to the bathroom. Even after hearing the shocking story from Red-Shoes, I held onto my smile. Another heavy weighted African American inmate looked at me and said, “Hey you.” I looked up at her and said, “Huh?” “I want you to do me a favor.” The inmate said. “And what is that?” I spoke. “Sit in that stall in front of you.” The inmate said. I kept my smile and said, “Huh?” “Don't huh me. Get on the toilet now!!” the inmate said. I quickly did what she told me to and sat on the toilet that had no lid to cover the seat. The inmate then stepped into the narrow space and grabbed the collar of my shirt. “Let me go. Why are you doing that?” I spoke. “At first I want you to tell me how you feel.” The inmate said. “I feel helpless. I feel like a lowly coward ready to get pounced on.” I spoke. “Good answer, because that's how I feel every day when I come over here. I took so many simple things in life like using the bathroom for granted. I can't even have the safety of relieving myself without worrying about someone trying to kill me. It's not too late for you little girl. It's not. Don't end up in here.” The inmate said. “I won't.” I spoke. “I hope you mean that. Now get up.” The inmate said as she let me go and let me leave the stall. The inmates then took us to the worst area of the prison yard where all the others wandered around like zombies ready to eat those who looked like fresh meat to them. We couldn't help it but felt seriously worried about our lives as the inmates got in our faces and yelled at us. I felt even more worried for my life as an inmate came up to me and began yelling, “Remember this face because when you come here, you're going to be my meat!! You and all your little friends out on the street are going to be my meat because I'm hungry for meat!!” As I stood there and heard what the inmate said to me, my legs began to shake like a leaf.
           Later on that day, after the showing of the inside of the cells and the assembly of food being fed to inmates, we were forced to sit down in chairs to listen to what brought those women to prison. The pillar of fear in my heart prevented me from sitting properly. Red-Shoes approached me and said, “Look little girl you are not at the park!! Sit up and sit in that chair!!!” “Okay.” I said in a slightly frightened voice as I sat down motionless. “Look I am going to you this right now. Get your act together!! Whatever is going on in your head we already done it. Being thieves, getting drunk, and robbing people. We have done it. Don't think you're doing anything new little girl and don't think you're cute because you're not. Like I said you better get your act together!!” Red-Shoes said as she walked away.
             As Red-Shoes walked away to sit down, another heavy-weighted African American female inmate stood up out of her chair. She had long braids tied into pig tails onto both sides of her scalp. “My name is Aretha Simpson. I'm commonly known as Black Peach. That was my name on the streets. I grew up without my parents. They left me at a group home. I had to take care of myself. So, when I became a teenager, I decided to make friends with people who did nothing but party, do drugs and have sex with each other. All because of my foolishness, I ended up doing those things myself. Eventually my horrible lifestyle led me to catching a murder case. My friends wanted money to buy a brand-new video game console that they didn't have. They went and got the money. They used me to lure a man into a dark alley to take all his money. They beat the man repeatedly in the head with baseball bats until he died. I stood there scared out of my mind with his blood splashed onto my clothes. I now have a twenty year to life sentence by just being there. I have three children who are in the same age group as you kids. I can't be with them all because I chose to trust in the wrong people. Don't let this be you!! Thanks for listening.” Aretha said as she sat back down. As Aretha sat down in her chair, another African American female inmate stood up and looked at us. She was slender than both Red-Shoes and Aretha. She had her short black hair tied into a lone ponytail. “My name is Jane Hawthorn. I'm known as Babs. Just like Aretha I also grew up without my parents. I had to live with my aunt who's my father's younger sister. She decided to take me in when no one else would. She wanted to be there for me and see me succeed in life. She gave me a home and I repaid her kindness with evil. I snuck out of the house to fool around with boys to do drugs. I found out I was pregnant when I came here. My daughter was born here. Now she's living with her father without her mother. How dare all of you come here wasting your lives thinking that nothing is going to happen to you, but the truth is you will end up like this if you don't change!!” Jane said as she walked back to her chair to sit down.
            After the inmates finished telling their life stories, we each sat down with them to have one-on-one discussions. Aretha decided to sit and chat with me because she felt like her life was very similar to mine. As I sat down next to Aretha, I began to feel even more broken down. “I'm looking at you little girl and I can tell this is beginning to get to you.” Aretha said. “Yes, it is.” I spoke. “I understand that you lost both of your parents, right?” Aretha said. “Yes. My mother's dead and my dad ran out on me. I live with my aunt. I never really had anyone give me any authority, so I felt like I had authority. I feel like that's why I thought I could do what I want.” I spoke. “See? That's the problem. You need to see that you don't just get to do what you want to do. Realize that if it weren't for your aunt, you would be in a group home. I wish I could take back what I've done because if I had someone to tell me what I am telling you I wouldn't be in here. Your aunt is the one who loves you not those kids you are hanging around with.” Aretha said. “But...who can I turn to if I won't have any friends to hang around with?” I spoke. “You have your aunt and just because you need to do what's right doesn't mean you shouldn't have friends. Hang around with the good kids and stay away from the awful kids.” Aretha said. “Okay. I will.” I spoke. “You better. Because if you didn’t learn anything from this, I hope you will be in my cell block.” Aretha said. As I began to see the error of my ways, I decided right there in that prison to make a change for myself and not be a statistic. Because of that choice, the inmates chose to allow me to go home instead of spending five days in prison.
           Two months later after the visit to the prison, I made an impressive turn around. I stopped hanging around with all the kids I did unhealthy activities with. I also broke up with David believing it would also be able to help benefit my progress of changing my ways. I began to be more respectful to my aunt Natasha by doing chores in the house, eating meals with her and even doing non-mediated activities such as playing board games, going to the park and even helping with the grocery shopping. I left being a follower in the streets to a be leader of a developing community.