To the attention of James Jones - Department of Corrections, PADear James,
I was thrilled to receive your letter! Thank you for accepting me as your pen pal. You mentioned you were a 'ticking time bomb' in your 20's. Why do you say that? I have so many questions for you, but am wary being so frank in asking. I do not want to come off exploitive or rude. I am just curious. I want to know about your childhood. Do you have siblings? Have you been in love? What were the events preceding your present situation? Please answer only what you feel comfortable with. Or just send a draft of your autobiography.
In regards to your hand written manuscripts, I would be happy to type them for you. I am not interested in financial gain, but rather helping you become published while learning more about you. You have my word that I will not run with them, or violate any agreed upon terms. Please make copies and send as certified mail, if you have access. We do not want these to get lost!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Candice Smith
And so begins my recent pen pal relationship with a death row inmate. I have been wanting to do this for years, but always received concerned looks from roomates, family, and lovers. "What if they have someone on the outside who will hunt you down?!" This was a concern, especially when I lived at Grammy's. I imagined her answering the door to a teardrop tattooed visitor. But in my studio, there is no one to toss me a low brow glance, or question their own safety. Sorry landlady, don't look too closely at the return address of my mail!
Feelings I will try not to feel in my correspondence.
1.) Thinking from the perspective of the victim's family, if they knew my interest.
2.) Feeling pressured to ensure publication before he dies.
3.) Becoming too attached, invoking a sadness when he is executed.
I desperately want to find that moment, incident, or trigger that turned thought to action. Assuming he did do it, why was it his most rational option at the time? Even in my darkest moments, swimming in disturbing fantasies, I've been able to keep my loose screw in check. Beyond the obvious sociological reasons, where/what/who was the turning point for James?
James Jones, 70, Pennsylvania Dept. of Corrections
