Go Ahead.....Decipher This One!

I get a myriad of notes and letters from inmates on a regular basis. A few, because I've asked for a written response to something I've thrown out there, but mostly they're spontaneous and random. A guy needs to vent, or he needs to reach out to someone, but sometimes it's just a matter of expressing gratitude and caring.

So, I offer the following letter I received from a very memorable student. As a matter of fact, he's the first inmate that referred to me as "Queen LaTeacha", and it just seemed to stick.

A little background on this particular felon is in order. He's big, tough, black, clearly gang affiliated, tattooed from head to foot, including a blood-dripping "Compton" across the front of his throat. He's incarcerated on a homicide charge and a slew of drug-related offenses. But he has this uncharacteristic soft side and a penchant for memorizing vocabulary words he never uses in his everyday language. It's like he knows a whole lot more words than he uses. He can recall a hundred multi-syllable, high-falootin', really kick-ass words, but most often he expresses himself with down-home ebonics laced with a variety of four-letter words.

So, here's the letter: (The penmanship is beautiful, and the change of ink color is true to the original letter)

Dear Miss QueenLaTeacha:

I'll like to take this opportunity to present you my meaningfulness Gratitude for the "knowledge" you are Donating to us, and the time you're sharing with us. It takes a real woman with enough quality to penetrate through the intimidation of this Hell on Earth place, to conceal your fear from being expose to darkness due to the nature of this environment. We are not only appreciated your time and teaching, but we also appreciate the captivating scene of your everyday performance, "thank you".

I was born and raised in Compton, California. So you can say I seen more then our eyes can bare. No man alive can witness the struggle that I survived, and I must admit that life on the street taught me how to cut through the toughest air to remain alive. And life in the prison is to recorrect my poor decision from its own darkness to take life seriously.

I was one of the kid that never have much, and my schooling was so poor it still effected it me to this days. The truth is, I gained more knowledge in prison then it was on the street. The only knowledge I possess at the moment it's a self-taught knowledge picked up from experience behind these walls.

During my upcoming life, I never thought that school was so much of a Guiding Star to our lifes. Now that I'm facing the everyday challenge that come within the approaching fate, and the only weapon to bring Victory against those challenge it's in those books that I intendedly lefted dusty on the side of the door of my 6-grade classroom. I wish that today's Generation will recognize the error of my early age, because life don't take kindly on those whos going to refuse to capture what is inside of those books. The lack of schooling can make life worser then the street of Middle East.

What I Expect out of you and your time. Lace me up with everything you got ma'am. I'm not so much of a perfect man, with the perfection of any edication, no, but to keep it realistic for striving towards happiness and freedom is my only intend in this life. Ima do my best to make up with the books I lefted behind.

Thank you. Sincerely, ______________, Inmate #_______.

Are you touched? I was.