“Hey. Big Todd. You want some that frif-frif-frif?” “LC” had come by my cell, and was selling the lollipops that guys occasionally make by shaping and microwaving together a couple of flavors of the taffy that’s available on canteen, around a Q-tip denuded of its cotton ends. “LC” has invented a collection of terms like “frif,” “gurst,” “zooter,” and the like, each of which has multiple meanings but none of which can be used interchangeably. Somehow this works as a means of communications, though it lends conversations with him a Dr. Seuss-like quality.
The price of the frif in question was a stamp or a token. I inquired as to the whether the confectioner had a preference. “A token is cool.” In exchange I was given a flawlessly circular lollipop of green and orange halves, neatly wrapped in plastic. It works surprisingly well as hard candy; although, after sitting in the mouth for a while warming up, its consistency starts to return to that of taffy. Sticky on the teeth.
The novelty of the thing is the key. And in this absurdity of constrained opportunity, the novelty of the lollipop was positively subversive. A Cat-in-the-Hat style frif.
More such writing can be seen at http://www.newspeakblog.com/category/print/i-am-ahab/ or at http://bearingfalsewitness.com/Ahab.asp.
Thanks for sharing some of your son's writing with us! When someone writes from prison about something like this, it is that much more beautiful. I remember once my friend wrote me a letter and in the middle of telling me about his daily workout schedule (a favorite topic of his) he said he had to pause to watch an amazing lightning storm and went on to describe it in such a way that made me never look at lightning the same way again. I don't think many people out here, amongst the free, would take the time really, to appreciate a lightning storm quite like he had.
ReplyDeleteTodd is a great writer. He ought to write a book.
Thanks for your kind comments. I'll pass them along to Todd. We are planning to write a book together. We pray that the last chapter will be his exoneration and release.
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