Penpal

Drea POV

I’m Andrea Caldwell, a 33-year-old African American black woman that lives in Brooklyn. I’m happily single till COVID-19 hit. Now I’m lonely in Brooklyn while the world is on fire. My mom is in North Carolina being booed up with her husband Tony. We are on the phone now

“Baby, you can get out that loneliness by getting like your momma.

“I’m already a plant mom.

“No. Get you a prison Penpal.

“Nah.

“Why not? I had luck

“Yes finally. You meant a thief, plenty of cheaters, and scammers. I don’t want to go through wild times like that again.

“Well you don’t have to fall in love, just write till the world is right again.

“Hmm, you have a point.

“Okay, baby girl I will talk to you later.

“Love you, mom

“Love you too.

I grab my laptop and look up the prisoner Penpal site.

I browse through the website and it’s crazy. Some inmates have their pictures up on it Tinder or some dating app.

After going through 20 pages, I find an inmate that I wanna write about.

Dear Derek Atwell,

I’m Andrea, aka Drea, just a regular chick from Brooklyn. I got your information from the prison pen pal website. Since I’m currently working from home I decided to be a Penpal again cause I love to meet new people and have Penpals. It’s been lonely here with just my dog Ringo so hopefully, you will respond.

I’m kind of tech-savvy but I’m into other nerd stuff like anime, comic books, and a show called Doctor Who.

I’m a very non-judgmental and cool person so I hope you write back.

Andrea

It’s a short letter cause I’m not trying to tell him all my business yet because it doesn’t say what he is in jail for. And for all I know it could be from stalking and raping women. I’m not trying to be his next victim if somehow he gets out of prison.

Derek POV

“Mail call! Atwell, you have a letter.

“If it’s from that bitch, I don’t want it.

“It’s not.

CO Fitzpatrick hands me the letter.

It’s not from anyone I know so I go into my cell and sit on my bed.

It’s a letter from Andrea Caldwell. I read it and smile than frown

I get some paper and start writing back.

Back to Andrea’s POV

A week later I get a letter from Derek

Hello,

Are you black? If so, I’m D-Rock originally from Philly. I’m in my 30s also with no kids. I’m just waiting to get out of this shitty ass place cause I don’t belong even though everyone says that. I’m actually wrongful accused and no I don’t wanna talk about it.

So you have a dog. What breed is he? How old is he? I love dogs and I want some when I get out. I want like one or two huskies.

I’m also a nerd and am into anime, comic books, and art. I’m a big sneaker head which is one thing I’m missing by being in here. Sneakers and being fly are my thing.

Okay, I’m ending it here. Write back if you’re a cool black woman

Derek

Some white must’ve got him locked up. If only he could’ve seen GET OUT. I bet if he watches that now he might be triggered.

He seems cool though so I will definitely write him back.