One day at the Washington State Penitentiary, I saw a blind man named Francisco and his friend Jorge walking down the breezeway with their arms over each other’s shoulders. They looked like two buddies staggering happily out of a bar.
Francisco, who recently arrived to this prison, is the third blind man I’ve encountered while inside.
Later I saw Francisco in the exercise yard running the track with a different friend. Both held a twisted-up shirt to keep Fernando in position while he ran.
On a third day, while peddling the exercise bike in the gym, I watched Francisco and Crazy, who works in the gym checking out equipment, play catch with a football on the basketball court.
Crazy would grab Francisco’s shoulder and turn him in the direction he wanted him to throw the ball. Then Crazy would run and yell, “Go!” — and Francisco’s would let it rip.
Several of us in the gym began cheering when Crazy caught the ball and heckling him when he missed.
Eventually Crazy went long and Frabcusci tossed the ball high and hard. Boom! Rattle rattle rattle… Everyone in the gym ducked. Fernando was just a little too far back behind the hanging hoop and hit the backboard. At first he hit the deck in panic, then Crazy clarified where the noise had come from. Soon it was clear to Francisco that we all were laughing in good fun. Everyone left the gym that day in high spirits.
Prison can be violent and cruel; but when someone is truly in need, there are always people willing to help.