How I Spent My New Years Day

CRN# 11654
Descriptive Essay
September 29th 2013
Untitled
It was a cold breezy night on New Years Eve. Many people would be with their close friends celebrating the New Year. Perhaps sipping pretty glasses of lavish champagne, anxious as they anticipate for the clock to hit midnight. As much as I wanted to be with friends that night, I really just wanted to fast forward to the long awaited morning ahead of me. Visiting my brother in prison at the Texarkana, Arkansas Regional Correction Center. The old rusty doors of the prison awaited my family and I, slamming behind us as we entered. We nervously walked up the screechy stairs to the family visitation center. I felt a roller coaster of emotions. I was eager to see my brother, after spending that last year without him. Suddenly, I was filled with sadness of the thought that we would soon leave this darkened place. Returning to reality, while we slowly counting down the days until he was free. Unpleasant prison guards checked us in. They informed us of the strict rules we had to follow during visitation. After signing in, we had to walk through the small, cramped room full of other families visiting. The room was about the size of an average classroom, dirty white walls, a few vending machines, and camera’s covering the room. There was a dull small corner of the room designated for children to play. Prison is the last place anyone should be, but despite its surroundings it aloud me to spend time with my brother. There were many sounds in the visitation room, sounds I won’t ever forget. The room was full of commotion from the conversation between families and friends, and the crying of the morose children. While we followed the officers to our assigned chairs, we could hear the whisper among the creepy inmates as we passed by them. There was a constant chatter between the correctional officers. Walking back and forth monitoring the room, every move they make you can hear their keys jingle. We patiently waited for the eerie sound of the doors opening. My stomach dropped each time hoping it was my brother walking through the doors. I couldn’t wait to see the smile run across his thrilled face. Even with the roller coaster of emotions, unpleasant guards, small room, and constant noises, I cherished the little time spent with my brother. It was the best feeling ever seeing him; even though, he was dressed in a dingy orange jumpsuit, he was still my older brother that I had admired. For a few hours he was able to escape from his day-to-day prison life and enjoy time with his family. Although I spent my New Years in a prison visitation room I will never forget that experience.