It is 6 p.m. at the Oskaloosa County Jail, and a new inmate arrives in the secure garage processing area. The new detainee wears secure handcuffs and shackles. He slowly makes his way into the jail escorted by two large sheriff’s deputies. Once he is inside, his restraining devices can be removed. Soon he starts the booking process.  At the processing desk, shift supervisor, Ted Joiner verifies the inmate’s paperwork. “I see your name is John Sharpe, is this true?”  “Yes sir, that is dead on,” says John.  “Boy, you sure look familiar. Do I know you, John?”  “No sir, I am from Georgia.” Ted scratches his head and studies John’s face closely. “I always remember faces, and I am sure I have seen you somewhere.

After the paperwork, Ted escorts John on the elevator, and they presently appear on the second level. The elevator doors open and they face an extremely large guard weighing over 300 pounds. Ted receives a call on his radio to respond to the first floor to help with an urgent problem.  “Take him to Charlie block and secure the area,” barks Ted as he reenters the elevator and the doors close. 

Max is overweight and short on manners and compassion. This oversized guard goes by the name of Mad Max. That name is given him by the inmates just to be insulting. As they make their way to Charlie block, the guard notices that John limps badly. “You are just what we need here dude, a crippled crook.” They come to the final electronically locked steel door, and Mad Max asks the switch controller to open Charlie block’s door.

 The switcher opens the wrong door and Max curses him severely over his hand-held radio. Finally, the door to Charlie block opens, and before they go in Max looks John in the eyes and says, “I hate cripples, Christians and slackers. If you are any of those I will destroy you.” He shoves John in and slams the door behind him.  Six men sit around two tables enjoying TV. One of them laughs and says, “Welcome to Charlie block, dude.”

A Latino man says, “Man, how old are you? You look like an ancient senior citizen. What did you do, mug Methuselah, dude?” “I am sixty-three,” says John, taking an empty chair.  They all laugh hysterically, and about that time the intercom announces church will begin in ten minutes.  “Church?” asks John inquisitively.

“Yeah, the old geezer Brother Thomas will be preaching and trying to get you into heaven shortly. You ain’t no Christian are you, John? Mad Max hates Christians. All of us just go to church to get the treats the old man brings.”  “Sounds to me like all you fellows are a bunch of cowards.” One man stands up and says to John, “Are you looking for trouble, wise guy?”

“No, I am not looking for trouble, friend, but let me assure you of this fact, I am no coward either. I got this bum leg in Vietnam fighting for the freedoms of this country. I responded to the call of my country and will do it again if asked to do so. Men, by the way, yes, I am a Christian and not ashamed to be so.” The sound of the electronic lock clicks, opening the door and in walks Ted and Brother Thomas and Mad Max.  Ted blurts out, “I knew I’d seen your face before. You’re Judge Harold Payne from the great state of Kentucky!”

“Judge Payne…” mutters Mad Max, whose face turns as white as a sheet, “oh no.”  “Yes, I guess the cat’s out of the bag now that my cover is blown. I have worked undercover for the last six months doing prison and jail research for the governor of your state. I will be reporting my findings to the board of corrections and the governor. Let me say to you, Mad Max, you are a disgrace to decent law-abiding officials across this country. Your record will be thoroughly reviewed for immediate disciplinary action.”