The Conductor's Tale

My name is Johan D. Halloway, and I was a train conductor. Twenty five years ago I committed the crime of drinking and steaming. Otherwise known as operating a steam powered train while drunk. Due to my actions thirty two people lost their lives including five children. When I was arrested my only words were, "I'm a bad conductor." Today I am scheduled to be executed by the state via electric chair, but before I shed my physical body I would like to tell you my story of the time I have spent in this prison.

My trial was quick even though it was in the eye of the public. People wanted me to die for my actions and I could not blame them. I pleaded guilty and I even requested the death penalty though the judge informed me I couldn't request my own sentence. Regardless, my trial was done in two weeks and I was in the Oklahoma State penitentiary on death row within a month. The law did state however that I had fifteen mandatory appeals I would have to go through before my sentence could be carried out though.

My first year in the jail I spent moping about the jail. The weight of what I had done sat on my soul heavily. I couldn't bring myself to enjoy anything because it felt like a betrayal to all the people whose lives I had ended. After that first year I started reading. It only took me about four months to go through everything the prison had in its library and so I started requesting books. Every two weeks I would get five more books to tide me over till the next five came in. The guards took notice that I was becoming happier and stopped watching me all the time.

Soon I was allowed a bit more free time in the prison for my reading and exercising. By my third year there I was actually teaching a class to help others learn how to read. Because of this my privileges extended even further. Soon outside of nighttime hours I was allowed to go most anywhere I wanted in the prison. As well as having my book delivery amount doubled to ten books every two weeks. Still I voraciously read everything that was brought to me. By the end of the third year my first appeal was up. I went before the judge and declared myself guilty once again and went back to my cell.

My fourth year was spent much like the third one. I read and I taught others how to read. Soon they were expanding the library to try and accommodate all the prisoners checking out books. I even convinced the Warden to let me start a bookclub to continue helping prisoners with their analytical skills. I impressed him by presenting various studies that showed higher analytical skills in an individual led to more rational thinking. More rational thinking led to a better chance that the prisoners would actually be rehabilitated and wouldn't come back to the jail. Now on top of everything else I was having monthly visits with the Warden just so we could chat. Apparently he appreciated speaking with someone that as he put it, "Was a damn fine intellectual."

My fourth year ended with another appeal and another plea of guilty. However this sparked something new in me, an interest in law. I had seen more than a few people come into the jail who were potentially innocent of their crimes. So I suspended all of my classes and book clubs so that I could focus on learning the law. It only took me six months to read through every law book the State of Oklahoma was willing to provide me. By the end of it I was a lawyer in everything but name. I started helping to represent others during their trials and appeals. I was able to help free many innocent men from the jail during the rest of my time there.

Soon I was known across the nation as the model inmate. People from all over the world would write me letters of admiration or ask me how I had managed to turn something so negative into a positive in my life. Eventually I had to start learning other languages just to be able to answer the mail. At year ten I was now fluent in three languages and six appeals down with nine to go. For my tenth year in the jail they threw me a party as well as awarded me with an honorary degree from Yale. Apparently the Warden had been in contact with them and keeping them up to date with my law education. They also bought me a new suit for wearing to court.

In year twelve I went in front of the Oklahoma State legislature and put forward a bill that would radically change how prisons handled inmates. Based in part around the curriculum I had personally developed in my own rehabilitation time. The law would go on to pass and Oklahoma would become the first state to completely change their prison system. By the time my execution was finally scheduled over half the states in the country had passed similar laws. Shortly before my execution time I was brought forward in front of Congress to try and push for a national version of Halloways Law.

In year fourteen I would take up cooking after spending two months reading through cookbooks. Soon I was working with the chefs of the prison to create a truly balanced and nutritious meal plan. My days were often spent in the kitchens concocting new meal ideas as well as getting to cook for the Warden personally. He often joked that he would leave his wife for me just because of my cooking. I continued to practice being a lawyer during this time. Becoming so familiar in the courtrooms that many prosecuting attorneys knew me by name.

In year eighteen I would assist the Oklahoma school board in revamping the education system. Soon children all across Oklahoma were being taught in a whole new way and within two years there was a notable level of difference at least in test scores. Many teachers would write or come visit me to thank me for making their lives easier and more fulfilling. With my changes the state was able to save millions in education and slowly Oklahoma became the new center of progress in the United States.

In year twenty I finally found the courage to speak with the family members whose lives I had ruined so long ago. They all met me with smiles and forgiveness in their hearts. They understood that the lives of those thirty two people still weighed heavily on my mind every day. They also all agreed that those who had passed would forgive me for all the lives I had managed to help and save. They promised to all keep in touch and they did. Twenty years and twelve appeals down with three left to go.

In my twenty second year I would take up the game of chess. Initially playing with the guards and other prisoners eventually playing with the Warden. I came to discover that the Warden was a rather accomplished chess player himself. Within a month though I was beating him regularly and by the end of my twenty third year in prison I was the undisputed grand master in the jail. This was also the time of my last appeal which of course I plead guilty once again. My date was set eight months from that point.

When asked about my final meal I told the state I wanted to take the milk of a rare coconut that only flowered once every six months. This coconut only grew in the deepest parts of the Amazon. Because of the timing and how much everyone liked me my date of execution was moved to accommodate for this. During my waiting time I spent it writing out last letters that would be mailed on the day of my death. I ended up writing over three thousand letters to all the various people who I had met in my time.

When it came time to acquire the coconut the first time they arrived too late and found it already rotting. The second time the person who was hired to get it dropped it on the way back to me. The third time was the charm and finally it was brought back to me two days before my execution. Drinking from it was truly one of the most divine experiences of my life and left me truly satiated with this world. I was now ready to pass on. On my last night a grand party was held in my honor and attended by many including the President of the United States. Who told me that he would pardon me if I would find join his staff and help lead the nation. I declined as I always had and thanked him. It was almost time for me to be punished for my crimes.

On the day of my execution as I was taken to the electric chair I could hear much crying. As they sat me down and read me my final rights the crying only intensified. Finally they asked if I had any final words. I smiled at all the people in attendance. Prisoners I had helped, lawmakers who had changed the country based on my ideas, and the families of those I had killed. I spoke, "Weep not for my passing. Before I came here I was a simple man with simple values but in my time here I learned to embrace life. All of you have helped me just as much as I have helped you. Thank you to everyone who I have met through the years. My life had become immeasurably richer for having known all of you. Flip the switch Bobby."

With that the very first guard who had befriended me all those years ago flipped the switch with tears in his eyes. Nothing happened. No electricity coursed through my veins. Everyone watched in shock and amazement, some declaring that God himself had intervened on my behalf. All I could do was laugh, "No no. As I said all those years ago when I was arrested, I'm a bad conductor."

I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it and I hope you enjoyed the long game pun. If you did then please heart, subscribe, and feel free to tip. You can now also pledge 3 dollars a month to me as a creator helping me just a little more to sustain myself through my writing. If you do you will also always have my stories up at the top of your subscription list everytime I put something new out. Till next time.