Maliyah Benson and Peyton Hampton

Prison Pen Pals

Hello, I’m Aksel Gjurd!

My prison has assigned us to write to another person in prison but in America! I was very

excited to hear this! I learned English when I was younger and I don’t usually communicate with

other english speakers except my parents.

I have a few questions to ask to get to know you. Do you have any kids? I have two! One

is a girl, she is my oldest. Her name is Qiana and she is 12. My youngest son is Lachie, he is 10.

I love my children so much. Everyday I think about them. They keep me going.

Do you have a spouse? If not, that’s okay. You shouldn’t rush love. I have a beautiful

wife named Bente. She is my highschool sweetheart. I also miss her so much. She calls me every

morning encouraging me to do my best each day.

What are your interests? Are you able to do them where you are staying? Have you

picked up on anything new from your stay? My interests are football, fishing, and cooking. I am

able to cook a lot of meals for my roommates. They really like my fårikål! Once a week I make a

4 course meal for my roommates and the guards.

Sincerely,

Aksel Gjurd
Dear Aksel Gjurd

My name is Jessie Thomas, and I am also excited to do something else other than stare

at the crack in my wall for the 14th time today. You seem to be a cool guy and I hope that we

could both get something out of this... only the lord knows that I need some hope but this is a

topic for a different day. You mentioned that you were taught english, but you don't get to speak

it very often, where are you from? I don't think it American but feel free to correct me if I'm

wrong.

Now to get to your questions, I have three daughters. My oldest is Melody, age 5 I think.

The middle is named Desiree, age 3 and the youngest was born 11 months ago. If I'm being

honest i'm not completely sure about what her name is but it starts with a L. As you can tell i'm

not in their lives as much as I should be but parenthood is not a one way street right? I think

about them but they are better off without me in the long run.

You asked about a spouse, that's a tricky question, I have a long term on and off

“girlfriend” of the last five years. She is not the mother of any of my previously named children,

she might be pregnant but I know it's not mine. I don't really care though.

I don’t really have any interests, I have been working in the streets for as long as I can

remember. There is no time for individually where I come from. I have never been fishing but I

did play football when I was a kid, starting lineman. And now there is nothing to do where I

reside currently. But in Gen. Pop there is 1 Tv for 100+ people, cards and chess/checkers, that is.

Plus we also have an exercise yard with a track and some old rusty free weights.

Now that is enough about me, I want to know more about you. If you're ok with sharing,

how long have you been in jail; how long do you have. I got picked up 3 years ago and I have

been here ever since, only about 2,555 days life (7 years). I have been in the BING, currently on
day 25 of 30. I haven’t lost my mind like the others down the hall. They are constantly

screaming, saysthing that they hear people calling for them or that bad spirits are attempting to

murder them. I feel like a caged animal and I don't know what you do, I have 5 days left though.

Sorry for getting really depressed in that last paragraph. I had to take a break so my

negative thoughts didn't consume me like last time, let's just move on.

P.S Sorry for the long letter I have a lot on my mind.

Sincerely, JT
Dear Jessie

Yes, you are right! I am not from America! I am actually from Norway, I got so excited

to write to someone in a different country, I forgot to mention where I’m from haha! My current

residence is in Halden Prison. It is a maximum security prison in Halden, Norway. It has a very

nice view of the forest. The window in my room has a nice view of the birdhouses my

roommates and I have made. Sometimes squirrels like to steal the bird food. It makes me sad

because sometimes birds will come into the houses, but won’t be able to eat because of the

squirrels. :(

The names of your daughters are very pretty! It is sad that you don’t get to see them, but

you could always write to them. In my opinion, you should visit them after you get out of prison.

I think your daughters need a father in their lives.

To answer your questions, I have been in jail for two years now. Last month was the two

year mark. I wouldn’t have known that if it wasn’t for my security officer. The days fly by so

fast! I was sentenced for four years for drug smuggling and intentions to distribute. If you would

like, could you answer the same questions you asked me?

You mentioned being in BING for 25 days? Is that the search engine everyone raves

about? You work for BING? That is very cool! Tell me all about it!

It is okay to take a break from writing. I understand a lot about evil spirits in your mind. I

have a set of my own, but I’m getting the help I need. If you ever need to write out your feelings

and send them away, I will be glad to be the one you send them to. I will also provide you with

advice if you need anything!

Sincerely,

Aksel Gjurd
Dear A.G

I truly glad that you responded to my letter. I have done this pen pal thing before with

inmates in another cell block and it fell through quickly, but thanks for responding.

You said that you had the opportunity to build a birdhouse, and that you got to watch the

birds outside of your window. Putting aside the fact that you made a birdhouse in the first place,

you have actual windows? Do they have bars on them, like the ones here? The “windows” at

rikers are more like medium sized port will the aftermenched bars that overlook New York City

and all its lights. Which just reminds that I am here being a play toy for the guards while other

people are out doing whatever they want, it’s depressing. Can you describe more of the views

where you are? What is the forest like, it has been so long? Is it peaceful? Calm like?

Not to keep on this depressing tyrant, but you briefly talk about your own demons. Do

you actually get help over there? The only mental health assistance you get here is a ward for

suicide watch. They don't really help, they just get rid of things that you couple possibly harm

yourself with(shoe string, etc.) and you meet with a therapist to see if you are well enough to go

back to Gen Pop after a while. I have been there twice and somehow the written conversation

that we have been having has peaked my outlook on life. Thanks for that by the way. I don't

know what better being in Bing (slang for solitary confinement not the internet search service,

lol) or Gen Pop. Bing eats away at your mental health while Gen Pop. puts your physical health

in danger. I might just do something to stay in solitary.

I can feel my demon coming back out but it might help to put them down on paper. My

life has been a trainwreck since I was born. I was brought up in the streets and I always thought

that all my life could be. I don’t think that I want that anymore. In your last letter you asked me
about my interests, graphic design/ anything art. I do feel better after writing that if i'm being

honest let me know if i'm getting so dark.

I was about to send this out without answering any of your questions, sorry about that :). I

was charged with aggravated burglary in the first degree. I robbed this one empty house with a

gun and I tripped the silent alarm and the police caught me. Luckily I was smart enough not to

start shooting those cops and they took that into account then they sentenced me.

By the way I would like to write to my daughters but they are still young and the only

way I can contact them is if I get out of confinement and their mother cooperates with they

won't do. I do want to get my act together and see them when I get out.

From: JT
Dear Jessie

I am very happy to be your most loyal pen pal! :) You are really helping me practice my

English reading and writing skills with each letter we send!

Yes, we do have windows and they do not have bars on them. I can’t imagine having

windows that look like you are in a cage. I feel very sorry for you!

You asked if I could describe the outside. I can, but my describing skills are not the best.

When I look out my window I see tall white trees with black dots on them. The green leaves are

small and bendy. Sometimes you forget about them since they are very tiny on the tree. Our

government believes that we should not have punishment inside another punishment. We are

already in jail, the punishment, why can’t we become a functioning member of society.

My prison requires us to go to group therapy after lunch break. We talk about our lives

and help each other get better! The way we are writing back and forth about our issues is just like

how we do it in therapy. When you mentioned you went on suicide watch. For some time I was

also on suicide watch, but that means I was under survalence with a psychiatrist for a bit. But

your suicide watch did not seem good to be in. Make sure you stay out of there! I know you can

fight your demons!

Sorry for mistaking BING as the search service. Haha! A bit embarrassing but I’m glad

you corrected me. How does solitary confinement feel, we don’t have that here. Even thinking

about it is a little crazy to be you know. There were always rumors about the condition of

american prisons but it is hard to believe that it is true. I’m learning so much from you.

I can relate to you feeling lost. I didn’t have a proper father growing up and my mother

struggled raising three kids with her boyfriend. My “step-father” wasn’t very good to me. It was

as if he liked everyone else in the house except for me. I felt separated from the family a lot. But
know you aren’t alone! I am rooting for you from across the world, just remember your daughter

and your love for them and how you want to be in their lives. You can't be a good father in jail,

remember that. Ok??

I asked about your interest in my last letter and you answered with graphic art. That is

very cool! At my prison they have a graphic art program. When did you learn that you liked

graphic design? Do you have computers to help? Do you have any artwork that you could send

to me to see? You deserve to accomplish your dreams, and build yourself a better life.

The situation with your daughters sounds tough. But the best thing you can do for them is

write letters to them as if you know they were to receive them. When you get out, you can give

them the letters so they know more about you!

I'm sorry in advance, but I have been reluctant to share this with you but by the time this

letter is sent to you, I will probably be out of prison. We have made so many great conversations

and you have really opened up to me over the past couple of months. I was scared to tell you that

I got my sentence reduced for good behavior because I didn’t want to send you back to the dark

place where you just pulled yourself out of. Even though I can’t support you through my words

anymore, I just know I am always supporting you through spirit! Good bye, Jessie. I wish you

the best of luck with the rest of your life.

Sincerely,

Aksel
 Dear A.G

I know you have other questions about my life but you're leaving and I have to get this

out as fast as possible. Firstly I want to say thank you for the amount of hope and promise that

your letters brought into my life while at my darkest. I was losing hope and I couldn't manage to

dig myself out of this hole that I got myself into. I could never give you enough for the help even

if you meant it or not. With all that said I really wished that you would have told me earlier that

getting out for good behavior was even a thing in your prison. If i'm being honest I don’t know

why I wouldn't be, you people have everything else over there.

In hopes that you see this. I will try to answer your question. (the answers might be short

so I can get this to the post faster). There is no need to feel sorry for me by the way, I got myself

into this situation. You mentchen the bars on the windows when they are there but you kind of

get used to them after some time. Thank you for describing the outside world for me, it sounds

beautiful. Even if I can get out of good behavior it will still be several years, which means no

tree, no fresh air, no bird houses, no nothing but these walls for the couple of long years. Like

you said before I have my daughters to look forward to but some days it feels like that’s not even

enough to keep me going . The only thing I had was these letters and now you're gone. Truly I

don’t even feel like writing this if you are not going to see it, but some part of me still has hope

somehow.

I know that you have demons of your own and I’m truly glad that you are a part of a

system that really sees you as a human being and not just another dollar sign in some big

corporate pocket. I have spent many nights thinking about your life and how it is so much

different than mine. You have “Lunch therapy”, whatever that is, over here, all you have to do is
look at somebody and a fight is breaking out over it. That never happens to me, lucky, you learn

to keep your head down from the beginning.

Now to actually answer your question, as a child I would always be creating characters in

my head and I would draw them on paper, they weren't half bad in my opinion. I always saw

commercials on TV of kids using tablets to talk their art to the next level and I alway want to try.

My family never has the money for things like that when we could barely pay our rent; and there

are no computers in prisons. There should be a drawing of what I think you look like and a

drawing of me. There is no way for us to exchange photos so this is the next best thing. I really

hope you get this in time.

P.S I will be a create father for my daughter, I will never come back to this place,

I'm going to do what I need to do. I deserve to accomplish my dreams and I will.

Thank you again for everything you have done.

Signed JT