When Nightmares Become Dreams by Bob Miller - HTML preview

Epilogue

Wiggles looked like he could swim in his bright orange jumpsuit that was two sizes too big for him. He hadn't yet lost any weight but insisted on wearing extra loose attire. Gangstas always wore big clothing.

He laid on his graffiti embossed 3 inch rubber mattress fuming like a losing presidential candidate. He felt pretty stupid for cheating in Vinny's game of musical chairs. Now he had a life without parole to think of that. He wasn't even entirely sure what all had happened. It was like he passed out at his girlfriend's house and woke up in jail. The jury didn't buy his crazy story that his 7th grade math teacher broke in, killed his girlfriend, and set him up for her murder. Stupid system. Always looking to throw a black man in jail.

Wiggles sat on the bottom bunk and bounced a blue rubber ball against the wall. He promised himself if he ever managed to dig himself out of the hole he was in, he would find this so called Gadget Man and kill him himself. How dare that cracka come into his girl's crib and boss them around like that and then have the audacity to take out Patricia.

As he thought about the good times he had with Patricia a loud knock rang out from his cell door. A burly impatient Latino guard beat on his door with his fist.

"Come over here and cuff up newbie. You have a legal visit."

A legal visit? Wiggles thought to himself. His pettifogging court appointed lawyer hadn't promised to see him until next month. He walked over to the steel door anyways and turned around then bent his knees so he could slide his hands through the slot to cuff up. The prison probably made a mistake but he needed the breath of fresh air anyways.

When he was securely shackled he took a step forward away from the door with his back facing the guard and waited for the door to open. The door unlocked and swung open and Wiggles exited his cell room walking backwards just like they were taught.

A second guard joined them and escorted Wiggles off the block and onto an elevator. From there he was taken to another room and properly vetted for contraband. They gave him his usual 30 seconds to get redressed then finally took him to his legal visit.

When Wiggles entered the room for his legal visit he was completely flabbergasted. A hot chicky momma hotter than Bill Cosby's wife sat at the table flirting the gilded hoop like earring in her left ear. The shapely woman was a true knock out and was dressed very sophisticated with black stylish pleated dress slacks and a matching silky button down shirt. Wiggles only guess was that this fine looking woman must be a psychiatrist looking to do a psychiatric evaluation. Wiggles took in her sweet perfume as he carefully took his seat.

"You look just as skinny as you always did." Joked the foxy woman.

Wiggles looked puzzled. "Do I know you?" He finally asked trying to play off gangster.

The lady smiled and showed her pearly white teeth. "You don't remember the pudgy teacher's pet that you and your homies used to make fun of?" She said with a flirtatious look.

Wiggles gaped as only one student came into mind. But no, it couldn't be, could it?

"Na...Na..."

"Natasha" She cut in helping him out.

He still had a look of disbelief. "I don't understand...You liked that crazy teacher, what are you doing here?"

She just smiled at him pleasantly. "Yes, I know you guys picked on me and drove that poor teacher nuts but you were just stupid kids. Lots of innocent people go to jail and live productive lives when they finally get out. I guess it's just the luck of the draw. Mr.Young killed a lot of innocent people that didn't deserve to die."

Wiggles cut her off. "Yeah, like my girlfriend." He said convincingly.

Natasha looked at her silver shiny Tiffany wristwatch to check the time. "Hey look, I don't have much time and I have another appointment with another client. You had ineffective council and I can prove it. I can almost promise I'll have you back on the streets by the end of this month." She said reassuringly.

Wiggles smiled at the thought of this. Maybe his life wasn't over after all. Natasha crammed a bunch of loose papers into a portfolio then quickly stood up and signaled the guard. Wiggles was still confounded as to the nature of her intent.

"Wait!" He said pleadingly.

Natasha turned around with a look on her face like she knew what he was about to say.

"Why are you doing this?" He finally asked.

She already had her answer. She looked him over one more time. "Because I saw what the crooked judicial system did to my father so I went to law school so I could get the opportunity to defend screw ups like you silly." She replied and winked at him.

Wiggles didn't argue the insult. As the guards escorted him back to his cell he thought to himself I'm going to get my crew and we're gonna find this so called Gadget Man and get our payback. Wiggles is coming back to town and he's not clowning around.

Meanwhile...

Things in Costa Rica panned out pretty good for the Gadget Man. Him and his father managed to get into the country safely without any problems. They purchased an upscale bungalow in a quiet rinky-dink town scattered with creative looking shanties made of every kind of material.

Vincent managed to learn Spanish and within 6 months he spoke it fluently. Mark usually kept to himself and did a lot of fishing. The Gadget Man took all of the necessary precautions to protect his real identity so it would be almost impossible for U.S. Federal agents to find him. He kept his hair cut short and did away with the eye patch. Vinny now sported a beautiful glass eye and he even got a lot of plastic surgery done to his face. He was really enjoying the beautiful country and his new life.

After a year Vinny felt compelled to go back to what he does best. He found a job teaching math to some kids at a middle school that were as grateful as the students he had at St.Mary's many years ago. The students adored him and laughed at all his stupid American jokes.

As for Vinny's father Mark, not too many people ever got to know him. The last anyone had ever seen Mark was when he and his son went on a hunting trip together. Unfortunately there was a terrible hunting accident and Vinny's father never made it back.

To be continued....