Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward Read Free Book Online Page B

will be held in Huntsville. Until then, Karen Lowens lives on Death Row in Mountain View Unit in Gatestown, which is about two hours from my house.
    “How are you feeling about it all?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “Well, call me, if you need anything,” says my mother, trying her best over the miles. She lives in Wisconsin, where I am from.
    “I will.”
    I hang up the phone, and there I am: a widow, in the kitchen, in a magenta bikini.

karen
    S harleen is moaning, and she won’t stop. When the guard comes to wake them, Tiffany says, “For heaven’s sake, see what’s the matter with the Satan Killer.” It is a strip search day, and they stand outside their cells in their underwear. They watch while the guards try to wake Sharleen, who tosses her head back and forth.
    “It’s like The Exorcist!” says Jackie.
    Finally, Sharleen opens her eyes and spits at the guards. “I am allowed to dream,” she screams, as they drag her off to isolation. “I am allowed to dream!”
    “What a total freak show,” says Tiffany.
    The television comes on in a blaze of color and sound. Karen has been having hot flashes for days, waking feverish, covered in sweat.
    They turn on the radio at eight a.m. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice does not allow phone calls: no one can call a prisoner, and a prisoner cannot call anyone. Luckily, a radio station in Waco broadcasts “Words Through Walls.” People from the real world can call the radio show and give messages to prisoners. The host is Gerald Jones. Tiffany’s husband calls first, as always. “Hi, Gerald,” he says. Tiffany clasps her hands at the sound of his voice. She has been doing extra sit-ups all week in preparation for Dan’s visit, as if he will be able to tell, underneath her jumpsuit, that her stomach is flat and strong. She will not be allowed to touch Dan, has not touched him since she entered Mountain View. Death Row inmates cannot touch anyone outside the prison, from the day they are sentenced until they are dead.
    “Dan, good morning to you,” says Gerald, “and do you have a message today?”
    “I’m on my way to go see my baby, Tiffany,” says Dan, “and wanted her to know I’d be a few minutes late—I’ve got to pick up a present.”
    “Lucky lady. Dan, anything else?”
    “Yes. If anyone has any information about the terrible murder of my girls—anything that can help free my innocent wife, please, please call 1-800-FREETIF. 1-800-FREETIF.”
    Tiffany’s color is high. “He really loves you,” says Veronica. “I can tell.” She looks down at her wrinkled hands. “I want a cigarette,” she says.
    “I wish someone would call for me,” says Jackie.
    “Somebody will, hon,” says Veronica. This is a lie.
    Tiffany spends all morning getting ready. She ties her hair up, then lets it back down. “I’m so nervous!” she says, and she rubs lotion into her elbows and hands. She is ready by nine, but visiting hours don’t start until eleven.
    Each Death Row inmate is allowed one visit a week. Regular inmates have visitors on the weekdays, and Death Row inmates have visitors on the weekends. Tiffany’s husband has come every Saturday for two years. He brings her books and buys her Orange Crush from the soda machine. He cannot hand the sodas to his wife; he puts quarters in the machine, hands the can to a guard, and the guard gives the sweet drink to Tiffany. Dan has quit his job to free Tiffany.
    Veronica will have a visitor, too: her new boyfriend. Jimmy Quinton, a plumber, started writing Veronica after seeing a show about her on television. He wrote that he thought she was misunderstood and beautiful. They have fallen in love. He writes silly letters to Veronica, and she reads them out loud sometimes. He writes about the people he works for, strange items stuck in the drain, for example, and he says how much he loves Veronica, and how he knows she is innocent. Karen is glad that someone loves Veronica, but it’s