My Name Is River Blue

by Noah James Adams

  The warden treated the attack as gang violence and ordered the prison on lockdown, which confined all inmates to their cells for a month. Prison officials hoped that the cooling off period would prevent any further violence. Within a week after they lifted the lockdown and their normal routine resumed, COs found the white supremacist gang leader, known as Dugan, and two of his crew dead in a laundry storage area. All three inmates had been eviscerated and emasculated, and while prison officials believed that they knew who ordered the murders, they had no proof.

  River's Uncle Manny pushed hard for an investigation by state police into his nephew's death. Information gathered by Latino inmates proved that CO Tisdale of Rockville was paid to prevent anyone from entering the library area except the white gang members who attacked River. The guard was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder, and a source told me that there were other prison staff members under investigation. Immediately following Tisdale's arrest, attorneys for Manny Flores filed a wrongful death suit against the state.

  River Blue's remains were cremated and his memorial service was held at Deer Lake Farm in Bergeron County. The service was private with only River's family and closest friends in attendance. Afterwards, his Uncle Manny committed River's ashes to the Blue Bergeron River that inspired his name.

  I visited a few times with River's cellmate, Carlos Perez, and gathered more information about River and his evolving view of his own life during his four years in Rockville. I am very grateful to Carlos for his help, his friendship to River, and for giving me the last pages written by River before his death. I don't pretend to understand a man like Carlos, who is known to law enforcement and prison officials as a ruthless gang leader. What I do understand is that River was family to Carlos, and Carlos cared for him much more than some of the state employees who were responsible for River's welfare during his childhood.

  As opposed as River was initially to writing his life story, he gathered lessons that he believed could help him work with kids. He said that when he put his thoughts on paper that it forced him to see the real River Blue at different stages in his life. River could clearly see who and what influenced him, and he had grown into a man who didn't want to dwell on the tragic parts of his life anymore. Instead, he was inspired to focus on the positive efforts of the people, such as Papa Ray Long, who led him to his successes. It was his desire to guide other kids, as Papa had guided him, to the best lives they could have.

  During one of our last conversations, when River was contemplating what he would do after his parole, he said something to me that I believe best describes where his head was as he approached the end of his life.

  We were sitting at a table in the prison visitation room, and we had been joking about his handwriting. He suddenly leaned across the table as if he wanted to whisper a secret, but he was too excited to whisper. I had never seen his big brown eyes any brighter, and I'm sure there were other inmates and visitors who must have thought that he had received early parole news.

  "You know, Howie, I'm glad the book is about done. It's time for me to forget about what I was, and what I could have been, and it's past time to stop feeling sorry for myself. It's time I did something with my life that really matters. I told Uncle Manny that I couldn't think of any better footprints to follow than the ones Papa left.'

  "Did you know that people like Papa never really die? I'm serious, Howie. He lives in every kid that he ever helped, and he lives in me. He's going to keep living in every kid that I can help, and it will go on forever. I'll use every dime he left me to help kids like Ant and the others I knew. When that money runs out, I'll raise more. That's what I'm going to do, Howie. I'm going to help Papa live forever. Believe it!"

  Manny Flores told me that River practically attacked him about his plans not only to continue Papa's work with children, but also to expand the program. As his parole date neared, River's plans had evolved into something so ambitious that it would have surely made Papa smile with pride. As soon as River told his Uncle Manny what he wanted, the man began laying the groundwork according to River's instructions.

  ***

  On the one-year anniversary of River Blue's death, Camp River Blue, a residential treatment center for at-risk youth, opened its doors to kids who needed love, hope, and a second chance. The camp was approved and certified by the state and is operated by professional counselors and staff. The camp director is Miss Angela Martin, River's former social worker.

  The camp can house up to thirty kids, with separate cabins, restrooms, and showers for boys and girls, and two cabins for staff. The rest of the camp buildings are similar to a top-notch summer camp with rooms for classes, recreation, dining, first aid, and administration. With the buildings and the land required for outdoor portions of the program, the camp takes up approximately thirty acres and is located within half a mile of the Deer Lake Farm office.

  Funding for the camp came from River Blue's inheritance, a government grant, fundraising activities, and the sale of a portion of the old Thomas Farm. Tyler Long sold farmland he didn't want to a commercial developer who paid dearly for it because of its location near the new bypass. The bypass was built to give a faster and safer alternative to taking Hwy 8 up Henry's Hill and around Angels' Curve.

  Several businessmen in the community made donations with a substantial amount given by Bill Summers, who committed to lead fundraising efforts in the business community each year. Camp River Blue currently has the necessary funds for three years of operation.

  ***

  If you walk into the administration building of Camp River Blue, you will see a framed short story on the wall to your left. Manny Flores said that the tale, originally from Mexico, was translated from Spanish to English. It was perfect for the boys and girls who became known as “River’s kids.”

  Home

  by JT

  Once upon a time, there was a little, brown boy who was sad and lonely. He had no home and no one who loved him. He set out all alone to find happiness on a long journey called life. He made mistakes, and he took wrong paths. He stumbled and fell, and he was lost many times, but no matter how hard the search, the boy was brave and never quit.

  He came to a road where the light was bright. Heavenly voices lifted his spirits, and he saw the smiling faces of people beckoning to him. People of many colors offered their hands while their songs sang to his soul. He walked with them to the end of the road and his heart filled with all the love and happiness he had ever wanted. There he found a magical place called "Home."

  I hope that River is forever happy with all the people he loved, lost, and found again.