Ice Breaker

"That guy's been locked up for 20 years," a county prisoner blurted out upon seeing me enter the GED classroom.

Everyone focused their attention on me. Some of the guys had a disbelieving look on their face. I looked at them and smiled. One guy asked, "How old are you?" Before I could respond, the teacher asked him to take a guess. The guy said I looked like I was 21 years old. Of course, they didn't believe it when I told them my real age.

Somehow, the duration of my confinement has become an ice breaker. I don't blame people. I would be curious too if I knew someone who had been locked up for 20 years.