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Our World: Doing time
JUDY LUTZ / Staff
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It’s the end of April and even the distorted image on a small screen in front of her does not fool Mya Romero. Her round face beams.
“It’s Daddy, baby! Say hello to daaaaadddy!” coos her mother, Jennifer Romero, who is visiting her husband in the Collier County jail.
Mya reaches out, but instead of his warm face, her tiny hand touches the coolness of plastic glass.
Even on the screen, the joy in her father’s eyes is unmistakable. The barrier that separates them, though, is unbreakable.
Still, she gurgles, giggles and plays with the black receiver. Her father’s garbled voice makes funny noises and says sweet things.
Seated across from the Romeros, Sharon Walters sobs openly, her head cradled in her free hand. Her boyfriend cries, too.
Walters leans in closer to the screen and so does he. The screen swallows his image whole, leaving only his cheek visible.
He speaks in hushed tones as Walters gently caresses her son, who lays across her lap.
“How am I coping?” she asks, looking at the floor. “I’m not.”
This is family visitation at the Collier County jail and it’s crowded.
In a room with one large window and what resembles mini phone booths, wives, daughters, sons, parents and extended family members press together to listen to a man locked away, some for a very long time. If not here, then somewhere else.
It’s not just the inmate who becomes imprisoned. It’s the family, as well.
Who will help pay the bills? What will they do? What about the kids?
Each visitor is allowed up to two one-hour sessions each week and each minute of that time is precious.
There are many distractions but most here stay glued to their receivers, nearly oblivious to the children who skip around freely or the occasional outburst of emotion.
As the end of the session nears most family members try to squeeze in the last of the “I love yous” and gather up their belongings.
Sharon Walters is slow to move but collects her belongings, walking to the door with her young son in tow.
“I’ll be back next week. Maybe, by then, things will be better,” she says wearily, her voice trailing off.
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E-mail Judy Lutz at jhlutz@naplesnews.com
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