I extend greetings to all our new and returning readers. It has been a while yes, but my colleague and I have found outstanding ponies with must-hear stories. For example, take the case of Wing Song, a pegasus with a hearty vocal range and an affinity for fixing my carriage that can't stop imploding from its own weight.
For a minor role in a "Sparkler" deal, he was picked up and sentenced fifty years in Manehattan City Prison. He's free now, thankfully, due to loosening penalties for minor offenses, but has come to us to share his experience in picking up the scraps of his life after prison.
For those of you who are not familiar with the drug industry, which would be many of you I hope, here's what you need to know about Sparkler's; Sparklers are hallucinogenic drugs synthesized from a chemical found in crystal berries. While present in many other plants, crystal berries have the highest natural concentration of the chemical. While this chemical is not the source of the hallucinations, it is a primary bonding agent for the molecules that are responsible for the high, and thus are essential to the manufacturing of Sparklers.
Despite the harm of the drug -unawareness, dehydration, and even seizures after prolonged use- there are many who can't help but turn to its industry for some much needed cash or simply mere dependence on the substance. That's not to say that these ponies are bad or a threat to Equestrian society. They make mistakes, and like any other citizen most of them want to fix their lives.
But, there's one small problem in their reform. They don't get a second chance. Ex-prisoners often start out with nothing once they leave prison. Away from home and away from any secure income, these ponies have to fight tooth and hoof to find work in a society where a single tick "yes" to the question "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" can determine whether employer's even look at you.
And if there's family to turn to, they might not be able to help either. In many cities, most prominently Manehattan, Fillydelphia, Baltimare, and Cloudsdale, if ex-cons return to families living under subsidized housing, they will be turned away by law. For instance, Emerald Angel, a mother of five in Baltimare, is one such pony who had to turn away her eldest son when he returned home after time in prison for a minor drug offense. The city of Batlimare actually made Emerald sign a statement saying that she will not let her son live with her, or else the rest of her family could be evicted.
Don't think it's this bad? Well, tonight I have with me Wing Song himself, a decade after his release, to tell us what it was like for to be released from prison and try to glue his life back together.
This audio recording has been adapted and funded by Sofas and Quills, Manehattan Times, and Manehattan Journalism Company.
Thank you for taking the time out for us tonight, Wing Song. I know that coming to this studio wasn't the easiest of choices, so I just really want to thank you for this.
"No problem, the honor's mine," Wing Song said.
I suppose the place to start is to ask what it's like to restart after years locked behind bars.
"It's difficult," he started. "I think I would consider myself to be blessed to have as good of a start I had. My brother's a manager of a small bar chain over in Vanhoover, and when he heard that I was released from prison he personally came to Manehattan to help me restart."
Okay, that's good. What did he do for you that supported you the most throughout your recovery?
Wing Song opened his mouth but said nothing, his thoughts clearly trying to catch up. "Pretty much everything. I wasn't a wealthy pony before I was convicted and I was pretty much living paycheck to paycheck before going to prison. So with no food, housing, or work, I was lost. My brother stayed in Manehattan for about three weeks and loaned me enough bits to get an apartment, buy groceries, and he even helped find some advice for job searching."
Yes, about about that. I understand you've been very lucky with returning to your job after a couple months, and I've read some of the advice often given to ex-convicts looking to apply for a job. What was it like for you? Because, a lot of the advice I've heard always tells ponies how to present themselves and their truth. Was your experience similar in some ways to what's advised in the pamphlets?
"I know what you mean; We've read through countless papers giving advice when we were looking for work I could do, and at first it all seemed strange to us," Wing Song said. "One ex-manager in a magazine said ex-cons should 'sugar coat' their past while another said to be 'discrete' about it."
Wing Song paused to sip some water. "But in the end I tried out the advice and presented my past the best I could, of course I never flat out said 'I went to prison,' but I did use the preferred terms of 'relocated' or 'expired contract' just not to be looked down upon."
How did it feel having to check yes to "Were ever convicted of a felony?" on an application form?
Wing Song shook his head in disgust. "It's one of the worst feelings I've ever had. I mean, going to prison is expected because it's the law, but with this case it felt that I was being unfairly judged after I had served more than enough time for my mistakes. Worst of all, when I was waiting for the reply all I could think was 'Oh Celestia, they're not even going to talk to me, they're making assumptions about who I am,' and so forth. I was just a horrible experience."
Well, now I feel like part of the problem. You're not the same pony you were decades ago, yet here I am having you here as Wing Song the ex-con. Shit.
We both laughed. Wing Song replied, "Yeah, but at the same time it's not something I want to run away from. Even though I don't want it to define me, I also don't want to pretend it never happened. I understood that I made a mistake and I am ashamed of the drug deals and the suffering it caused, but when I was ready to make my contribution to society it seemed like no pony wanted me too, and I don't want that to happen to any pony else."
So, is that what made you decide to come here tonight?
"Well, it was a big part for sure," Wing Song said. "What mainly went through my head was the idea that I might never get a chance to do something like this again. I've said a few things for the papers and all, but this was a unique opportunity that I felt was wrong to miss. After tonight I want to hope that ponies will start to look at ponies like me not as who we were but rather who we're trying to be today."
Wow, that's really nice. But then again, not every pony knows that you've been to prison, and now they might, and you have to go work tomorrow too, so...
Wing Song, with lighthearted concern, laughed along with me.
So, I guess, kind of why there was some hesitation when we asked you to have an interview that will be viewed by millions across Equestria was this uncertainty of, um, how other ponies, particularly the ones you know, may react. Uh, what part of this is the biggest concern. Is it a change in behavior, or a change in thought, or what?
"I guess, well," Wing paused a quick moment to think. "Ponies are judgmental, and I don't want to be judged as the ex-con, I want to be seen with what I do now. I'm a senior mechanic at Honorson's Repair Shop, I'm a supervisor of other mechanics, I even hire, and I fire."
Heh, I think there'll be some mixed reactions with that last one. And again, I can't emphasize how great it is to have you here recording with us. I know it wasn't an easy choice, with all the prejudice going around against ponies who have made small mistakes in their lives.
"Definitely, a lot of prejudice," Wing Song added. "But that's partly why I made the choice to come, to disprove those ideas about ex-convicts like me who just need a chance to give back to society."
And I thank you for that. But there's got to be other things about you we can focus on. Every pony has at least two other things that make ponies interesting, so for the sake of your inevitable return to work tomorrow, what are some interesting things you do. Wing Song?
"Er... Well when I get off from work on Fridays I usually stay up a little later than usual writing books for charity, and-"
Hold on, that right there, I should stop you there, because that sounds far more interesting than you think it is. In fact, I hope every pony in Manehattan tomorrow could just focus on the fact that you write for charity, instead of the other stuff. Out of curiosity, what do you write?
"Well, I mentioned my brother earlier, and well, he has a little filly in school," Wing said, "but after starting school we found out that she had dyslexia. This was a few years ago, so I began reading into dyslexia and eventually went to college to learn about it professionally. At first I wrote little letters stories to my niece designed to help her become a better reader, until I finally got a book published in her honor. I followed this up with some participation at charities for this sort of thing, and now I do it regularly."
Definitely more interesting than the other stuff, by far. Well, thanks again so much for being here tonight, it was a pleasure speaking with you.
"Your welcome, I'm happy to contribute any way I can."
Recording Ends
