Second Chances

Colleen Jenkins: A sore back brought Michael Thornton to the jailhouse infirmary, but far worse problems plagued him.

He was in trouble — again. Even more devastating, his youngest son had gotten into trouble, too. Serious trouble. Somewhere in the jail, William was wearing the same inmate uniform.

Michael was anxious, sad, disappointed and scared for his son. Most of all, he was angry. For a guy who had made more than a few mistakes in his life, Michael was a perfectionist. He liked to give orders, and the person to whom he gave the most was William. William was his project, a chance to prove that at 48 he could still get it all right.

Now the project looked like a failure. And when William…