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 walked through the infirmary door in early September 2005 for a checkup — the first time Michael had seen his son since the 17-year-old's arrest — the father's anger poured out.

A female guard urged William to hug his father, but neither moved toward the other.

"We don't have that type of relationship," Michael said.

Six or seven other inmates lingered around them. Michael was glad for the audience. He laid into William, as if they were alone in their living room.

"Neither one of us is supposed to be here," he told William. "But you especially are not supposed to be here.

"You promised me."