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First Day Out By Demetrius 'Hook' Mitchell Actually before I even was released I had to humble myself because, Kicked Down Productions and Fader Films came and filmed my last two days of incarceration and for filming purposes they asked me to stay and extra hour and a half. I didn't hesitate for one second. Surely my fellow inmates could not understand my decision to hang around the prison any longer than I had to. Especially, since they knew how ready and anxious I was to go and start a new life. I have learned to be very patient. OK, the first reaction to society: The whole first day home hasn't dawned on me yet. I believe that all my time in prison was time that I was "on leave" and in an educational and apprenticeship program for bettering myself. For the most part I passed. I felt a difference during the ride home. I started having motion sickness, adding to the excitement of being around two superb individuals and leaving behind the psychological bondage I was a part of for 51 months. The first day went fast. Not because I was excited, but because of all things I was trying to digest inside of the 24 hours. Spending money for the first time in years was a great feeling. That was my first reality check of being out of prison because the state had provided for me the last 4 years. But that is only the beginning of the beautiful day. What excited me the most and was especially fulfilling was talking to the young hoop players at the slam-n-jam tournament at Contra Costa College in Richmond, on my way back to Oakland. This was only within three hours that I was thrust into this engagement. It was not preplanned. My feet were not wet yet and here I was talking to my cronies, Lou Richie, Oakland Soldiers basketball team and signing autographs on promotional cards of my film. I was blown back by the response of these kids and adults. It was very vibrating and actually unimaginable. My first day home was capped off with my family and close friends throwing me a dinner (it was filmed also). It was so special of an occasion that I didn't even have an appetite, no, I didn't even eat. Their company quenched my appetite. I was hungry for their love not for the food. I had eaten plenty for the past four years, but they feed my soul. You can only imagine my second day and my first day playing hoop. To be continued....... My destiny is: opportunity that meets Hooks preparation. I'll keep ya'll posted. Thank you all for your interest and support. Peace
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