Visits, p. 44-54 Summary

John and his family walk into the penitentiary. Annually, John comes with his family and his sister's family. He observes the prisoners. He can feel how the prisoners' eyes appraise everyone. He feels how the prisoners see children as sexual objects with their young, firm bodies. The prisoners look at the children like meat. John can feel the prisoners' paranoia and suspicion. Almost all the prisoners are black. They are like John, but they are bad. John owns up to the evil in himself to identify with them.

John tries to treat the prisoners like people, but they cannot reciprocate in this way. He is scared of them. He does not enjoy being seen entering or leaving the prison. John talks about a previous visit where he spends an hour in the visitors' lounge waiting for his brother. A...