'Sharp' from Chackhill Estate

Jarome Lincoln entered Wormwood Scrubs, Du Cane Road, London W12, in the year of 2010. Age wise, he was twenty years old. Jarome was sentenced and convicted for cutting a man’s throat, with a shaving knife (blade). Even though it was carried out in self-defense, the man died from his actions. The actual event took place, one evening in August of 2010, in front of Chackhill Estate in Wembley. That fateful day, while Jarome Lincoln and his gang joked and talked, a group of punks and skinheads, started to voice out abuses and racial remarks at them, and dared them for a fight. Nothing took place, until one of them threw a beer glass at their group, which ignited the fight. During the turmoil, one of the drunk skinhead charged with an iron pole at him. In defense, he lashed out with a right handed upward stroke of his shaving knife, which resulted in the skinhead throat being slit open. Jerome Lincoln was known as ‘Sharp’ to his friends and foe alike, for carrying such a weapon. The skinhead died in Wembley Hospital, while he and his gang, including all the skinheads and punks, were rounded up, by the police officers. He was sentenced to five years in prison, for his part in the fight. Some of his colleagues received three to five years, suspended sentences with community work, while others got suspended sentences only. He did not put much thought on the skinhead and punks sentences.

A life in Wormwood Scrubs, better known as the ‘Scrubs’, made him realize the facts of life. All his so-called friends had forsaken him, and not even a letter, card or phone call from them. While his mother would be the only person, who took a long tube ride, up to East Acton, to visit him at least once a week, while Fridays were closed for visiting. Life was tough in the ‘scrubs’, and time passes slowly. He works in D wing, in the kitchen, while accommodation was in E wing. At least, he got single cell accommodation. He consoled himself in the ‘scrubs’, as a second chance in life to secure some qualifications. Unless one was occupied from morning till night, idle minds could create problems, which can mean longer extended sentences. While he tried his best to remain aloft, problems followed him. The ‘scrubs’ can be a dangerous place at every turn and corner.

Even though not reported by the media, homosexual assaults are rampant, and drugs can be made available under certain conditions. Taking a shower, eating, and even exercising, are coupled with problems. One thing he learnt from the Estate, which can be applied, was not to take any bullshit from anyone, and to retain one’s self- respect.  He would fight, and inflict much damage, to anyone who crosses him. Even a wrong glance or negative stare will be defended to the full. He had spent quite a few reprimand solitary refinements, to uphold his prestige. He believes that, there can be no gains without pains. At least now he can be left alone, due to nasty damages to others, who would cross him. A young twenty years old, can be venerable in the ‘scrubs’, unless well defended. Smoking was a luxury, and this had made him loose this bad habit. Another cost saving act.

Nowadays, it is well known in the ‘scrubs’, not to cross ‘Sharp’ in any way. He also tries his best not to get close to anyone. He spends most of his spare time reading or studying for his ‘O’ Levels, otherwise work in D wing, rest of his remaining time will be his sleeping period. Killing time is one big hurdle inside, suppose it’s the main idea of prison. ‘Sharp’ thought of things, which he never questioned before. According mother, he was born in Chalkhill Estate, in the same apartment, as it is today. He and his mother, share an apartment, on 8^th floor, at no.27, which got two bedrooms. In all accounts, born and bred in London, he is British, through and through. Parents were Black, from the island of Jamaica, ‘Sharp’ was told that his father was from Montego Bay, and mother from Port Royal. They met during a Brixton Youth Council meeting and stayed at no.32 Mervan Road, London SW2, before moving to a council flat in Chalkhill Estate, at Wembley. He had never met his father, and mother told him that his surname is from his mother’s. ‘Sharp’ is quite angry with his father, for letting his mother raise him by herself. He does not want to ever meet his father, while mother did say that, he is so much like his father. Tall, well built, quiet spoken and willing to pick a fight on any provocation. Something’s are gene related, I suppose.

Mother today is quite heavy and slow, while he can see that, she must have been a beautiful lass, when she was young. There is proof according to old black and white photographs, taken at Brixton. Her name is Vicky Lincoln, and works at Wembley Hill Post Office at no.325 Harrow Hill Road. Lunch for him meant, a few slices of bread with what ever left over in the fridge, or with egg or peanut butter, if there were none. Mother cooks curry and rice, Jamaican style, which was always delicious, for dinner in the evenings, around eight o’clock. While at Copland Community School, he had two close friends. One was Luke Brunswick, an Anglo Burmese, who he hardly saw nowadays, due to his further education somewhere. Another is Victor Beachcroft, who is black like him, also with no qualifications, sailed away into the sunset, as it were. He became a merchant seaman, whom he never saw again. Understand from his mother, living on 21^st floor, that he is now a Third Officer onboard a tanker, belonging to a Hong Kong owner, in Far East somewhere. Today, he’s got no one else, except his kind mother. Blood is thicker than water.

He never had close friends who were white, somehow they did not click to him. While in school, they never liked him, and he does not like them, either. They all gave him a wide berth, due to his blade, and called him ‘Sharp’ also. He is in the opinion, that white folks sucked the blood of his ancestor lands, and called it empire, and many black men sacrificed their lives, for the crown. Nowadays, the blacks are accepted into their cherished country, and again, to be treated as second-class citizens. In schools also, blacks were diplomatically given a freehand, while education was concentrated to their white folks only. He does not say it, but he feels this is all racism.  

Here in the ‘scrubs’, three of his tutors are white, but he got on well with them. Their names are Mr. Hughes, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Cooper, they are in here for theft with fire and imitating fine arts . Mr. Hughes and Mr. Jenkins tutored him on English Literature and Physics, which he sat after one year and passed. The next year, ‘Sharp’ concentrated on Mathematics and English Language, his tutor, an Indian, by the name of Mr. Gupta. He explained it so well, easy to understand, and not difficult to address the questions under a right frame of mind. He sat the examinations, and passed both English Language and Mathematics, got two more ‘O’ levels. In his third year, he wanted to have some break from studies, thus seek the help of Mr. Cooper, another white chap, in the ‘scrubs’ for selling imitation masterpieces. Mr. Cooper is an old man with grey wiry hair, always humming a tune, taught him to draw, appreciate depth, the effects of different brush strokes, mixing colours, and how to choose subject matters, and how light played on a picture. ‘Sharp’ tried his luck on ‘O’ Level Art, and passed with good grade. 

These acquaintances made him rethink his perceptions, and came to the conclusion that, there are always bad and good side, to each person. His tutors are all inside for a crime, and yet they possessed vast knowledge, and capable of kindness and good deeds, no matter the colour of one’s skin, and more importantly, willing to share their knowledge, in a manner, the other party is able to absorb with ease. All men are good under the right circumstances, there will always be a bad apple, no matter whether you are white, black, yellow, brown, blue or pink. Without thinking, he also has turned to religion, where he found solace in the Holy Bible and the church. In the ‘scrubs’, all are numbers and addressed as such, by the guards. His was 723856, however, he addressed the inmates by their names, which they appreciated. They maybe criminals, but they are individuals too.

One day, he was called in by the warden and informed, his sentence had been reduced to three and the remainder two years to be on suspended sentence coupled with community work. The achievement of qualifications helped, plus being labeled a model inmate, must have carried some weight.

On the day of his release, his mother was outside the gates with tears of joy in her eyes, and her lips were East to West, all smiles, and said, "Congratulations son, you made me so proud."

With those words he hugged his mother and walked hand in hand, to Acton East Station for their journey back to Wembley Park Station, thence a short walk back to Chackhill Estate. To ‘Sharp’, the prison was his second chance in life, in a way, he was thankful for his time in the ‘scrubs’, not that he would recommend anyone, to do the same. The first thing he did outside in the real world, on his release, was to write a short note each, to Mr. Hughes, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Gupta and Mr. Cooper, and thanked them for their tuition and coaching with much appreciation, and hoped his qualifications will turn him, into a new man. Letters means a lot in prison. The ‘scrubs’ inmates were at least a third, black like him, and he strongly believes that, with an extra mile from the authority, some will be able to turn a new leaf, and not be back within five years, at the courtesy of Her Majesty’s Prison Service.

Next day, ‘Sharp’ reported to Brent County Council, who referred him to Wembley County Council. There, he had a long chat with his probation officer, who seems to know a bit about him. ‘Sharp’ explained that he would like to become a Social Worker, when his mandatory community work period expires. He is aware that he still needs two ‘A’ levels, which he intends to accomplish through night school. Mrs. Barnett listened patiently, and explained to him a few ways he could secure his goal. Meantime, he can assist her daily job, and also visit some of her clients, and do a beat around Chackhill Estate. ‘Sharp’ liked the idea, and reported each morning to her. His first stint, entails accompanying her to the police station, and taking statements from offenders. The job was quite taxing, sometimes writing in long hand, on behalf of offenders when their writing skill was lacking. It seems to be the case most of the time. More than half the offenders were young black kids, some still in school, some were dropouts, and some already left school, like he once was. With no real prospects, they did not care much, where they would end up. Borstals were a place to sleep, and time to recoup their energy. Not much different from home, where their parents, if they had any, does not really care much about them, either. Some of them were in same or worst situation as them. Some were drunks, and, or, drug addicts, just looking for a quick buck, to satisfy their habitual fixes. He would have long talks with them, as he spoke their language. He would emphasis to them, about the need for qualifications. If they left school, he would urge them to attend night school, for sure, this world would not stop, and make time for them. It’s a cruel world, but that’s how life, really is. ‘Sharp’ is a great believer in prevention, and cure is not the answer. If worked, would save a lot of taxpayer’s money.

Office work meant, registering in and out mails. Filing of cases, under their respective alphabets, taking calls and noting them for her, and anything Mrs. Barnett throws at him.  If the work get tough, ‘Sharp’ would remind himself, that this life is, a thousand times better, than to be in the ‘scrubs’. He’s been schooled in prison, and also street smart, therefore, he made sure, he is not on the wrong side of Mrs. Barnett. ‘Sharp’ never complained about overtime, and he always sports a smiling face, and showed that he’s a willing worker.

Mrs. Barnett is Jewish by religion, and have three children. She’s around forty- five, and her husband is a London taxi ‘black cab’ driver. Money wise, she is doing not too bad, children are all grown up and with worthwhile careers. The girls are both married, and live with them. The eldest son works for Thames Gas, and lives in Neasden area. She attends the synagogue on Saturday mornings, and ‘Sharp’ would step in her council office, just to make sure all is well, not that he needs to, being a holiday. She did not pass any comments, however, did give him a Parker ball pen set, blue and red, for Christmas.

The communal work continued. He would set his mind to whatever Mrs. Barnett asked him to do. He spent his time between Police stations, the courts, hospitals, council offices and client’s place of residence. In the evenings, he would cook at home for himself and his mother, when not attending night classes. It usually meant, rice with readymade meat sauce, hot soup with baguette, Korean instant noodles with fried egg sunny side up, fish and chips or Chinese food take away (from round the corner). His mother was just happy to eat anything prepared, cooked, or arranged by him. In the evenings, they would sit and watch television, while he passed rubbish and useless comments, and his mother would smile and laugh, which he dearly loves to watch, full of contentment. After his mother turned in for the night, he would hit the books for his ‘A’ Levels in 2015. He wants to prove this black man also got brains.

‘Sharp’ remembered Mr. Gupta, once commented that he had a mentor by the name of Mr. Chopra, living in Toley Avenue, at North Wembley. ‘Sharp’ checked him out, and found Mr. Chopra to be living at no.20 Toley Avenue. Mr. Chopra is in his seventies, living with his daughter and her family. A rounded man, who likes to try his hand on horse racing, with a pile of Sporting Life newspapers stacked by his room. ‘Sharp’ explained who he is, and how heard of him through Mr. Gupta in the ‘scrubs’, and would be appreciative for his tuition on ‘A’ level, Mathematics and Additional Mathematics.

Mr. Chopra said, "No problem old boy, I’ve got all the time in the world. Mathematics is my passion since India", then continued "Can you make it twice a week, say from seven p.m. to nine p.m., bring your textbooks along, I don’t charge, passing on my knowledge is my love."

The mathematic books lining his bookcase, said it all. With that said, he religiously went for tuition every Tuesday and Thursday. Mr. Chopra is just one station away from him, at Preston Road. On his next visit, he must remember to by a box of jalebi, from the high road, for Akuti and her family.

On walking bristly back from Wembley Park Station, one evening, he noticed that, the gangs loitering around Chackhill Estate had gone, ‘Sharp’ saw more cctvs, more brightness to the walkways, extra lights on his old haunts, and also self policing groups from the Estate. This made him smile, the residents at last, has regained their landscape and prices must have gone up, due to attractiveness of the council flats. It is a nice place to stay and bring up a family.

During his communal work probation period, while taking an offender to Middlesex Hospital, Accident & Emergency ward, with head to be stitched up, he met a nice looking blackbird in the form of a nurse. She looked cheerful and competent in her work, and she observed that he was staring at her.

She said, "Hi, I’m from the land of Liver Birds, except that I’m black", then she chuckled. She sounded with an accent, similar to the Beatles.

He still continued to stare.

She added, "To you, that’s Birkenhead, across the River Mersey, from Liverpool side."

Then ‘Sharp’ remembered, the anthem of Liverpool Football Club, ‘You’ll never walk alone’, also recorded by Gerry and the Pacemakers, and replied, "Ta, that’s nice to know. Yes, thanks a million."

Still, ‘Sharp’ has to finish his two years of community work.