Last year I had a bad episode last year with my house. I had a bad reaction to a medication the doctor gave me and I thought someone was trying to kill me. I had everyone worried that I was going to hurt them or hurt myself. It was so bad I almost lost my apartment at Room In The Inn.
Thank God Room In The Inn is so understanding. When all this happened, they gave me the option to let someone come into my room three times a week and help me straighten it up. I had to get rid of a whole lot of stuff. I’m going to say I got rid of at least $3,000 or more worth of items. It hurt the pocket, but I love my room now. You ought to see it, compared to what it was.
I have a lady named Miss Pat who, through the Room in the Inn, helps me still go through my food sometimes, help me throw food away that’s bad. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see the expiration dates because they are so small. So, Room in the Inn has done so much for me. They actually saved my life twice before this so letting Miss Pat come in and get me and my home back in order was the third time. They said, “We know there’s something in you that’s good. We want another William to come back here.”
And I said, “I do, too. I don’t like this William. Let’s do it.”
So, we’ve done it. And things have gotten so good now that they use me as a spokesman when people come in for an interview from schools or colleges. They also use me as ambassador. I’ve got an ambassador badge when I volunteer. Evidently, I must be a good spokesman because they keep calling on me every time they see me. I do go as far as saying I used to do crack cocaine, but I got off on drugs. Well, I did! And I want people to know. It’s as hard as you want it to be, not as hard as you think it could be.
Back then I broke into a place three times in one day. When I went back, I had tattoos on my head, and I made sure they were all visible so the police would know it was me who did it. When they came to arrest me I had already nailed my windows down, left my keys, and said goodbye to that apartment. I don’t regret that. The only thing I regret is, when I went to prison, I was trying to get a low sentence, to get off drugs. But I got a 10-year sentence, and it goes on my record.
Back then, I neglected to eat. I neglected to go to my doctor’s appointments. I didn’t care about myself. Now, I love the hell out of myself. I love people. I love meeting people. That’s another thing with The Contributor, they gave me all these opportunities with meeting people, selling my paper, singing, playing spoons — that’s a dream come true. Y’all made my dream come true.
I love The Contributor, I love the Room In The Inn and I love the church. The church means the world to me. If I have any problems, the people help me figure them out. I just want to say thanks for listening, out there, to my story. If you like my story, get in touch with The Contributor newspaper, and give me some feedback. I’ll take any kind of feedback, good or bad.