Today was officially my first day working as a full-time janitor.  The prison's administration calls my job a "porter".  But janitor or custodian is more appropriate.

 

     Much of my work consists of washing and disinfecting the eating tables, sweeping the dayroom and other areas of the building, then mopping the steps and floors.  I also do a lot of dusting.

 

     There are windows to wash, too.  And I and the five men I work with take our turns cleaning the utility sink area.  But I don't mind doing these things as I like to work with my  hands. 

 

Most of all, however, when I am done with my chores, I can go back to my cell to pray, read or write.

 

     In addition, when I begin my janitorial duties in the mornings one of the first things that I do is use a powerful disinfectant to sterilize the telephones.

 

     We have two telephones which have to be shared among sixty-eight men.  I had long since taken the initiative on my own to clean the phones, wiping the entire booths with the disinfectant and a damp cloth.  Over time many of the men have told me how much they appreciate this as the receivers with their mouthpieces can be a big source of germs.

 

     Overall, being a porter can be  monotonous work, yet it's also humbling.  I have to clean up the messes that other people make.  But as a Christian I am called to be a servant.  This job, therefore, is good training.

 

                                   David Berkowitz

                                   November 8, 2004

 

 

(c) 2004  David Berkowitz