Wally - Hi.

Thanks for agreeing to correspond.

This letter will be brief, and I want you to destroy it as soon as you've read it. It's important that the other inmates don't realise you are exchanging letters with me. They wouldn't understand and might see it as a reason to victimise you. Prison life is very much about "us" and "them", remember that. You want to stay off their radar.

You must expect your letters to be read by prison staff, too.

So in future I want you to address me as William Lewis, and send your letters to me care of Lewis Classic Automotive, 517 E 73rd St NY.

Sorry for the subterfuge, but I have your safety in mind, as well as my own. Please destroy this letter now, don't delay.

Sincerely

Robert Goren

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Wally - thanks for your last. I guess it doesn't matter that you did tell one other inmate already, especially as the guy is on death row and most likely in solitary most of the time anyway. No, I don't know Mark Ford Brady. He was out of the picture before I joined my present place of employment.

"Alex" (she wants you to call her Alex in your letters, please) is delighted that you remembered her and asks you not to continue to fret over your exaggerated interest in what she was saying the last time you met her. I've given her a full and frank explanation of your condition and she now understands. Perfectly. Believe me.

That was bad, the theft of your Bible. Prison's a hard place Wally - you don't have privacy or security like you're used to when living on the outside. Please be careful. I've sent you another Bible (under separate cover) - it was mine in grade school but I don't need it any more.

Sincerely, William.

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Wally - thanks for your last letter.

Alex sends her regards. She apologises, but she doesn't think she'll be able to start corresponding with you as well; she's always very busy at work and with family matters. I know you'll understand. I'll keep her informed, tell her how you're doing.

Very pleased to hear Bible turned up safe. The new measures you have in place for safe storage sound good. Really, I don't need it any more. I can always get another if I change my mind.

No, I'm not having problems deciphering your handwriting; I only hope you can read mine. I'm not normally much of a social letter-writer. Touch typing wasn't a study subject on offer to me when I joined my present profession, as I am sure you can appreciate. Normally I ask my sister to type things for me, but these letters are private.

Sincerely, William.

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Hi Wally - thanks for your last -

Please find enclosed seven (#) xeroxed sheets - reproduction of recent article in Scientific American. It's about autism rather than Asperger Syndrome but I thought you might want to add it to your collection, anyway. I've highlighted one paragraph that I found especially illuminating.

Thank you, yes - Alex is very well. In fact, she told me she'll be having a baby in about 28 weeks' time. She'll be going on maternity leave from her place of work in about 24 weeks. I'm trying not to worry for her, because she hates it if I do that.

Yours, William.

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Wally - thanks for your last letter .

Hey, that's good news, that you can read my writing. Yes you're right. I'm left-handed. Very curious as to how you worked that out? I wish some of the people where I work were so understanding about my penmanship. Normally I prefer to work with forms that require NO WRITING, just boxes to check. So much faster, less room for misunderstandings or ambiguities. You know what I mean. I know you do.

Sorry to hear that the sudden changes to your daily timetable caused you such distress. Myself, I know I'd be driven half crazy by the monotony of prison routine and would be OK with any changes, but I appreciate that isn't the case for you. Try turning it round in your head, though - it could be an advantage for you, having such a high tolerance for repetition.

Enc. please find clipping from one of my sister's pregnancy magazines regarding breathing exercises and mental visualisation techniques that you can try using if you feel physically overwrought in that way again. You know, in lieu of a piano, I mean.

Destroy the magazine cutting when you have looked at it, please.

William.

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Wally - hello. Thanks for your last.

I appreciate it's sometimes hard for you to figure out what people are thinking and feeling just from looking at their faces. But you can learn how to do this, you can teach yourself. I know you'd already begun this process, on the 'outside'. Does the prison library have any books about body language or facial expression? Look in the fine arts section. There are some really good reference book on the human face and what it can do. I made enquiries - the prison has art classes. One book in particular caught my eye in Barnes and Noble - it's called "Facial Expressions: A Visual Reference for Artists" by Mark Simon. I bought a copy, actually. Even my sister looks at it, sometimes. Check it out.

That's good to hear that you might be able to have some kind of job whilst you're inside. The prison authorities would be stupid to ignore a man with your abilities. Have you ever seen a film called "The Shawshank Redemption"? Plus - the money you'll earn means you will be able to pay for stamps and materials for more letters. There are services available where you could ask to correspond with people other than just me. I mean, if you wanted to.

Are you keeping in touch with your children, Wally?

I was pleased to hear that the food where you are agrees with you so well. No, they cannot compel you to eat peas.

Regards, William.

ps Your calculations are right. Alex has left work now on maternity leave. I am waiting to hear how she is getting on.

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Wally

I'm arranging for a friend of mine to come and see you, to help get you a proper diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome, and to write you a reference for your getting a job inside Riker's. This might help make things easier for you. So, when you get a request for visiting from DR. EMIL SKODA, please agree to see him. He's a clinical psychologist. He is a man I like and trust.

May not be able to write for a couple weeks - really bad things happening at work. Sorry.

William.

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Wally - thanks for your letter. I'm well, thanks. I have someone new to work with. Like you, I don't like change very much. I know I said I hate routine, but change is the worst thing. It took me a long time to get used to things how they were, and now with someone new, it's very frustrating. I'm enclosing some information about a charitable program called "Books Behind Bars" which you might be able to look into in order to get some more books on the subject of facial expression and body language. My mother was a librarian. She's donated lots of books to this charity in the past.

I promise to tell you about Alex's baby as soon as I hear anything.

You didn't answer my question about keeping in touch with your children.

Write soon,

Your friend,

William.

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To Be Continued. I hope.