Prisons, cops, and bears

He would tell them how it was. 

As a manager, he was used to settling cases and convincing people he was right. So contrary to what his lawyer had advised him, he would argue his own case in court. 

Although he did otherwise wear a tight suit in board meetings instead of these jail pajamas he had had on his body for three weeks since his arrest for attempted bribery, he was confident of his case. 

Soon he would be allowed to take off his uniform and kick the orange slides off his feet, and like a free man he could once again choose what to wear. Unfortunately for him, things turned out completely differently. 

After he made a fool of himself and the judge undercut all his arguments, he retreated to the back of the courtroom. 

Meanwhile, his lawyer tried to patch up the pieces. But the harm had already been done. As tears rolled down his cheeks, he prayed for a happy ending, then humbly and dejectedly stood beside his lawyer to hear the verdict.

That was harsh: 5.5 years of incarceration in a low-security prison. He could not believe that he would lose his freedom for so long and have to obey day after day. No privacy, living in dirty conditions, among other prisoners.... During the ride back to the local jail - from where he would be escorted to the state prison the following day - he had cried the entire ride. Nor could he hide that when he was photographed again for the adjustment of his criminal record: from suspect to convict.