An ex-con roommate of mine took some of my bananas that I was waiting to be ripe enough for a meal. He then coated it in ketchup and black pepper and then told me that it was going to blow my mind with how good it is. That one of his buddies from the Rikers cafeteria made it for him.

He encouraged me to take a bite and eagerly watched. He asked me what it tastes like, and I told him, “like bananas, ketchup, and pepper.” He looked confused and took a bite. I watched his child-like joy melt away to reveal true sadness.

“I guess it tasted better in prison,” he said.