Response to Manner of Dying

This short story is comprised of nine letters from a warden of cantos correctional institution, in which record Kevin Barlow’s behavior of his final time.    

The first manner of dying: Kevin did not eat his last supper. Kevin Barlow didn’t avail himself of Father Preston’s service. He was agitated all night and did not sleep at all. Kavin saw Father Preston when service offered again in the morning. When walking down the corridor, he acted frightened and seemed incapable of walking. Doctor Lowe told him he would be painless in hanging. I offered him a cigarette and he did not smoke it. His last words are “Tell my mother I love her”. I shook his hands and wished him farewell. At 7:01 am, Kevin died painlessly.

The second manner of dying: For his last supper, he only ate potato. Kevin talked with Father Preston for twenty-one minutes. Kavin was clam throughout the evening and night and had some sleep. Kevin did not respond to Father Preston’s service in the morning. When we entered Kevin’s cell at 6:50 am, we found Kevin lying on the bed and Doctor Lowe declared he was dead. He took his own life by forcing down his throat a potato dropped into a sock. The estimate time of death was between 1 am and 3 am.

The third manner of dying: for his last supper, he did not touch his meal, except for the ice cream. Father Preston stayed with Kevin for sixteen minutes. Kevin was agitated and did not sleep all the night. He did not respond to Father Preston’s service in the morning beyond a burst of laughter and muttering. When we entered Kevin’s cell at 6:50 am and did some matters of routine before execution, Kevin was flushed and agitated. He kept laughing. I concerned for his sanity and Doctor Lowe said his laugher just due to the psychological stress. When I asked him to accompany me, he continued to laugh and did not move. Then, he complied. When walking down the corridor, he kept laughing and had difficulty staying on his feet. He was told he would be painless in hanging. I offered him a cigarette, but he kept laughing and ignored me. He did not leave last words. I attempted to shake his hands, but he always hid his hands, and I wished him farewell. At 6:58 am, he was died painlessly.

The forth manner of dying: For his last supper, he gobbled down the caviar and drank his champagne in a single draft. I authorized another half bottle. When it disappeared as fast as the first and he asked for the third, I said no. Kevin did not avail himself of Father Preston’s service. In the night, he was agitated and did not sleep at all. At 10:11 pm, I was informed that he wanted to see me. He asked me why we wasted his time and why he couldn’t be hanged right away. I explained to him and placated him with another box of cigarillos. When Father Preston’s service offered again, he said he preferred a topless waitress with a tray of drinks…..

I just want to summarize every letter and to find the differences and similarities at first. Er… That’s too much. So stop it. Let’s just talk about my thoughts. I am sure there was a man named Kevin Barlow who was executed. But what I am confused is why here have nine letters. Which one is really true and which one is Kevin’s true behavior of his last time. After reading this story, I know how prisoners act before they are doing to be executed. In this nine letter, it is noticeable that author is meant to emphasize what prisoners eat for their last supper in each letter. Several months ago, I have ever seen a series of pictures of prisons’ last supper which was shot by a New Zealand photographer named Henry Hargreaves. The last dinner is always given a lot of complex meanings. If I were them, I would have no appetite at all.