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An emotional JOURNEY 27 children and their guardians travel 100 miles by bus from a church in Soulard to a prison in Vandalia, Mo. They're going to see their mothers.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Story by Diane Toroian Keaggy

Seven-year old Tashanna Drummer rips into her bag marked "S" for snack. She chews marshmallow rope, slurps fruit punch and sucks on Jolly Ranchers. Two hours later, Tashanna is on the verge of vomiting. But now, the sugar sustains the happiness she has felt since the night before when her grandmother, Warneta Drummer, braided her hair for this special trip. She's going to see her mom in prison.

"It's so fun on the bus and I love the snacks and food and juices they give us so we won't be hungry and the coloring books and I can't wait until we get to prison so we can see our mom and I love her all of the time and I can't wait to see her," Tashanna says, finally taking a breath.

Tashanna and 26 other children and their guardians are taking a 2-hour bus trip from St. Vincent DePaul Church in Soulard to the Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Mo. For Tashanna and many others, this is their first trip in a year.

Sitting behind Tashanna are her little brother and sister, 6-year-old twins Xavier and Latavier.

Behind them is her grandmother, Warneta Drummer, who is trying - and failing - to get some sleep.

That's the story of her life. She had her first baby at age 12. Now, at 48, she's raising her daughter's four little ones. Tashanna's brother Lamonte, 10, is...

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