The Lime Ruby

There was a man already in his cell. George looked up at the number fitted above the door and then down in front again. A wing, room 45. He then looked around the other cells on his wing, each cell looked alike. George thought he should try and catch Mr Thomas, the guard who brought George to his cell. “Is this my cell sir?” George asked Mr Thomas. The prison guard looked at George and smiled as he walked away. George then looked ahead and saw the man who was standing in his cell. “Hi, I’m George”, George said brightly to the man in the cell holding out his arm to shake hands. The man just stared at George while standing in front of the doorway which leads into the cell. The man took his hand, looking confused and hassled. “Kimoto” said the man George entered and stood near the door. He observed the cell. The cell was small, about 7-8 feet by 12 the most with bunk beds on the right, a metal sink which has seen better days on the left and a small slide window with bars covering it behind the bunk beds. There was a small television on a stand next to the door and a storage unit on the other side of the door. Kimoto was tall, broader than George with very short black hair. Kimoto gave George a nod as he laid back on the bottom bunk of the bed and closed his eyes. ”I took the bottom bunk,” he said. “Don’t touch or move my s**t, kay”. George nodded . When the door was shut by officer Thomas as he left, George climbed up onto the top bunk and sat on the bare mattress which was apparently his and tapped the back of his head on the cream coloured wall. He just needed to settle his nerves. He wanted to speak to his parents but he knew he didn’t have any phone numbers added onto his pins yet. Just then, officer Thomas opened George and Kimoto’s door and said ”George Stavro, you can make a telephone call”, officer Thomas was standing by the doorway and gave a glance towards George. Officer Thomas had auburn hair flopping in every direction and fair white skin. He turned to George and said “you coming?”, George nodded as he climbed town and followed Thomas out of cell 45. Soon after, as the cell door closed, Kimoto shook his head. Officer Thomas and George entered the landing officer which was as big as a standard garden shed. Officer Thomas sat by the desk and gave George a form which informed George of a temporary pin. George dialled his home telephone number followed by the pin. It rang. His mum picked up the phone. “Mum?” “George, is that you?” His mum asked with a cautious sound “It is,how are you mum?” “I’m fine my darling, how are YOU?” “I’m doing fine mum, I really am sorry, so sorry” “Don’t worry about that now, what’s happening, what have they said?” “I got two years, serving one The whole prospect is terrifying mum, please don’t make me do this alone” George pleaded “You're never alone” His mum said, giving out a massive sigh. “I love you” “I love you too mum, give dad and Louisa a kiss from me” “I will my darling” His mum replied and the phone closed, George reckoned the time cut them off As George began to walk out, back to his cell, he kept thinking that he couldn't wait for all this to end, for everything to be as it once was… Hopefully. George entered his cell and saw Kimoto laying on his bed. Kimoto was forty-one and used to live in Nebraska before he was sentenced a year ago, he was given a ten year sentence. He wouldn't say what for and George really didn’t want to find out either, things like that freaked him out, as they do. Kimoto had a weak Nebraskan accent which George found a little funny. “How was your call?” he asked. “It was alright” George said, beginning to climb the stairs which lead to his bunk bed. It did feel good to speak to his mum again, he missed her - He missed everyone, all three of them. Coming from a Greek Cypriot background, family was very important to him, and he really did miss everyone, his grandparents, his aunties, uncles, cousins. He also has a beautiful Golden Retriever at home as well called Dandelion who he loves to bits as well. ”You’ll be fine, trust me, you’ll be out before you know it kid” Kimoto sighed. “That’s a cliche” George said laughing. Now, when you arrive in prison, everyone is given a welcome bag, which includes; tea bags, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a box of protein bars, deodorant and a bar of plain chocholate. George found a place for everything in the built up place he is now calling home for a year.