Prison Games

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Mary's brow crinkled. "I be 'ere twice afore. It be a 'ard thing to say. One time they jest let me out with nary a word said. The next time a gaoler 'isself said 'e would have me quartered if I come back, then 'e let me out again. I think they 'ave enough to worry 'bout sides an ol' woman such as I be, but now I be 'ere again. My mind worries a bit, Sophia. If they know I be 'ere afore, they could keep me 'ere a long time."

This new cell became home to the women for quite some time. Other good things

came their way. The women were assigned jobs, making the days more bearable. At daylight a bell would ring, and the women went out to another room to wash and dress. After they straightened up their makeshift beds, they were led to work. They were assigned to various jobs. Some worked in the kitchen; others cleaned corridors, sewed, or did laundry, depending on their capabilities. Some of the women were taken to factories, but Sophia and Mary were ordered to do kitchen work. They were relieved to find they would be together. It was hard work but satisfying. It was such a relief to have something to fill the long hours.

Sophia, Mary, and other kitchen workers were first to rise in the morning to get food ready. They worked through breakfast, which consisted mostly of gruel and dry bread. After breakfast and clean up, they went to chapel for thirty minutes. Afterwards they went back to work through lunch...more gruel. When cleanup was finished, they were allowed to walk a bit outside in the "pen," taking in fresh air. There was a short rest period before the evening meal had to be prepared and served. Finally, after all the meals were done for the day, the kitchen was cleaned and set up for the next day. After the day's work, some of them had visitors, but most were locked up until the next morning.

Their routine was the same day after day. Sleep came quickly in spite of the harsh conditions. Time wore on endlessly, and the women forged friendships. They found strength in one another and safety in numbers. They took it upon themselves to pester the gaoler for brooms and buckets to clean up their areas. Once they were given those things, they insisted on getting clean hay.

The gaoler would complain but usually gave in to their demands. "Blimey, 1 gets this job ter get away from my ol' woman at 'ome 'cause she nags me ter death. Now I got ten more women naggin' after me 'ere! Be enough to drive a man to rum."

Sophia experienced a strange sense of contentment in her daily life. She wasn't nearly as frightened as she had been. The days ran together, and time was of no significance. She had no idea what day or month it was. She focused on keeping fit but noted she was getting thinner. She knew that was because of the physical work, but mostly because of the lack of proper food. Although she worked in the kitchen, she was watched closely. No one received extra food...no one.

A good piece of time passed until a different day from the rest dawned. The women

were not let out for work or chapel.. As they stood around speculating, they were startled when a man came to the gate and yelled out, "All right, come forward and step out! Step to; ain't got all day! Line up

ere and stop that blabberin"." The gaoler lined the women up, then led them down the long dank hallway. They made a sharp turn into another room. Everyone was surprised to see the room clean and bright. Sunshine washed over the walls, floors, and their faces. As soon as their eyes adjusted, they saw buckets of water on a heavy table. A second table held folded material. They stood together, not knowing quite what to do.

Again the gaoler barked, "Line up 'ter git yer 'eads shaved!" "No!" one of the women shouted. A few others protested as well. They had been taught all their lives that their hair was their glory. Many had never had their hair cut before.

"Yas ain't got no choice in the matter, an' I ain't got all day. This be done whether yas wants it to be or not. Now somebody better go sit in that chair."

One of the older women slowly walked over and sat down. Another man stepped forward. He had scissors, razor, soap, and a razor strap in hand. After cutting the

woman's hair short, he proceeded to shave her scalp. The room grew quier.

"Why would they do that to us?" Sophia whispered Mary. "Ain't got no idea, Sophia, girl. Ne'er 'ad it done afore the other times I be 'ere." Sophia wanted to bolt as panic seized her, but there wasn't anything she could do.

How many other humiliations would they have to endure?

A few of the women protested again until the gaoler threatened them. Others just cried softly. One by one the women's heads were shaved. Once that task was completed, they were instructed to bathe and put on clean clothes. "Ain't ya ever seen water afore?" the gaoler barked when the women didn't move.

They were not about to undress with him there.

"Git away with ye now, ya filthy bloke!" Mary snapped. The jailer sniffed, spit, then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Turning to Mary, he

snarled, "Tain't as though I want to be lookin' at an ol' heifer such as ye." The women informed him they would only bathe after the men left. Once the women's heads were shaved, the gaoler started to walk out, only hesitating enough to

make sure the women weren't already undressing.

"I be just outside the door if ye tarts get any ideas 'bout runnin'. Or could be yas

want me ter wash yer backs fer yas?" His lips curled back in a sneer, showing his

blackened teeth.

The women touched their heads. It was true; their long locks were gone. The high pile of hair verified that. Their "glory" lay there in the hay. They stood staring at the pile for a time. Slowly, one of the women kneeled to pick some of the hair up. "Seems like I've just lost an old friend," she whispered.

Mary, seeing a blanket, picked it up. "Come, lass, and 'elp me 'old this," she spoke to the woman kneeling. "Sophia, come and bathe while we 'old this up fer ya."

Each woman took her turn holding the blanket. There were only three buckets of water along with a sliver of soap to wash, so they had to share. Sophia took great pleasure in feeling a little cleaner. She made a mental note never to take a bath for granted again. They found the material on the table to be clean shifts to replace their filthy dresses. All were the same size, causing some women to drown and some to squeeze into them. When one of the women found an extra shift, she tore some material from it for a scarf. Sophia made herself a scarf along with a belt.

Time dragged by as they awaited news of what would happen next. There had to be

a reason for the clean clothes and bath. "Could it be we are going to be set free?" one of the women whispered with hope in her voice.

"Nay." Mary shook her head. "They not shave our 'eads or give out clothes and

water last time I was 'ere. They jest open the door and shew ol' Mary out." "Maybe we are to be taken to see the magistrate," another woman offered.

That was the better guess, Sophia thought. Just then the gaoler came back with two other men. "All right, ya tarts; come this

away and make it quick!" The women formed a line, but this time they were shackled together. The gaoler led them out with two other turnkeys bringing up the rear. The women labored up some stairs, then turned out to a courtyard. Everyone visibly straightened once they stepped into the fresh air and sunshine. How sweet the air smelled. They had breathed in stench for so long their lungs couldn't seem to fill enough. Sophia couldn't believe how chilled she felt without her hair. Turning, she looked back at where they had just come from. It was amazing to have such filth and freshness so close together. The softness of a bird singing caused a tear to fall. How she loved being outside. A deep longing gripped her heart as she once again thought of home...her home that was no more.

The women were instructed to get into a cart. It proved to be difficult with the shackles, but they helped one another. Once all were loaded, the horses plodded along. "Wesley," the gaoler barked, "watch the ol' lady. She's crazy and mean. She almost castrated one of the men with her bare hands a time ago."

The man called Wesley turned to eye Mary. "Don't worry; she gives me any

trouble, and we'll rope an drag er." Mary stared straight ahead.

The cart lumbered through tall gates onto a city street. People scurried out of the way. Sophia would never get used to the noise of the city. The sounds of people and horse's hooves echoed off the stone buildings. Filth ran in the streets, but it could not compare to the gaol. Even so, this was a rare treat for the women. It would have been most enjoyable, had it not been for the situation they were in. Stares and jeers from some of the people didn't help either. One thing they did know for sure: they were going to find out what their futures held soon. Little comfort was found in that knowledge.