Prison Games

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Sophia smiled and slowly chewed her bread. Everyone grew still as they ate their meager meal. Sophia peeked at the big man. He seemed gentle. His kindness to others touched her deeply. He wasn't loud, nor did he demand any attention. He didn't complain or shout his innocence to anyone who would listen. He simply served others any way he could. By watching him, Sophia felt hopeful in a strange way. His acts of kindness seemed to confirm that the future would somehow get better. Then and there she made a decision. No matter what, she would hold her head up. She wouldn't let herself become bitter. No matter what the future held for her, she would be strong. She would make it through somehow.

At least she would try.

Blood Red

nce everyone had a little food in their stomachs, all settled down to rest Except for an occasional cough, and the faint trickle of water through the wall huge, bigger than Papa had been. She couldn't get over his large hands. There was no mistaking his red hair and beard, even though they were dirty and matted.

One thing puzzled Sophia. She saw the way the other men in the cell treated him, as as if they were scared to death of him. They kept their distance and their eyes on him. She wondered if something had happened in the cell between the men before she got there. She had not yet heard the rumors about "Blood Red."

If one was to listen to the other men, Red was the foulest, most depraved man ever to walk the earth. It was said he ate flesh! Word came down that a man and Blood Red had a fight. Before it was over, Red took a bite out of the man...and swallowed! It all made sense if you looked at him. He was huge, and all that red hair! After conferring with one another, they had no doubts as to Red's liking of flesh. Taking no chances, they took turns watching all through the night. That man-eater wasn't gonna sneak up on any one of them.

Red had noticed the other men watching him. They would murmur amongst themselves, then nod toward him. He sensed their fear but wasn't sure why they feared him. It really didn't matter as long as they left him and the others alone. He reflected on the mistakes he'd made that had landed him in Newgate. He was just one of many without a home or family. With shame he realized how he had stopped trusting in God and had taken matters into his own hands. There were hundreds without homes, families, or direction for their lives who had not ended up in a gaol. Red had direction and hope in the Lord, yet here he was.

He had traveled all over working wherever there was a job to be had. Being large for his age and very strong, he never had a problem finding work. As long as a body was willing to work hard, there was work to be found. James Patrick, or Red as he was called, was on his own since he was twelve years old. His parents died when their cottage caught fire. His father had taken him out and returned for his mother. He never made it out again. The boy was left alone with nothing. How old did that make him now? Red figured about twenty-six or seven. He had done everything from harbor work to being a stable boy. The longest lasting job he had was working on a farm for over eight years. It had been the closest thing to having a home of his own after losing his parents. He now understood it was the Lord who brought him and his second family together.

He was fourteen and, once again, looking for work. He saw a man in the fields trying his best to hoist a boulder from the soil. As quickly as possible, Red ran to help, and before too long the rock was out of the way. When the farmer asked what pay he wanted, Red responded, "Just a bit of bread would be appreciated."

He was invited to a hardy meal of beef, potatoes, carrots from the garden, biscuits right out of the oven, and tea. When he was certain it couldn't get any better, he was served hot apple slab! He hadn't eaten like that in months. Along with the food he was offered a job, and he thankfully accepted. Red wasn't sure how to respond when the farmer announced that the younger man was an answer to prayer. Since the man's only son was a toddler and his two daughters only seven and ten, he had been praying for help with the farm. Red had been called a few things in his short life but never "an answer to prayer."

The kind couple shared what they had with him, as did their three children. Roy O'Malley worked hard on his farm, gladly teaching Red all he knew. Picket O'Malley was a wonderful Christian woman. She was a cheerful wife and gentle mother. She treated Red as one of her own.

Each night after chores, the children were given reading and writing lessons. There were times when Red felt uncomfortable being older, but he was thankful for the chance to learn. Just before bed they were told Bible stories. It was then that Red became a Christian. He probably would have stayed with them forever, except they lost the farm to a crooked banker. In the midst of being forced off their land, the O'Malleys had told Red of the plan God had for their lives. Oh, they were angry for sure, but once they sought the Lord, they asked for His blessing on the banker. They encouraged Red to do the same to trust in the Lord as they would do. The eight years he spent with the O'Malleys rooted him for what lay ahead of him...or so he thought.