Pleasure To Serve

||-|| Two ||-||

  I rinsed my body with the cold water, shivering a bit before snatching my towel and quickly drying off. I stepped into the warm orange pants and shirt, moving the towel over my head and getting rid of the excess water. I dropped it into the bin as I stepped in line to be escorted back. Bonez was devouring a zebra cake while reading the same book I was earlier. 

  “ And make sure you mark my page. “ I reminded him. 

  “ I did. Gotta’ ‘lil glaze on it. “ we both chuckled. “ You heard anything back ‘bout yo’ date? “ 

  “ Nothin’ at all. How ‘bout you? “ 

  He nodded. “ I see the judge in two weeks. He say whether they gone’ drop my charges or not. “ 

  “ Better than nothin’. “ 

  “ True. “  he took another bite from the cake. “ So whatchu’ think life gone’ be like for us? “ 

  “ Whatever you want it to be. “ I grunted as I sat down. “ New beginnings ain’t so lost on me. “ 

  “ The press f**k up yo’ image? “ 

  “ It’s a given, but the workforce ain’t s**t anyway. I was takin’ my savings and investin’. “ 

  “ Wish somebody woulda’ sat my unloved ass down and told me sum’. “ 

  A scream of torment pierced the silent air of the pod, sending everyone to their doors trying to figure out what was going on. Whomever it was had a plan and was carrying it out. Fully. You could hear the weapon piercing through their flesh, even over their roaring screams. The specialty officers rushed inside, heading up the stairs and leaving us all to play the waiting game. You could hear them yelling for the gentleman to drop the weapon before they arrested him and walked him down the stairs. I mentally cursed once I saw that it was one of the dudes loyal to Bonez. I knew exactly what this meant. 

  The next morning, it was silent. We all watched TV in silence, existed in silence, and everyone was just reserved and to themselves, which was very odd. I should have known it was the calm before the storm. I looked to my left, seeing Warden Johnson talking to some of the other Officers while looking directly at me. 

  “ f**k. “ I mumbled. 

  “ Wassup? “ Bonez looked past me. 

  He rushed through the door, yelling my name and telling me that I had one minute to get my things because I was moving. Bonez had jumped up, ready to attack Warden Johnson but I quickly talked him down before handing him over to the boys. I rushed into the room, collecting toiletries and my mattress, placing them outside. 

  “ I ain’t got all day, Thomas. “ he yelled as I walked into the cell for the last time. “ Lockwood? “ 

  “ Slim, f**k him, you ain’t gotta’ leave. “ he almost began arguing with me. 

  “ I ain’t got no choice, Bonez! “ I yelled.  

  He placed his forehead against mine as the tears rolled down my face. “ Slim, tell me I’m dreamin’. I gotta’ be dreamin’. “ 

  “ Look, “ I looked up into his eyes. “ just ‘cause I’m gone, don’t mean this over. Before you know it, we’ll be outta’ this place and livin’ our lives together. You hear me? “ 

  “ Loud and clear, baby. “ he hugged me tightly, making it even harder for me to let go and walk away. “ You mine, don’t fuckin’ forget it. “ 

  “ I could never. “ 

  “ Thomas? “ he was getting impatient. 

  I gave his lips one last peck before grabbing the last of my s**t and rushing from the cell. Warden Johnson walked me from the cell block, leading the way until we had reached block H. I was heavily disappointed. It wreaked of piss and balls, and the vibe was everything but pure and laid back. He waited for the door to be buzzed open before he pushed me inside and pointed to room five, which was completely bare. I tossed the mattress onto the bed and placed the other stuff down, sighing in relief, then curling up into a ball in the corner of the bottom bunk. Everyone sitting outside glanced to the room now and then as they conversed, and went on about their days. I had to get myself together. I was no longer protected by Bonez, so I would have to move different now. 

  “ The f**k you cryin’ for? “ he placed is hands on his nonexistent hips, c*****g his neck to one side as he looked at me from the door frame. “ Getcho’ ass out hea’ and mingle. “ 

  “ Thanks, but I’m good. “ I brushed him off. 

  “ Aight, don’t say I ain’t try and help you. “ he turned to twist away and I rolled my eyes. I stood up from the metal frame, fixing my face and giving myself a second before I closed the door and walked into the mix of inmates. I sat next to the man who was sitting alone, reading his book. I looked back to the strangers who were looking in my direction. 

  “ You do got some sense. “ he chuckled, turning the page and continuing his reading. “ Don’t trust these fools, they ain’t no good. “ 

  “ I ain’t lookin’. “ I assured him, turning my attention to the television. 

  The pale man with the trimmed ginger hair came walking over to the table. The tattoos decorating his body told me his life story without him having to speak. His blue eyes caught mine as he flashed me his smile, which was charming as ever. He sat down beside me, attempting to speak but not being able to form the words. 

  “ I ain’t that fine, now. “ I giggled as he did the same. He rubbed his chin, just like a fuckboy would. 

  “ They call me Ginger, who you? “ his tricky accent told me he was from Florida. The very dirty south. It tickled my ears. 

  “ Just call me Slim. “ he dapped me up, looking me up and down. 

  “ Well, Slim, I’ll see you out on the rec yard. “ 

  The Officers began rounding us up, leading us in a single file line into the Georgia air. I opted to just sit down on the bleachers and observe. That would be the best and safest tactic right now. 

  “ So who is who? What I need to know? “ he was still reading his book. I hadn’t thought to even ask him his name. 

  “ The only one you need to be worried ‘bout is the big, buff one. “ he waved his finger towards the court, pointing at the powerhouse who just dribbled the ball and went in for a shot. He was about the same height as Bonez, six two, same build, same aura. He oozed that gangster guava, but I saw him for who he really was. Just like Bonez, he wouldn’t be a threat to me. 

  “ That’s the last one I’ma be worried ‘bout. “ I sucked my teeth. 

  “ Boy, don’t start that funny s**t. “ he laughed. “ That’s Misty, and Misty beat niggas up for a livin’, literally. Once you on his bad side, nothin’ will be normal for you again. “ 

  “ I ain’t tryna’ get on his bad side. “ 

  “ Oh naw, he don’t go that way. “ he looked at me, seeming threatened. 

  “ As I said, I ain’t worried ‘bout gettin’ with him. “ I assured him once again, trying not to catch an attitude. “ And what’s yo’ name? “ 

  “ Gutta. “ 

  “ Gutta, I’m Slim, and I ain’t chasin’ after none of these ‘lil boys. “ 

  “ The oracle says otherwise. “ he scoffed. 

  “ The oracle? Who and what the f**k is that? “ 

  “ Jail gossip, dummy, that’s how we all found out how wrapped around yo’ finger Bonez was. “ he rolled his neck as he waved his finger once again, this time, closer to my face. I was tempted to slap him silly, but I wouldn’t do such a thing, especially when that’s exactly what the Warden wants. Mrs. Ros words were also replaying in my mind. I got s**t to lose. From the looks of him, he doesn’t. 

  “ People talkin’ ‘bout s**t they don’t know about. “ I looked back to the basketball court, watching them bump into each other as they scattered around. 

  “ You catch mo’ flies with sugar. “ he looked me up and down. 

  “ Okay, wassup with this sissy ass attitude? “ 

  He looked at me like I was crazy, saying nothing and shooing me away with a ‘boy bye’. I pushed myself off the bleachers, walking over to the side of the court and sitting down to watch the men some more. Suddenly, the ball had bounced right over to me and I caught it, tossing it back to the gentleman. 

  “ Jump in, Slim. “ Misty nudged his head.