Pleasure To Serve

||-|| Four ||-||

  Early the next morning, Officer Niel came back to the cell, giving me the items I had requested. He would’ve stayed for a little morning nut, but the inmates were up and stirring so he decided to drop and leave. I held the cheap flip phone in my hand, laughing at how long it had been since I had a phone, let alone a phone like this one. I dialed the numbers, watching them pop up on the screen, double-checking them before pressing the green icon. 

  It rang three times before he picked up.

  “ Yo’, who this? “

  “ I knew yo’ ass would be up. “

  “ f**k, baby, Whatchu’ got goin’ on? “

  “ I’m bossin’ up like you. “

  “ At what cost? I see I gotta’ kill a muhfucka’! “

  “ Relax, daddy, you ain’t got nun’ to worry ‘bout. “

  “ I miss you, Slim. The boys been callin’ me carpal tunnel since you dipped. “

  We both laughed. The lights turned on in the jail, letting us know that the Officers would all be checking in soon.

  “ I love you, baby. “

  “ I love you too. “

  I hung up the phone, stuffing it inside one of the convenient cracks in the white cement blocks. I moved about my cell as the Officers rushed by, checking and being ruthless for no reason. Two hours later, I was off to pastry class and more excited than ever. I’ve been learning so much and it fueled my desire to finish and get the hell out of here.

  I pulled the chocolate cupcakes from the oven, sniffing them and instantly being filled with sudden happiness. I removed them from the pan, placing them on the cooling rack before walking over to the icing and stirring it one last time. Mr. Barry walked over to the bowl, placing one finger inside before lifting it to his lips. He groaned.

  “ This ain’t the recipe I gave you. “ he smiled.

  “ Neither are the cupcakes. “ I admitted. “ I just added a ‘lil somethin’. “

  “ Is this what you wanna’ do once you get outta’ hea’? “ he turned the ovens off.

  “ Yes. I was goin’ to see a place but got attacked the night before, so now I’m here. “

  “ What exactly happened, you never told me? “ he leaned against the counter as I stuffed the icing into the bag.

  “ I went out clubbin’ one night, wearin’ somethin’ I shouldn’t have. I was by myself when I saw ‘em. He was drunk and all over the place, so I asked ‘em did he need some help, but he stabbed me twice, right in the stomach. “ I lifted my shirt, showing him the scars. “ I found a metal bar, and thought I’d just hit ‘em to keep ‘em away from me, but I hit ‘em so hard I killed ‘em. “

  “ Sound like reasonable self-defense. “

  I nodded quickly. “ Exactly. I got off ‘cause this man in a restaurant saw it all and went to bat for me. They told me a month ago they tossed the case out. “

  “ Why you still here? “

  “ Personal agendas. “ I sighed. “ The Warden keepin’ me from leavin’. “

  He smacked his teeth and shook his head. “ Wouldn’t be the first. You can do somethin’ ‘bout it, Thomas. You can write to the state, they can help you. “

  “ It ain’t time to leave just yet. “ he looked at me like I was crazy. “ Mr. Berry, I just got an opportunity to learn from one of the best pastry makers in this city. I’m safe, mentally stable, and kinda’ in love……. “

  “ Boy, I know you ain’ waitin’ ‘round for one of these knuckleheads? “ he palmed his head, disappointed. I grabbed the piping bag, beginning to frost the chocolate cakes.

  “ It’s Bonez. “

  “ ‘Specially that one. “

  “ He really misunderstood. “ I held my wrist still as I swirled the sweet paste. “ I know I sound crazy, but I know my heart. “

  “ Sometimes leadin’ witcho’ heart gets you in trouble. “

  “ Wise words indeed. But sometimes we gotta’ trust our decisions, and I trust mine. “

  I finished frosting the cakes, handing one of them to Mr. Berry for him to taste. He bit into it, chewing goofily.

  “ Yo’ texture is perfect. “ he smirked before stuffing the rest into his mouth, causing me to widen my eyes and laugh. “ Don’t judge me. “

  “ I won’t. “ I told him. “ Promise me you’ll deliver these to the block? “

  “ I gotchu’. “ he assured me.

  “ Thank you, Mr. Berry, I owe you. “

  “ I got just what I need. “ he picked up another cupcake.

  I removed my apron, hanging it back up, and walking to the desk to wait for an Officer to come and pick me up.

  “ You ain’t burnt down the kitchen, have you? “ Mrs. Roslyn twisted around the corner, hands on her hips, giving me that famous smile.

  “ You know I don’t burn no food. “ I held my hands out to be cuffed, but she shooed me away. We just began walking back to the cell block. “ How’s yo’ day goin’? “

  “ Pretty good, it’s been quiet, and that can be scary, so we’ll see. “ she told me. “ How ‘bout you, baby? “

  “ Best day I done had in a while. “ I shrugged.

  “ You gotta’ date yet? “

  “ Nope, still waitin’ on the Warden to let me know somethin’. “

  “ You ain’t stressin’? “

  “ I’m good, Mrs. Ros. I love my freedom, but I’m learnin’ a lot bein’ in this place. “

  “ You crazy as hell, Thomas! “ she jokingly yelled at me before being buzzed through the door. I looked up, seeing him in the flesh. Tank top hugging his body as his jumpsuit sat at his waist, his hair pulled into a bun, and that face looking like a seat.

  “ Lockwood? “ she called to him. He looked in our direction, blushing once he saw me. He walked over, effortlessly picking me up. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, pecking those plump lips of his. I missed the feeling of his body against mine.

  “ You lookin’ good. “ I squeezed his biceps after he put me down. “ What young thang’ you tryna’ impress? “

  “ You. “

  “ Good answer. “ both I and Mrs. Ros replied at the same time.

  “ Where you comin’ from? “ he sniffed.

  “ Class. Ya’ll should be gettin’ cupcakes later, but they ain’t gone’ be good as mine. “

  “ Aye, my baby in the kitchen. “ he smiled widely.

  “ Technically but not technically. “ I looked into his eyes, causing him to blush.

  “ Stop. “ he whined. “ I was beggin’ Mrs. Ros to see you. “

  “ And that he did. “ she chuckled. “ Made a pretty good case. “

  “ Aw, you so sweet. “ I pinched his cheeks. “ I wish I could show you my gratitude. “

  “ Don’t start ‘cause I’m gone’ get written up. “

  “ Aight, lovebirds, I’m sorry, but I gotta’ get Thomas back. “

  “ We gone’ see each other soon. I promise. “ I kissed his lips once more before walking with Mrs. Ros to block H.

  Once we got there, I noticed the young gentleman sitting behind the counter. He and Niel were talking and laughing about something before we walked up and they stopped.

  “ Uh-huh. “ Mrs. Ros playfully slapped the two in the back of the head. “ Let my baby in there. “

  Niel pressed the button and I walked inside to the gentleman enjoying their cupcakes. I received scattered thank you’s as I walked to my cell, a cupcake sitting on my desk. It looked a little funny and smelled even funnier. I stepped closer, noticing that someone had shitted on it before placing it on my desk. I was on good terms with every single person on this block, except one.

  Gutta.

  I walked outside and scanned the crowd. He was sitting at the front with two other boys who were new and just as messy. I walked over to the table as everyone got quiet, turning their attention to us.

  “ Pullin’ ‘lil petty ass stunts gone’ getcho’ ass beat. “ I interrupted their giggling.

  “ Aw, someone’s feelin’ a ‘lil poopy, huh? “ one of the new inmates spoke.

  “ Be gone. “ Gutta rolled his eyes.

  I chuckled, walking back to the cell and snatching the cupcake from the desk. I held it in my hand as I walked over to Gutta, stuffing it into his mouth, and finishing with a hard slap to his face. The other two stood up.

  “ I wish you would. “ I looked at the both of them as they just stood there. I heard Gutta spitting, holding his mouth wide open. “ Aw, now look who’s in a shitty situation. “

  I went back to staring daggers at the duo, who was still silent. I shook my head, gunning for the cell and slamming the door behind me. I heard the inmates erupt with laughter which was shortly combatted with an Officer walking inside and calming them down.