Incarcerated Minds

Dressed in dark blue jeans and a baby blue shirt and a pair of brown work boots that had seen better days, many stepped out of the intake building and took his place at the end of the line of inmates lined up outside of the main gate that gave access to the yard and the concrete path that led to the cell block. As he held a fishnet laundry bag over his shoulder that contained the rest of his clothes, his bedding and a small supply of hygiene, Manny scanned the view of the yard. It was now empty, but he could see inmates roaming freely around the yard, who knew where they were headed or what they were up to. The guards posted in the towers above seemed to pay them no mind. An officer came down the line, asking each inmate their name and then looked to his clip board to read of their cell number and tier location. Manny was anxious to get to his cell and get settled in. He knew that he was headed to the third tier and would probably be celled up with another inmate who had lined up behind the green square. Many was relieved to know that he would probably share a cell with someone close to his age and who was also new to Lion’s Gate. He didn’t have to worry about being tested on his first day. He was glad for that. “Name?” the officer asked as he reached Manny. Manny recognized the man as one of the officers who had been eager to come to officer Savage’s assistance when Manny decided to go against the flow of things. “Flores,” he quickly replied, shifting the laundry bag to the other shoulder. “Red 89 upper,” the officer said before walking back toward the intake building. “Red?” Manny asked, barley hearing the rest of what the officer said. The line began to move forward, inmates eager to get into their cells and out of plain sight, but Manny turned to pursue the officer. It had to be a mistake! Manny must have misheard the man. “Sir! Hey, officer!” The officer turned to face Manny. “What do you want?” My lunch is waiting for me and you’re going to miss the train into the cell block. Make it quick!” Manny glanced over his shoulder to see the inmates steadily making their way onto the yard, headed toward the cell block. “I think a mistake was made on my cell assignment. I was first told that I was going to the third tier. I lined up behind the green square when I came off of the bug.” “Flores, right?” The officer said as he watched Manny nod his head as he flipped through the papers clipped to the board. He found Manny’s name and smiled. “Yeah, you were supposed to go to the third tier with the rest that lined up behind green, but a change was made.” “A change was made? Why?” Manny questioned. The officer shrugged his shoulders. “Take it up with Savage. He’s the one who signed off on the change.” The officer grinned and let out a twisted chuckle. “Sounds like you’re regretting that little outburst you had earlier. Too late to change things now. Deal with it.” Manny stood in silence as the officer turned and walked away. It seemed that Savage was determined to find out how much Manny could take. Why is he messing with me? Manny asked himself. What did I do to him? All of this because I wanted to wash my hands? He couldn’t be that petty! Letting out a frustrated sigh, Manny turned and hustled toward the gate where the last of the inmates were entering through. He made his bed, now he had to lay in it.