The wakeup alarm was impossible to ignore at the youth detention centre and was followed by the doors to the sleeping blocks rolling open to the main corridors. The blocks contained 6 rooms but when Dante had arrived only three were occupied other than his. He was in the E block in cell 3. E3 was his address now. Thankfully in this youth detention centre there were no cellmates but there was common space in the block and then other larger common spaces at other times of the day for the larger correctional centre. Each block also had shared shower times and work detail times. When school began they’d be separated by grade level for education. So far he mostly didn’t mind the other two guys in his block, Shaw and Ho. He wasn’t planning on making friends though so he kept it simple and just did the work and mostly stayed quiet. He even tried to not learn their first names. Besides Shaw talked enough for all three of them. He talked non stop. Shaw cheerfully told Dante their names “I’m Christian Shaw…..Christian Everett Shaw. Stole a car….ok 3 cars...but who’s counting. That’s Aiden Ho. Possession, trafficking and prostitution. Ho’s a ho.” Shaw found this way too funny but Ho just glared at him. Then Shaw asked for Dante’s name and what he was in for and the words aggravated assault worked down from attempted murder managed to shut him up for 2 whole minutes. Ho cracked a smile.
“Better be hot water today…..I swear those D bags turn them all on just to fuck us.” Shaw had a habit of saying this kind of thing loudly as they passed the C and D blocks filing out on their way to the showers and today he caught someone’s attention. Shaw was a small skinny guy with spiky blonde hair. E and F blocks were lined up together.
The “D bag” that took notice was twice his size with a patchy brown brush cut and a flat face that sported a jagged scar coming down from one eye, a false eye from how the blue colour was way off the natural eye. He grabbed Shaw by the collar of his sweatshirt “If I wanted to fuck you I’d just wait in the shower stall for you and bend you the fuck over. You got that?”
A corrections officer stepped into the line and called him off “Walker! Get back in line now!” Then he looked at the E block 3 at the front of the line “Shaw, Ho, Mendoza keep it moving or lose your shower slot.” F block behind them was getting annoyed.
“Move it assholes.” One of them called out.
Shaw was a quivering mess and Dante gave him a little shove before they pissed off the guard and the F block. “Come on…” He whispered.
Ho kept his head down behind them both and walked as they did. He was a stocky Chinese kid with a nasty case of acne and chin length black brown hair.
When they got into the shower area Shaw was almost hysterical “He’ll do it you know….that guy has his eye on me now. Just one eye but that’s enough. I’m fucked...literally. Either of you guys know how to make a shiv…..I keep thinking I should……”
Dante had taken off his shirt and grabbed his shower bag to head in and now stopped and tried to calm Shaw “Take a breath. It’s just words. I’m sure you’ve had threats before. Don’t do anything crazy man.”
Now Ho spoke up “Shaw just got here too. Spent time in medical first.” He leaned in to Dante after explaining it and whispered “Psyche.”
Shaw was highly agitated and Dante didn’t really know what to do. This was more connected than he was seeking here “Just shower ok? Think about something else.” He went to a shower stall and took his own shower efficiently before anything else could happen.
At breakfast, Shaw ranted and muttered to himself with only about half of it making any sense. Dante and Ho ate in silence trying to tune it out. It was a long meal of flavourless oatmeal. There were oranges today though and Dante focused intently on his as he peeled it and ate it. At the end of the meal Dante saw Ho collecting and pocketing the orange peels and chose not to ask why.
Work detail was in the garden with the A block. They had 6 guys who had clearly been locked up together for awhile and seemed to have camaraderie and banter as they worked. It was nice to listen to but Dante knew better than to get too close to anyone. He was trying to just serve his time and get out. Case and point he saw A crew all pass Ho their orange peels and then one of them slipped him some cash.
Ho saw Dante noticing the deal and walked beside him as he moved the wheelbarrow “Mendoza, you want in? Ever made hooch?”
“No man...thanks I’m not interested.” Dante couldn’t get caught with anything if he wanted Christmas with Gen.
“Fine...then keep your mouth shut OK? And give me all your fruit scraps.”
Dante sighed and then nodded as he dumped fertilizer on the potatoes. It was hot out and they were all sweat and dirt stained when they were shunted back to the block. As they approached the entrance two COs were escorting another guy who was being transferred in, a lanky but built guy, Indigenous looking with a mess of wavy black hair when Dante took a second look. Because on the first look all he could see was the guy was beaten black and blue with one eye so swollen you could barely see where it would open if it could. His jaw on one side was swollen too and from his mouth position it looked like his teeth were gritted. He limped along with the help of the COs so clearly there were lower body injuries too. Like the rest of them he wore prison issue grey sweats, a white t-shirt and a grey sweatshirt all with the youth centre’s lettering on them. They all had black slip on runners with no laces or sharp parts too.
Dante tried not to stare and headed for the table in the common area where there were some pens and paper. He had been trying to think of something to write to Gen in a letter today. His plan was to take it to his room and do it because Shaw’s chatter was distracting. But as he picked up the paper and the COs left the new guy he saw Shaw stalking towards the doorway of E6 where the new guy was now lying down trying to rest from whatever beating he was recovering from to get moved here.
Ho tried to stop Shaw “Shaw...leave him alone.”
“I just want to know his name…” Shaw was like an overgrown precocious child. “Hey Buddy...bad day? What’s your name? I’m Christian Shaw. Christian Everett Shaw. You want some gum? My sister sends me cases of Juicy Fruit...she’s so nice. What are you in for? I stole a car.”
Dante sighed in irritation and went to the doorway. Shaw was now sitting on a section of the end of the poor guy’s bed “Shaw, give the guy some space. Come on….”
Shaw looked disappointed and then saw some paperwork sitting on the desk in the room and snooped “His name’s Eugene...Eugene Sinclair…...oooh you gotta lot of injuries Eugene…...Jesus… no gum chewing for awhile with that jaw wiring...”
There was an angry guttural yell from the bed and Dante yanked Shaw away from the desk “Hey, not your business Shaw. Fuckin leave him be.” Dante steered him to the couch and walked away as Ho took over berating Shaw. Dante went to his room and wrote his letter.
Dear Gen,
I miss you so much. It’s OK here as far as it can be. I’m in a block with 3 other guys now. They just moved in one more. Aside from that, my days all blend together. We shower, we eat, we work outside. We get an indoor break. We go to lunch. We work inside. We get a break in the yard. We go to dinner. Sometimes there’s a movie but the movies are old and shitty. Some guys play cards. There’s a library. There’s a gym but it’s always busy and I don’t feel like waiting. So I do push ups in my room and chin ups on the door frame. I have to open the door for the chin ups and there’s one guy in my block who talks too much. Sometimes I don’t do the chin ups. I swear I’ll try not to be so boring in every letter but it’s kind of boring here. There’s a sparrow that comes to my window. He’s cool. My friend is a sparrow. Please write...LOL. I love you.
Love,
Dante
He couldn’t help but look into Eugene’s door again as he passed to go mail the letter to see the guy staring back at him defensively. The jaw wired shut made him automatically think of Brett Lancaster. Somewhere in Burnaby in a cell like this one, Brett was being settled in with his jaw wired shut from the blows of Dante’s fist. In Brett’s case, he deserved it.
<><>
Even though she knew there was no way Dante’s letter would arrive before Wednesday, at the earliest, she always started looking after their Monday call. Because time was short he only said ‘I sent the letter’ before they moved on to better things during their allotted 5 minutes on the phone. They decided she would call every Monday and the rest of the week would be calls from Lydia so that Dante could talk to the younger fosters at the Alvin house. So they mostly enjoyed each other's voices, and talked about things like Dante coming back to school, which was the only guarantee. Both of them hoped that would be by Christmas, but both knew he may have to serve longer and, if worse came to worse, he would serve his entire sentence or longer if he got in trouble.
Writing letters means they could say all they wanted. They both mailed a letter every other Monday, so the other could receive it, write a reply and send IT by the following Monday. So, a letter received every other week.
Dante’s first letter was pretty boring, but he’d warned her that it might be before he’d even left. She understood why and was fine with putting in the extra work on her end to give him something not only worth reading, but REreading.
Dear Dante,
I miss you and love you and got your letter on Wednesday, so I’m sort of writing a little bit at a time until Monday morning, when I can put it in the mail to you S.W.A.K. Dad told me that it means Sealed With A Kiss and used to be a thing when snail mail was still a regular thing between people. The more you know, right? Your sparrow friend sounds awesome! Teach him to talk to me and send messages faster than the post office LOL Anyway, small town gossip time! Elise told me that Nolan spent the night at her house the night B left town. Awkward after that one night, right? BUT, her Dad invited him after his mom had that heart attack, so what could she do? Well apparently she wound up in his lap. Not like that! They had a date like the next day sort of. Making sushi for his mom. She knows he likes her but he’s trying to take it slow or something. So no kissing yet. Well she said cheek kisses, like that counted. Just hugging. How do you make rolling eyes with a pen and paper? -rolls my eyes- guess that’ll have to do. I’ll update you when I know more. Don’t hold your breath - they’re not sure like us. Other news … hmmm … OH! I got a letter from Mr VanBuren, the principal inviting me to be a paid peer tutor! Older students helping younger ones. I don’t know all of them. Do you? It’s me, some guy named Romeo who's gonna be in our class, Fernanda Negron and some other kid from the older students. I forgot their name. Anyway it’s money, right? This is so long but I can’t help it. I love you and I miss you. School is starting soon for us both so study hard! You can do it, I know you can! I love you. Did I mention that already? We’re always over each other’s hearts so we only have to look down to see each other. Is that stupid? Ok it’s Monday morning so this goes in the mail on my way to Perk.
I love you!
Gen XOXOXO (Dad says those are hugs and kisses. Glad I have my own historian right in the house LOL)
<><><>
Levi Samuels looks at the notice that Kira had left on his desk, regarding the ferry. He contacted his father, just to make sure he and his siblings would be sure to plan their return trip before than, so that the kids could get to school. Then he called the detention center. “This Is Levi Samuels calling to speak to my client, Dante Mendoza.” he told the operator. Being Dante’s lawyer, he was not constrained by hours, like everyone else that might call Dante. If he wanted, he could call in the middle of the night. The operator puts him on hold and he waits. School had not begun just yet for the inmates, so at least he isn’t pulling Dante out of class.
Dante was mopping in the kitchen when a CO walked up to him
“Mendoza. Phone call.”
Dante put the mop back in the bucket with a resounding sploosh and walked behind the guard. He carried Gen’s recent letter in his sweats pocket because he didn’t want nosy Shaw digging around and finding it or anyone else for that matter. Her words were precious to him, all of them and he planned to write back at his next opportblocky. But now he was both curious and nervous about the phone call. The CO led him to the receiving office which meant this was a priority call. Was he being given early release? It seemed too soon for that. He was offered a plastic chair but no privacy. The CO stood by the door waiting.
Dante picked up the receiver “Hello?”
Levi immediately picks up on his client’s anxiety. “Hello Dante. It’s Levi.” he begins. “I hope they’re treating you well.” He considers what he knows about juvenile detention. “Are you alone?” the call technically does not require it, but he was curious if what he’d been reading on the lawyer's forums about occasional violations of privacy were true or not.
Dante exhales, happy to hear Levi’s voice “I’m OK Mr. Samuels. Uh….sort of…” He looks at the guard. “Hey Mr. Beecher...do you mind giving me a miniature here. It’s my lawyer?” The guard sneered but then stepped just outside the door, leaving it open. Dante sighed “K a bit more now but not totally.” He had lowered his voice. “What’s this about?”
Levi listens to Dante and arches his brows. “Well, right this second, it's about me speaking to Mr … Beecher was it?” he’s taken a pen and written the name down. “Put him on the line for me. Thank you.”
Dante looks both nervous and amused “Mr. Beecher, uh could you come to the phone? My lawyer wants to talk to you.” He holds it out but doesn't make eye contact.
Jared Beecher was a stocky man with a very pronounced bald patch and short dark hair in a fringe cut close to his head. His walk was a swagger and he hitched his belt a bit as he snorted and took the phone “Yeah?”
Levi arches his brows. “Hello Mr Beecher. My name is Levi Samuels of Samuels and Sons legal firm. My client is Dante Mendoza, but you already know that because he just told you when he asked you to leave the room.” He keeps his voice professional and borderline friendly. Conversational even. “Now as an employee of the Province, you surely understand that all inmates have the right to speak privately with their attorneys. Mr Mendoza is no exception to this right. So when I call him, I expect him to be free to speak to me on any subject without a correctional officer within earshot.” his voice remains quite nice. “So when he tells you that he is speaking to his lawyer, you will of course leave the room, closing the door behind you. You can look through the window of the door, if you find that necessary, but anything more than that and I will have to contact your superiors regarding violations of my clients rights, which include, besides speaking privately with me, his right to lodge complaints about anyone in the detention center, be they inmate or employee who is violating him in any way, shape or form, however minor and I will, as his attorney, take the appropriate actions against that person. I do hope you understand me, Mr. Beecher. Now, I would like to speak to my client. Thank you and you have a fantastic day.” he waits to hear Dante again having delivered a very real threat in the Samuels and Sons tradition … with a smile.
Jared looks initially annoyed and then his eyes widen. Most of the time the lawyers didn’t pull this and he listened in a lot. But this guy, this guy was both good and a pain in the ass. “Yes Sir.” He finally said with resignation and just handed back the phone to Dante. He slunked back out and closed the door behind him.
Dante turned around so Beecher couldn’t see his expression of shock and awe “Holy shit...that was awesome. Thank you. And we’re clear now Mr. Samuels.”
Levi gets the confirmation that Dante is alone and he smiles. “Thank you. I meant every word … and if you didn't hear any of them, I basically told him to be nice to you or he’d be lucky not to wind up in a place just like that one for adults. And I used my most expensive voice to do it.” Beecher had annoyed him, and so now he wanted Dante to know in no uncertain terms that he should be on the lookout for violations and report them to him. “Anyway … the reason I called was because the town of Alexandra sent out a notice this morning to all businesses and residents … they’re ending ferry access to Alexandra effective the 29th of August until further notice.” the ‘until further notice’ was the most concerning part.
Dante had to chuckle at Levi and his expensive voice comment. Dante was pretty sure any version of his own voice was a garage sale special at best but this guy, well he had class. “Thanks Mr. Samuels. I really appreciate that. So far the guards have been mostly chill with a bit of posturing but nothing worth reporting.” Then he hears about the ferry and goes quiet for a minute, thinking. “Wow ok…..so no visits anytime soon. I heard people talking about the Covid numbers being up again. Hopefully those ferries are back by the time I get to go home or I’m just going to fuckin swim.” He doesn’t sound like he’s completely joking.
Levi nods to himself. “Well posturing is part of the job, but if they get out of hand I want to know about it. Of the two juvenile detention centers, you're in the better one, but that doesn’t mean you have to be treated like an animal. You’re not there to have fun, but you're also not there to be tortured. You’re a smart man, you’ll know when to tell a guard to back off before you have to talk to your lawyer. And I have no doubt that Mr Beecher will spread the word toat your lawyer can talk the talk, even though they probably all believe you can’t afford me, so they may test you. If they do …. They’ll learn I am everything I claim to be and for reasons that are none of their business that dirt poor foster kid has himself a high priced mouthpiece. With luck, Mr Beecher will research me .. if he does … you’re on easy street.” he moves on to the ferry. “No visits, except from me. I’ll have a boat take me to the mainland … and if the ferry’s aren’t operational by your release date, I’ll come get yu and bring you back myself.” he promises.
Dante nodded as Levi spoke and was both impressed and touched. He can’t help but chuckle a bit “You’re hard core. I love it. So this one...this corrections centre is less awful than the one Brett’s in?” He’s really hoping Brett’s having a shitty time of things. “And he’s locked up in his now right?” Dante needs to hear confirmation that Brett can’t hurt anyone again for a long time at least.
Levi grins at what he takes as a compliment. “Yes. Prince George is much better than Barnaby, which is why I wanted you at Prince George. And Brett is locked up until his 18th birthday .. which is, unfortunately the maximum the judge could give him. If he’d been 17, the sentence would have been the same. Juvenile law.” he softens his voice a bit. “He’s out of her life for good, Dante. I promise.”
Dante smiles a bit at Levi’s work to get him to the better juvenile prison “I appreciate that..” Then his jaw tightens as he hears Brett can only be locked up until he’s 18. He swallows audibly when Levi says he’s out of her life, Gen’s life, his life hopefully too. “Can you get a restraining order for the day of his release? His family still lives on Alexandra...he might go back there….”
Levi leans back a little bit. “I can and I will.” he tells his client. “I heard that on the day of his sentencing he made a threatening gesture towards his brother, who gave testimony against him. I doubt he’ll go home, but once he is a free man, he can do what he wants. So yes … I already plan to guard against that.”
Dante sighs a little bit, relieved but still worried “I heard about that with Nolan. Gen and I talk of course, and write. And Lydia and my...my brother and sisters.” He doesn’t say foster because they all feel more like family now than ever. “His mom and brother should get that too.” He clears his throat “Thank you...seriously.”
Levi nods, even though no one can see it. “I’ll offer the process to them, of course.” he tells him. “But for now I wanted to let you know ... there may be no visitors for a while..” heblows out a breath. “Is there anything you need from me or home?”
Dante accepts the news and shifts a bit, the plastic chair scraping as it moves on the floor “Nah I’m ok. I’m better off than lots of the guys in here and I know it. Not just about you. And Gen and Lydia. But just ...yeah…….I don’t know what else to say and you charge by the hour so I’ll just say thanks man.” He was thinking of his block and the new guy beaten black and blue, Shaw with whatever the hall was going on with his mental health and Ho with his little hooch brewing plans. “I just need to keep out of trouble and we’re golden.”
Levi listens and nods. “You take care, Dante. I’ll be in touch again to check up.” and he prepares to hang up and end the call.
Dante nods and sees Beecher looking at him now through the window for a moment before he turns back around and then gets distracted by another guard walking by and talking to him. “You take care too Mr. Samuels. Thanks for everything.Bye.” He does hang up and then walks to the door and opens it, not saying a word about what happened between Beecher and his lawyer. The other guard walks off and Beecher turns to Dante “Back to work Mendoza.” And in no time he’s in the kitchen with the mop in his hand finishing the room before the kitchen blocks come on to deal with supper. He dumps the mop water and puts the mop in the supply cupboard and heads back to his block for a break and to write back to Gen. He goes to the table to grab paper and a pen.
Dante looked around before he debated where to write. Shaw was not around and then he could see through the open door of his cell he was lying down, possibly napping. Ho’s door was closed and Dante could hear swishing like he was doing something with water. Dante made a face hoping to god the distillery wasn’t the toilet. He had heard rumours but really didn’t want details. He took a flat book off the table and went to sit on one side of the table. He took Gen’s letter out and reread it first and then sat there thinking.
Dear Gen…
He began. Then he heard a noise from Shaw’s cell...maybe Shaw’s cell and paused, wondering if he should move.
Eugene Sinclair sat up in his bed and placed his feet on the cold floor. His jaw still ached, but didn’t hurt. Part of him thought he should be happy that the beating he took put him in the infirmary for five weeks. Or maybe it was four weeks? He had lost track of time, and with his jaw wired shut, he wasn’t going to be asking anyone for clarification. Moving around his cell, he knew he was making a racket, he just didn't care. What he was looking for wasn't there anyway. He opened the door and moved to the common area where a boy that was either Latino or First nation with the blue black hair was writing. He stood and stared a second, imagining what a sighs he must be with his swollen face, thin but muscular frame … obviously not muscular enough to avoid the beating he’d obviously taken. This kid looked to be about his age. 16. Same dark hair and eyes. They could almost be brothers. But this kid had a pen in his hand and Gene mimed writing ..pointing at the pen and hoping he was as good at sign language as he was with other languages.
Dante looked relieved it wasn’t Shaw but also surprised to see Sinclair out and connecting with people. He gave him a little nod and said “Hey….there’s another pen on the table over there and some more paper.” He chose not to ask the obvious stupid question of how are you feeling.
Gene nodded and turned to the table indicated. He took two sheets and one pen. Leaning over, he wrote on it, before going back to the guy. He stays on his side of the table and sets the sheet he wrote on where the guy could see it. It has plenty of blank on it, but at the top it simply says;
Merci
Dante cranes and looks at the paper and sees the French word for thank you. “De rien…..you’re welcome….seriously that might be most of the French I know so do you speak English?” He cracks a bit of a smile. As he’s still poised to write his FUCK LIFE finger tattoos are facing Sinclair.
Gene arches his brows at the French and then nods when asked if he speaks English. He sees the finger ink and takes back the paper.
I speak french, English. Mohawk too. I’m from Oka.
He pauses and looks up motioning to the knuckles and adding on the sheet.
You do that?
Dante reads again and looks impressed “Three languages. Nice. Oka...like in Quebec? How did you end up locked up out here?” Dante had learned about the Oka conflict in school. He was no expert but he remembered it was in Quebec between Indigenous people and developers and the army. He opens and closes his fingers, looking at his knuckles “Yeah….I did. I’m Dante by the way. Mendoza they call me in here because apparently calling dudes by their last names is more...I dunno….whatever.” He laughs.
Gene nods and takes the paper back. He looks for a minute like he won’t answer. Like he just wants to do his time and get the fuck out of there. But then he looks at the paper and begins writing.
White boy raped my girlfriend. So I tried to kill him. I came out of it better than he did. But they charged me with attempted murder and put me in front of a jury. I’m here until my 18th, but he’ll never rape anyone again. I gelded the bastard.
He slides the paper back, his face hard and suddenly takes it back.
My girlfriend … isnt my girlfriend anymore. She couldn’t handle what he did to her.
He slides the paper back to Dante and takes his hand off of it.
Dante isn’t sure if he expects an answer and can see the hesitation. Sinclair didn’t know him after all. But then he starts writing and Dante watches him but then looks away giving him mental space. As the paper comes his way he catches the first line before it’s snatched back and freezes. Then Sinclair writes more and he leans in to read the rest. His hand goes to the collar of his sweatshirt and he bunches it a bit as he feels a heaviness on his chest for what Sinclair is here for. He relates all too well but the addition makes him think of what would have happened to he and Gen if Brett had gotten further. He looks at the table for a long time before he’s able to say “We have a lot of shitty things in common….but yours is worse.” He looks at the second line again and swallows “I’m sorry. Maybe she just needs time…” He feels like it’s a feeble thing to say but it’s all he can think of.
Gene takes the paper back, his eyes welling up. He wipes a single tear away, angrily and writes.
I wish. Pills. The day I was convicted. Fucking Crown dick told me after he turned me over here.
He pauses and then continues to write.
I hate that in common with us. You in for attempted murder too? Just to change the subject a little, right.
He slides the paper over.
Dante feels intense compassion for Sinclair and as he reads again he grits his teeth and looks up at him with a pained expression “Fuck…..” He sighs. Then he looks like he feels guilty for saying “It was…..lawyer got it down to aggravated assault. He didn’t…….me and her brother...we got there just in time…..but he had prior accusations. He’s in Burnaby...I hope it’s a fucking hellhole. Sinclair...I know there’s nothing anyone can say...but I’m so fuckin sorry. What was her name?” He slides the paper back gently.
Gene takes the paper with a soft sigh.
Good for you and her brother. I don’t know this area too well, but I hope its hell for him too. Her name was Danielle. Dani. She’s back home. I won’t go back there even if I get out after my 2/3rds
Dante takes the paper back and exhales “When you said pills….I thought…” He takes another breath and exhales again and nods. He thought Sinclair meant the girl had taken her life, succeeded at it. “Dani.” He says out loud. “My girlfriend is Genevieve. Gen….” He frowns “You don’t want to go back because it’s...too much?”
Just then something went sploosh in Ho’s cell and he freaked out “Mother fucker!!” He yelled. But he didn’t come out yet.
Dante tilted his head to look at Ho’s door and blinked “Trouble in the brewery…” He muttered.
Gene shakes his head as he takes the paper back. He started writing when the sploosh sounded. He looks over and shakes his head and begins writing again.
No . plls as in OD’d. They buried her back home. Can’t face it. WAY too much. Your Gen is very lucky you got there in time. I Had to travel here for that fucker. He was on vacation with his rich ass family. Is he trying to make booze? He’ll get busted …
He turns the paper over just as two CO’s appear and start banging on Ho’s cell door.
Dante had read the first bit as Sinclair wrote it and closed his eyes after. He had been right on the first guess. Then he just caught the rest before the paper was turned over and they were banging on Ho’s door. He made a point of not looking anywhere near the paper.
From inside Ho’s cell came the sound of a toilet flushing followed by him yelling “Just a sec I’m on the can!!”
Dante exchanged a look with Sinclair as the CO’s went in and came out holding Ho between them under his arms.
“It was just compost! I’m an environmentalist! Let go of me assholes….”
One of the CO’s snorted “Yeah ok David Suzuki…..you can scream all you want in the slot.”
And second later they were gone. Dante was amazed the commotion didn’t wake Shaw and he looked quizzically at the end of his foot still on the bed as he was sleeping. Then he looks back at Sinclair “Sorry...again…”
Gene half watched the show and half doodled, covering the words in their conversation relating to Ho. Once they drag him away he begins to write again.
No problem. So … they’re racist here too. Oh goody
He rolls his eyes as he slides the paper over.
Dante saw the doodling and gave Sinclair a nod. He was clever. Then he saw the next bit and chuckled “Can’t think of many places we don’t have that shit. Actually where I come from….it’s a lot better that way. Strangely open minded small town on one of the islands. But even there we have some assholes. Good news is they can never guess what the fuck I am half the time.” He seems to find it almost amusing and then looks after where Ho went “How long do you think he’ll be gone?”
Gene takes the paper back and doodles over the part about being racist, just in case. He looks interested in this strange open minded town.
Maybe I’ll move when I get out. I’m just another brown skinned fool just like you. I’m Indigenous … you’re what? Latino or Inginous or both I guess. And … 2 weeks?
Dante looks impressed “First person to guess it right without conversation. Mendoza gives it away. I was born in Guatemala. But my family heritage is Mayan. People guess all kinds of things here….Indigenous is one which is not inaccurate. Someone asked me if I was Filipino. There’s a Sikh family in my town….a tourist thought I was related to them….despite the lack of turban and beard. So you’re from Oka….does that make you Mohawk? Huron? Iroquois? Humble apologies if I get any or all of that wrong.”
Gene takes the paper back and turns it over, since their conversation filled up the first side.
Some think Sinclair is French, but only a blind man would think me French. Iroquois is the confederacy the Mohawk are from, but that’s cool you know as much as you do. I speak passing Spanish, but I don’t think good enough so I never tell people I speak it. I understand it perfectly tho. Peoplesee brown skin, pick their favorite or charity brown culture and go for it. It’s funny. I told myself I wasn't gonna talk to nobody HAHA but I’m glad I did.
He slides the paper over with a twitch of his lips.
Dante is actually enjoying getting to know Sinclair and waits for the paper to come back. It’s the first conversation inside these walls that’s been real. He reads as the paper comes back and nods “OK….good to know. You speak Spanish? Huh…..good with the languages. I speak it because of my mom. She died a few years back but she spoke only Spanish to me at home...and yeah….” He smiles “You’re the first person I’ve talked to in here aside from trying to get Shaw to stop mouthing off. It’s cool…” He looks towards Shaw’s room “He’s really quiet….” He stands up but asks “Do you….what name do you want people to call you?” Dante looks like he’s about to check on Shaw.
Christian Shaw is in his room lying down but not asleep. He’s on his side facing the wall and just staring, awake but depressed, lethargic. He had heard Ho get taken out. He could hear bits of Dante talking to Sinclair. But he just lay there. He’s clutching something to his chest that looks like it might be a photograph.
Gene takes the paper and writes as Dante speaks. He’d also looked in Shaw's direction and noticed he seemed off.
Yes. I speak it. I need o learn sign language LOL. I noticed Shaw too. Want to check on him?
Dante snorts “You should. Might have some time on your hands in here.” It’s a bit of a tease and he hopes it’s taken with humour. Then he nods “Yeah let’s go…” He walks to the doorway and just hangs in it and calls in “Shaw…” He waits and looks at Sinclair and then calls again “Shaw!”
It’s nearing dinner time and Shaw isn’t moving. Dante walks over and leans over him “Hey, you’re awake…..you alright.”
Shaw shrinks into himself a bit and shudders, not giving an answer.
Dante looks a bit helpless and then has a bit of a realization. His mom did this. Full on non stop energy and then crash. He looks at Sinclair and says in Spanish “He visto esto antes.” (I’ve seen this before).
Gene practices a bit of sigh language by giving Dante the finger. He walks with him to Shaw’s door and watches Dante try and interact with him. After Dante says he’s seen it, he nods, points to Shaw and nods, then considers and balls up the piece of paper, holds it up and drops it, letting it fall to the floor … like falling into a depression. He immediately picks it up again.
Dante nods at Sinclair in agreement and understanding and then leans over Shaw again “Christian? Hey man…….” He sees the picture clutched to him and curiously reaches for it, trying to get an idea of what’s triggering this.
Now Shaw fights him and throws off his hands on the picture “Don’t take her!” He gets louder “DON’T TAKE HER PLEASE DON’t FUCKIN TAKE HER!”
Dante backs up “Whoah whoah...it’s ok...I won’t take it…or her....” He exhales. “Who is she Christian?”
Slowly Shaw turns and his face is streaked with tears “My sister……..Kayla…..I didn’t mean too…” He’s sobbing now “She was there…...I didn’t know….”
Dante isn’t sure how much he should push and looks at Sinclair.
Gene watches and backs up a step at the reaction to the touching of the picture. He moves a little closer and looks at Shaw, shrugging like what and then pointing to himself and Dante and then to his own ears. Hopefully even Shaw will know he can talk to them and they will listen.
Dante nods at Sinclair’s gesture “You can talk to us. What happened to Kayla? I thought she sent you juicy fruit?”
Shaw sits up a bit and shakes his head “No…...that’s a lie. I buy the gum at the commissary. I told you I stole three cars?” He breaks down again before he can get into it and has to take a minute before he finally says “I was stashing one...in my uncle’s garage. We live with him….we used to..” He shakes and sobs again “Our parents…….our parents were not good people, especially to Kay…” He breaks off and holds out the picture. It’s a young girl who’s maybe 8 but clearly Shaw’s sister from her face and blonde hair. “The sirens started...they were coming for me...and the car...so I floored it out of the garage…” His voice breaks and he runs his fingers over the girl in the picture “And there she was...riding up the driveway to come home…..” He curls into a ball and sobs and sobs hard.
Dante looks gutted and puts a hand on Shaw’s shoulder and sighs, shaking his head. When he looks up he’s got tears in his eyes too. This place was just too damned sad. For all of them.
Gene listens to the story and covers his mouth with his hand in shock, blinking away another tear. Shaw had never mentioned any charges involving his sister and he wondered if the judge had taken pity on him. He suspected maybe … or Shaw had simply lied about that part. He places his hand on Shaw’s other shoulder, he one Dante’sisn’t on, hoping they can give him some comfort. Someone had beaten his tragic story and he wasn’t happy about that either.
Shaw cried himself out until he just looked tired and then looked between them “Thanks. I might just go the fuck back to sleep. I missed my meds already. Good to see you out Sinclair.” He frees himself from their hands and lies back down turning away to the wall.
Dante looks concerned “Go to the nurse...” He then tries to grill him more “What do you take?” Meds for depression weren’t something to fuck around with. If that’s what the deal was here.
Shaw waves him and them off “It’s ok I’ve been trying to get off it all. Clouds my head.” He pulls up the covers and settles in just as the dinner buzzer goes off.
Gene bites his lip, also looking concerned. Unfortunately this was not just anyplace .. they were in jail and the dinner bell had just rung. He looks around the room and then at Dante. If they didn’t go to dinner, they would all be missed and Shaw would get unwelcome attention. As it was he was skipping dinner, which meant he’s probably get a visitor. Gene stands and takes the paper hed been conversing with and tears it into small pieces. He motions for Dante to follow and goes to his cell to flush it. Then he exits, takes his second piece of paper and his pen and waits to go to dinner with Dante. With luck, they could talk during dinner somehow because he did not have a good feeling about leaving Shaw alone.
Dante is conflicted. They’d all be checked up on if they missed dinner but Shaw was in a bad way. Maybe he would just sleep though. Dante notices what Sinclair is doing and nods at him and then follows “Hey Shaw come for dinner?”
No answer. Dante heads to the food hall but as they pass the infirmary he stops and looks down the hallway and sees a nurse locking up “Nurse!” He calls out “Nurse!”
The nurse turns and looks kind of put out “If you have an emergency talk to a CO.”
“Please...just listen to me for a second. There’s a guy in our block...he’s off his meds. He’s depressed. Please....”
She walks over and takes out a pen and notepad “Which inmate and what block?”
Dante looks at Sinclair and then back to the nurse thankfully “block E...” He drops his voice “Christian Shaw. Please help him.”
The nurse makes a note “I’m off duty but I’ll leave a message for the warden..” And with that she turns and walks away.
Dante throws a hand at the air after her “Fuck’s sakes!” Then he deflates.
Gene stares after the nurse and spreads his hands in a silent what the fuck. He nods to Dante and then in the direction of the food hall. Once they are there with their food, he tries to find them a place where they can be relatively alone. He nods at Dante’s plate. His own food is pureed with a straw, but he silently toasts Dante and sips. Then he takes out his pen and paper and writes. “You did all you could.”
Dante’s solid food is really two steps away from Sinclair’s liquified glop. Dante makes a face looking between their food and shrugs. He nods at the words and sighs, forcing himself to eat the food. “I miss food that tastes like food. I really hope Shaw’s ok. I feel bad how annoyed I’ve been with the guy. Clearly he’s just real fucked up. Now we know why...”
Gene nods as he eats, tapping his pen against the paper as Dante speaks. He writes - I miss chewing. But I get you. -- he sighs about Shaw. -- He annoyed me too my first day. I remember how messed up I was. Wanted to be left alone. Never know what someone like that wants. Don’t feel bad. Now we know.
As soon as the meal is wrapping up Dante takes his sectioned tray and water cup to the dish bin and sets them on the piles. They could have free time in the larger common area as many guys are right now but he wants to get back and check on Shaw and he’s thinking Sinclair will too. He moves to suggest it to him when he suddenly feels a little shove from one side. It’s one of the garden work detail guys from A crew that Ho took cash from.
“Where’s Ho tonight?”
Dante works to keep his tone and expression neutral “I dunno.” He hadn’t gotten chummy with the A crew but was pretty sure he had heard this guy called Skelly by his block and Ho.
Another shove “You’re in his block right? Where the fuck is he? He owes us something.”
Dante doesn’t shove back or engage physically “I said I don't know.”
“Well you give him a message from me…..tell him to meet Calder at the spot at 7:30.”
Dante doesn’t answer and walks off, leaving Skelly staring after him. He doesn’t look at Sinclair, not wanting to drag him into whatever this might become but is aware Sinclair might engage or follow him.
Gene stands on the fringe when Dante is approached by Skelly about Ho. In the worry about Shaw, he’d almost forgotten about Ho’s hooch. He stays out of it except to take a step forward when Dante is shoved, in case Dante needed a hand. But Dante doesn engage and when he walks off, Gene follows. They are walking away when a male nurse approaches them. He thinks that maybe the nurse from earlier had done her job, but he only looks at him. “You have an appointment for the doctor on Wednesday for that jaw. Be ready.” he turns to walk away, but Gene reaches out to grab him, pointing to Dante and then towards their area. If they got another chance to say something about Shaw, they may as well take it.
Dante walks with Sinclair and had appreciated the solidarity with Skelly. Then a male nurse approaches Sinclair talking about an appointment for his jaw and starts walking away. He feels Sinclair grab him and sees the point and he was already thinking the same thing. “Nurse!” He called out urgently “Nurse a guy in our block is having a mental health crisis...please help us!”
This nurse actually has a look of real concern “Which block are you guys?”
Dante looks hopeful but cautiously so “E….the other nurse just said she’d tell the warden but then left. Please...he’s really depressed….”
The nurse hesitates, thinking for a moment and then nods “Give me a second.” He walks over to the infirmary, grabs a small medical kit and pulls the door shut and locks it and then walks up to a CO and has a short conversation. Then both the nurse and the CO walk back to Dante and Sinclair and the nurse says “I’ll come pay him a visit. Mental health is crucial here. I’m Nurse Miller. This is my first week on the job.”
Dante looks amazed it worked and then cracks a smile “Welcome to hell Nurse Miller. I’m Dante Mendoza. Clearly you already know Sinclair.” He head juts in the direction of the block and then starts walking that way with the group. When they get there he points at Shaw’s doorway and the nurse goes in with the CO standing outside. His room is across from Shaw’s but across the room. Dante looks at Sinclair and then at his room as if suggesting they talk in their and not under the nose of the CO.
Gene had seen Miller before in the sea of nurses he got to see being a medical inmate. But he assumed he was like all of the others, even though the guy seemed relatively young. Miller does seem to help and he is as shocked as Dante. They return to their block and into Dante’s room. He sits on the floor and knows they might have a wait. He pulls out the pen and now folded sheet of paper.
Guess I can talk Wed.
He holds up the paper, since the cells aren’t exactly cavernous.
Dante gives Sinclair a nod “And eat….not that it’s edible. I think what freaks me out is I can’t identify what I’m eating. Mystery mush and mystery meat…” He shudders. “Hey you never answered me before. Do you want to be called Sinclair or Eugene….what’s your deal on that?”
Across the hall, Nurse Miller steps out and begins walking Shaw away with the CO as two others walk into his room and toss it. Shaw doesn’t even turn around or object.
Dante leans forward and watches out the door “Jesus….”
Gene listens and snorts when Dante talks about what he has to look forward to when he can ea solid food again and is already writing when Shaw is taken from his room.
Yea. Same shit but solid. I can’t wait. How about this. Call me Gene when its me and you like this. Sinclair out there. I don’t like Eugene. My mother named me that then took off. Literally from the hospital. Been fostered ever since. Shitty home to shitty home. Oh fuck bet they find a cashe of meds in there.
Dante reads and nods “Yeah that’s a good plan. Gene. Call me Mendoza out there too. Best not to let people know who you get along with I think. God only know what the fuck that does here.” He looks over and sees one of the COs is Beecher and he’s holding up a baggie of pills and cracking a joke to the other CO. Dante lowers his voice “There they are…...fuck I hate that CO already.” Beecher makes eye contact with Dante and gives him a glare. Dante smiles at him cheekily and then the two walk away “My lawyer told him off for trying to sit in on our private call. So now he hates me too. That’ll be fun I’m sure.” He frowns “That’s a shit deal with your mom. Wow. I’m a foster kid too but…..I lucked out...on the foster thing. Not my mom killing herself.” He swallows and then sighs “Lydia, my foster mom, kicks ass.” He looks at the clock on the wall “I’m supposed to call her at 7:30 but those A holes are going to be waiting for Ho. I have no idea where the meeting place is but he was prepaid for that hooch and we have to garden with those guys tomorrow. Since you’re getting better at least I’m not alone with them….fuck...what a day.”
Gene nods about the names and looks at Beecher when he glares. Then he hears the rest and begins to write.
Beecher is rough. Sounds like you got a good lawyer so maybe Beecher won’t push you. I got your back after today. Good foster mom but shitty bout your mom. But if she was Ok when you knew her that's good. Skelly will deal with Ho when he gets out. We need to stay out of that. Neither of us needs bullshit you least of all. Maybe our convictions will get us respect. I’m laying low cause I don’t want nothing they can stick an adult charge on me for. The only good thing my lawyer did was get me convicted as a kid. Haven't heard from him since. And mine was a public case back home, so I know they buried me in here. I’m just turned 16 and my life is over.
Dante reads, smiling ruefully “Scared the shit out of Shaw when I said attempted murder….but he’s not such a bad guy it turns out. Glad you’re not in an adult jail. That’s uh….god...I can’t imagine. This place is bad enough. No bullshit. Keep my temper in check...no fights….” It looks like that’s something Dante struggles with because all his life he got pulled into them. “Maybe if you keep it clean too you’ll be out early. Could be more to it for you Gene…..” He knew it was bad for Gene but the guy was young and smart. He starts to stand up “I need to go make that call.”
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