Gene Sinclair could finally talk again. Just in time for school to start. Of course, his jaw wasn’t healed, but he could at least talk now. School was a good distraction for him. He wasn’t an idiot, he was just a big Indigenous guy who people looked at and thought was an idiot. The school wasn't top notch, obviously, but they did focus on things he enjoyed. It was the best part of Prince George, in his mind. He did well in classes and was able to take an electronics shop, repairing electronics and learning how to do what he didn’t already know.
Even though he could talk, he rarely did to anyone but Dante Mendoza. Dante was turning into a better friend than he’d ever had before, and he wanted to repay that friendship and did. Already he had a black mark on his record for drug possession. Skelly had tried to frame Dante and Gene took the blame, earning himself a night in solitary and a black mark. But he was in here for the long haul, so what did he have to lose?
He’d missed English class because of visitors and he had come out of it happy but confused. There wasn’t really time to discuss it before school ended and he sat in the common room doing his homework with Dante. He’d actually finished it before he broached the subject. “So … that visitor I had this morning was two visitors. A priest and a lawyer…” he began, slowly. “Sounds like the start of a really bad joke, I know, but it happened.”
Dante closed his math textbook after hammering out what seemed like endless equations. He was sitting across from Gene and he looked up when Gene talked. He was still indebted to Gene for taking a fall for him when Skelly tried to set him up by planting drugs in his room. Gene’s logic was sound but Dante hated that too. He didn’t want Gene to suffer years in here. It sucked. But this story he was telling was an amusing distraction and he smirked “Is there supposed to be a Rabbi in the joke too?” He teased and then got serious “Does that mean you have a new lawyer? Something happening with your case?” Dante looks hopeful.
Gene chuckled. “No, man. A priest, a rabbi and a convict walk into a prison …. That’s allI got. I ain’t no comedian.” he blew out a breath. “Apparently I do, actually. I mean the priest was Father O’Keeffe.” he said it as if speaking the name of the current Pope, whose name Gene didn’t actually know. “He’s an Indiginous advocate who's gotten a lot of wrongly convicted Indiginous out of jail and stood by our side and .. man.” he blinks, realizing he is fan boying. “The lawyer is from some hoity toity firm. And she’s kinda sexy too. Curves all over the place, man.” he is in danger of going off on another tangent.
Dante listens carefully and then looks perplexed “Father O’Keeffe? That’s weird because there’s a priest called that where I’m from. I mean Irish Catholics….maybe it’s ...where’s he from? And cool that there’s a priest who wants to help Indigenous kids after all the abuse and residential school shit..” Then he laughs about the sexy lawyer “Gene we don’t get conjugals so don’t try and hit that….just a whole lotta cold shower there. So is the priest paying for the lawyer...no offense. I got lucky. My girl’s parents…..I swear I don’t know how I’ll ever repay them. I know they’re grateful I stopped Gen from getting raped, and so am I…..but still that’s a fucking hoity toity firm too Levi’s in.”
Gene shrugs. “Well, he didn't say, really. He said he’d gotten an email from a friend of his about me and researched my case and wanted to help. And the lawyer.” he snorts. “Well, she’s sexy but my teeth look like something out of a horror movie so i ain’t winning anyone like her to my side. But that’s OK cause she is from some fancy law firm. They take pro bono cases and she said Father O’Keeffe convinced her to take mine. Seriously? I won the fucking lottery man. The firm is um..” he goes into his uniform pants pocket and pulls out a business card. He slides it over. It’s Natalie Sokal of Samuel’s & Sons with a string of major cities in the US and Canada.
Dante chuckles about the teeth “I happen to know a dentist but he can’t help you in here….” He listens and then takes the card and stares at it wide eyed “This is the same firm…..Levi...my guy...he works with Natalie. And it IS Father O’Keefe from Alexandra...because that’s where Natalie lives too. That’s where I’m from. She’s….she’s Gen’s lawyer or was part of that….in her case against Brett. I know why she took your case too. If we had the internet here I’d show you. Natalie helps people, mostly women who’ve survived sexual assault….because she’s a survivor. She didn’t tell me all this….Gen’s family looked her up. She’s a warrior. And yeah she’s hot but she has a boyfriend...a big black cop boyfriend man. Sorry to have to tell you. But if anyone can change your fate it’s that firm. They fuckin rock Gene…..this is good….” He hands the card back and taps beside it.
Gene snorts. “The Crown will fix my teeth … when Hell freezes over.” he can’t afford a lawyer, but he appreciates being thought of. His own eyes grow wide. “Fuck .. talk about a small world.” then he learns Natelie has a boyfriend .. who is a cop. “Because of course she does.” he laughs, however. “It’s OK. If she can help I’m all for it.” he blows out a breath and bites his lip. “She made me tell her everything, man. About my whole life .. not just the beating. I mean, I guess but … so I told her about the foster homes. Beatings at first. I was a check with a pulse. Then when I got older it turned sexual. I sort of knew it was wrong, but it made my life easier to just do my foster mothers so …” he stops, realizing that is not what he had ever shared with Dante … or anyone there.
Dante nods “Yeah real small. And she can. I know it.” When Gene shares what happened to him in foster care he looks horrified and runs his hand through his hair “Oh Gene….holy shit man. I’m so sorry. Lydia’s not like that at all…..that’s not ok….not what you did…..them. Did you ever report them?”
Gene scratches his head. “No … I never reported any of them. I was living a pretty sweet life usually. But my last oster home … the Laurents … Victor and Jeanne. They started whoring me out. Thats pretty much when I realized it was really wrong, but life was good, and they even gave me pocket change. Then I met Dani a few months ago, and I wanted to get out of it.” he shakes his head and taps on his history book. The white guy who raped her was Victor's nephew or some shit. Visiting from Vancouver. When she told me, I took the money I saved and took a bus to Vancouver, fond his ass and …” he spreads his hands. “The rest is history. But Miss Sokal says that can be used in an appeal and both her and Father O’Keeffe know what I know .. it wouldn't have been as bad if I wasn’t Indiginous.” he shrugs.
Dante is floored by all this and he’s realizing he’s really lucked out with Lydia. He shakes his head about the foster parents who exploited Gene and then looks pained about Dani “That explains how you ended up in this prison instead of one in Quebec. Shit.” He looks at the wall and then back to Gene “Was it a strike against you? The nephew? I wouldn’t ask but the guy who tried to rape Gen...it was a strike at me. I….uh….I used to be a thief….and he was a fence. When I met Gen I wanted to stop but he did a bunch of shit...including what he tried to do to Gen to let me know he called the shots...or tried to. And yeah I’m sure you were probably profiled. Gen’s white, Brett’s white so maybe mine was more complicated ...I don’t even fuckin know but that’s a shit life man. You deserve better. If you get out…..come find me on Alexandra. I swear Lydia would never lay a finger on a foster kid.” He laughs “She had a wooden spoon for her own kids...so they tell me….but maybe that’s a black mom thing. I know my mom had one...it’s cultural not abuse.”
Gene nods about why he is in prison on the west coast and not the east. Then he considers. “Yea … I’d say it was. I didn’t want to be a prostitute. I wanted to be with Dani. Like .. for free.” he sighs. “But nope … so I guess they figured … they rape her … tell me they’d rape any girl I wasnted to be with that wasn’t paying for my fucking cock … But yea.” he grins. “I have a lot more faith in that Ms Sokal now if that firm got your charge reduced.” he cants his head. “I might, man. I mean I don’t know nothin or nobody from here. Even if they let me out .. I’d be on my own.” he laughs at the wooden spoon. “Man that sounds like love, I guess. Not trying to keep your paycheck quiet or under control.” he nods to himself. “Maybe I will. Hell if nothing else I’ll be close enough to an adult when they let me out of her in 2 years. And I can fix electronics. Maybe I could get a job. Not hit the streets again.” he glances around, but Ho isn’t around. “Not like Ho, you know? He’s OK I guess, but ….”
Dante nods gravely “I can’t imagine anyone wants that….some people just fall into it or get pushed like you. Fucking assholes……” He smiles about the firm “I couldn’t even believe how good Levi was. I’m sure Natalie is the same.” Dante thinks “There’s a lot of places to work on Alexandra. You’d find something I’m sure. I’m uh….when I get outta here I’m apprenticing with the tattoo place. Siobahn and Lenny….I’ve been doing some already. I’ve only done one big one with a gun….a tattoo gun. Gen’s actually….” He pulls up his shirt “I’m not getting fresh with you I promise….” And he shows a tattoo that’s like a cross etched into a tree with D&G on the center. “Hers is the cross not the tree or the letters but this….” He draws his hands around the dimensions of Gen’s “From here to here on her…..my first. Siobhan did mine of course because doing it with a gun on myself would be hell.” He looks around for Ho and smirks “You gonna make the Ho’s a ho joke like Shaw?” He laughs “Ho’s...well I hope he doesn’t start brewing again….and stays outta trouble.”
Gene looks at the tattoos on his shirt and nods. “That’s nice. I never got a close look before.” he arches his brows at the dimensions of Gen’s tattoo, but is smart enough not to mention Gen’s tits to her boyfriend. He smirks. “Not a joke, just the facts.” he defends himself. “And he’s stopped trying to brew. He um … seems to be sticking to his strengths … if you know what I mean.”
Dante lets his shirt fall back down “Thanks man.” Then Dante looks like he does know what Gene means and snorts “Hoeing and not in the garden? Fuck where was my wit when we were on garden duty…..I fucking hate it when the jokes come late.” They had been rotated on work detail to a concrete project out in the yard which meant shorted shifts and better for school. Dante shrugs “I don’t care who anyone’s fucking….I just don’t want to watch the show. Second day in I learned why people stick to their shower slots. I figured more privacy if I tried to get in at summon room time….and no COs…..got a bit of a surprise view of two guys from C crew. Sticking to the shower times now.” He laughs and shakes his head around.
Gene shakes his head. ‘Save that. We might wind up in the garden again, man.” he advises. Then he laughs. “Yea, well I know because he offered me his services. I told him I was straight.” he chuckles. “But I am waiting for him to approach one of us for security. So far he hasn’t been raped … probably because he is so willing and as long as he gets SOMETHING he’s happy. But if that changes, he might.” he sighs. “And I’m gonna have to turn him down. I mean if he wants to lie and tell people that SInclair, the guy in for attempted murder is his bodyguard then fine, but I am not getting black marks to literally protect his ass. Especially not now there is any chance I might not be here for 2 years.”
Dante’s jaw drops for a second “Wow Ho offered…..I mean maybe it’s a compliment? But we’re kinda like a pseudo family in here. And yeah he’s playing a dangerous game. He and Shaw freak me out that way. I mean as long as Shaw stays on his meds we’re good. I can’t get busted for fighting anyone else’s battles…..they made it really clear to me. I’ve got a record as long as my arm before this to be honest and it’s just a miracle this sentence is short. I have...robbery, assault…..I was in a fight club...illegal, underage, underage drinking but who doesn’t do that. I mean I don’t anymore but I don’t even know why people get charged for that. Charge the 19 year old motherfucker who buys the beer. Sad thing is I can fight, I’m pretty good at it. Don’t take black marks for anyone, not even me...promise?”
Gene chuckles. “It was a compliment and I took it as one, but I told him I’m straight and that won’t change even if I have to go my whole two years celibate.” he snorts at the family analogy. “I’m Dad.” he points to himself. “You’re Dad.” he rolls his eyes. “Ho is our out of control gay son and Shaw …” he chuckles,thinking of Shaw in manic mode. “Is our puppy …”
As if on cue Shaw bounce walks in and beams at them dropping clumsily into a chair beside Gene and holding out a bag of candy “They have Swedish Fish at the commissary now. You guys want one? Ooooh you’re doing homework...I haven’t done mine yet. Got a presentation tomorrow...just gonna totally wing it. Do you guys know anything about genetics? Hey your name is Eugene….you know about genes right? Ever done a punnit square?” He goes on a mile a minute and eats three little red gummy fish at once making his mouth all reddish. “Are you guys talking about puppies?”
Dante had started to answer Gene “Wait man if we’re both Dads then…” He was looking like he was going to refute and then they’re bombarded by Shaw and he sighs “Puppy…..Shaw did you take your pills today….you seem kinda….”
Shaw bounces in his seat “Hyper? No I took em...I’ve just had a lot of sugar. My uncle says I’m not supposed to have sugar because it makes me coo coo but I love it. There’s no Dr. Pepper here…..I love Dr. Pepper….but I’ve had 5 glasses of apple juice today...and fish!”
Gene is ready to discuss how he and Dante can both be fathers to their little ban of convicts when Shaw blows in like a talkative breeze. He looks at Dante like see we’re dads and this is our puppy and then at Shaw. “Do your own homework. Punnett squares are basic bio, man. Mom and dad make babies that are basically half and half.” he agrees with Dante about being hyper, but Shaw is very self-aware today. “Your uncle has a point, man. You’re gonna crash like the Hindenburg if you eat all that candy. Never mind your teeth..” he smiles creepily showing off his many, many broken teeth. “How do you think I got these?” he shakes his head and looks at Dante. “They don’t have Mountain Dew in here either. Maybe they’re not as dumb as we thought?” he sighs. “And what about dinner?” he realizes he sounds just like the dads on television and laughs.
Ho walks through the space to his room and vanishes inside. A moment later a flush is heard and then he can be seen flopping on his bed, as if exhausted.
Dante was listening to Gene talking to Shaw and absolutely proving the dad point beyond reasonable doubt. He feels bad about Gene’s teeth but his aren’t perfect either. He’d actually gotten a few fillings and a cleaning before his time here care of Gen’s parents, all with his music blaring and his eyes squinted closed. He had headphones in at the time but a few times he heard Amelie or Felix still needing to shout over the volume. They were exceedingly polite about it. “Don’t spoil your supper Shaw..”” Dante teased, half mocking Gene. Then he watched Ho walk by and heard the flush and gave his doorway a suspicious glance.
Shaw’s eyes went wide at Gene’s teeth “Oh man…...you got that from apple juice? Or mountain dew? Don’t worry I can eat like a horse.” He watches Ho go by and shouts out “Hi Ho!” And then laughs at his own joke “That never gets old...hi ho...off to work we go.” When the toilet flushes the 5 glasses of apple juice make their presence known in his bladder “Holy shit I gotta pee!” He jumps up and runs to his cell and it sounds like he’s running water full blast for several minutes.
Dante face palms and laughs “Oh my god I suddenly understand Lydia on a whole new level.”
Gene stares at Shaw when he actually believes that his teeth got the way they were from sugar. Then he shakes his head at ‘hi ho’ and opens his mouth again when Shaw’s bladder calls to him. He looks at Dante and laughs. “Yea .. Dads… and our puppy and prostitute daughter .. well son, he isn't a cross dresser … yet.” he rolls his eyes. “See .. at this rate you’ll have more parenting under your belt for when you and Gen start your family. May none of them be like our two.” he shakes his head. “Well … at least someone around here is getting laid?” he offers glancing at Ho on his bunk.
Shaw finishes up and washes his hands and starts back but before Dante sees him walk up behind him he overhears something that makes him freeze up.
Dante snorted at Gene and then sighed “You know I hope to god they sell condoms in the commissary if that’s a regular thing. Ho needs to be safe in a place like this especially….do we need to have the safe sex talk Dad?” He teases Gene.
Shaw sits back down and looks towards Ho’s room and then leans in and whispers “Ho asked me if I wanted to have sex with him….but pay him.” He looks a little scandalized. “I don’t know if he uses condoms. I’ve never had sex with anyone…..I’ve never kissed anyone. I’m not really even sure what to do…”
Dante looks at Gene and back at Shaw “How old are you again?”
Shaw shrugs “14...I mean you guys probably haven’t done it yet either right?”
Gene sighs. “Why would they sell condoms here?” his voice drips sarcasm. “All of the inmates are innocent little underage lads. So yea Dad .. we might have to have the safe sex talk …” and then Shaw is back and talking about Ho. “He propositioned you? Oh for the love of …” Shaw goes on and Gene looks a little shocked at how innocent Shaw actually is. Then Shaw effectively asks how much experience he and Dante have and for a second, he considers lying his ass off. But instead he looks at Shaw. “I have, but that’s .. it’s very different. You really don’t need to be thinking about sex .. with anyone, but especially with Ho, okay?”
Dante blows out a breath “I have too but I feel like you ….you might not be ready. Yeah Shaw…..just don’t ok. Just be friends.” He looks at Gene worriedly and then back at Shaw “Did you give him an answer?”
Shaw bites his lip and shakes his head “Not yet. I don’t know if I’m ready and I don’t have that much money….that part’s gross. I am curious though. And….he’s…..I like to look at him.” He admits and shrugs before taking a gummy fish “But I can just look.” Then he looks between them “How old were you? First kiss...first….everything else?”
Dante looks even more awkward now and clears his throat “Shaw we’re trying to discourage you. I was a pretty dumb kid sometimes and I really liked girls, still do but just one special one. I kissed girls starting around grade 4…..sex by ...I think I was 13...migtha still been 12….had a rough year...went with a lot of weird choices. Some of which I regret. And it’s not good….like good until you love someone. So don’t waste it on curiosity.”
Gene narrows his eyes. “Yea. Just look.” he advises. “Believe me, you have to be careful with prostitutes, I know.” he sighs at Shaws next question. “Um … first kiss … maybe 5th grade. I was 12 when I got my first … everything.” he sighs. “Real rough year here too. But listen Shaw. Mendoza’s right. Wait until you really like someone. I know Ho is probably acting like he likes you, but in here .. he wants your money or your commissary. So wait until you get out of here … find a nice … whatever … you said you like looking at H .. maybe your gay or bi .. doesn’t matter. But wait until you really REALLY like them and they really REALLY like you before jumping into sex.And never the prostitutes, just .. trust me. I know about that life.”
Now Shaw’s wide eyed curiosity turns on Sinclair “Did you have sex with a prostitute?”
Dante had been nodding along with Gene and then Shaw’s question made him purse his lips. He wasn’t sure Gene wanted to tell Shaw this. How did Lydia do this with every foster? He had heard the legends of Gareth even….she could educate this kid.
Gene looks at the wide eyed face. “I WAS a prostitute, Shaw. My foster parents sold me to clients. All women and I only got a little bit of the money. But…” he holds up a finger. “Then I met a girl and eventually got out of prostitution, OK … because I waned just one special person to love and I’ll tell you now … its totally diffeent when you’re in love.” he glances at Dante for back up. Man .. is this what real parents went through?
Shaw looks surprised “I would have never guessed….also the 12 thing for both of you. I mean I was still playing with lego…..the stealing cars thing didn’t start until I was 13. My uncle fixes them and I figured out the starter thing. How do you know if you’re in love?”
Dante nodded vigorously “Way different when you’re in love. And you just know...I din’t know. It just feels like the person is meant to be with you, like they complete you….I don’t think you’d get that paying for someone's affections. And you’d never know if they cared for you or just wanted the money. Just don’t...plus he’s been around and no condoms. You could catch an STI. Some of them are for life...for life. You want a big itchy bump fest on your dick?”
Shaw shook his head and looked scared.
“Good then keep it in your own pants Shaw.” Dante went to the fear place because the soft sell wasn’t taking.
Gene looks approvingly when Dante trots out the scare tactics. “Yea, you just know. Be careful. I got a HIV test when I was admitted, since I was medical so I know I’m clean at least.” the buzzer for dinner sounds and he glances up. “Lets go eat, horse stomach.” he encourages. Ho has sat up and is coming out of his room. “I’ll be right back.” he jogs over to Ho and flings an arm around him like they’re best buds, leaning down and whispering into his ear. Ho turns pale and begins to nod really fast. Gene lets him go, pats him on the back and moves back to them. “Lets go.”
Dante gets up with Shaw but watches Gene have a chat with Ho and has to work not to smile about it. He has a pretty good idea what he might be saying. He gives Shaw a pat on the back and sort of steers him “Come on buddy…” And then he inwardly smacks himself. It was dad like. It was also how he was with Stone….and maybe someday how he’d handle his and Gen’s children. He had to chuckle. Dammit Gene.
Shaw got up but watched Gene talking to Ho and looks nervous. Was he telling him? Would Ho be mad at him after? They looked cheerful at the end. He was steered by Dante but looked back at Ho before going and then walked to dinner with his head buzzing with too many thoughts.
Gene joins them for their dinner and they sit together. Ho has found a group to sit with and they are all laughing and Ho is clearly flirting. He looks at his plate and sighs. “I still don’t know if it was better or worse when my jaw was wired shut.” he uses his fork to cut into what he’s relatively sure is supposed to be meat loaf.
Dante eyes Ho’s table and then looks at Shaw. Best if they stay apart for so many reasons. He laughs at Gene and then holds up a forkful of the meatloaf “Bets on the mystery meat? Pork….beef…..OTHER…..” Dante emphasizes the other like that’s his vote.
Shaw had noticed Ho sitting elsewhere and flirting and looked away from him. Then he tries to guess the meat too as he chews it “Mixture and mostly filler….” He sips his water like he is cleansing his palate and then takes another bite. “Nope….I think it’s Klik, bread crumbs, hint of egg…” He frowns thinking “Onion powder…..some kinda soy product….and gelatin.”
Dante looks impressed “Seriously...you got all that?”
Gene looks at Shaw as he dissects their dinner. “You got … seriously?” he holds another forkful up to his nose and regrets it immediately. “First of all Klik is disgusting.” he reaches for his water and drinks half of it. “This is the best part of this meal. The water. Seriously. Is it bottled or something?” he has noticed that the water was incredible everywhere he’s had it in BC.
Dante sips his water and nods “It’s good water…..I mean I’ve heard that about BC. I dunno I grew up here so it’s just whatever. And yeah the Klik...I mean just give us beans or something if they want to save money right? Not shit meat. If they let me in that kitchen with some black beans I could make edible food that costs them next to nothing.”
Shaw shrugs “I can pick out stuff. I dunno why...things just compartmentalize in my head.”
Dante smacks the table in front of Shaw “Ok so do it for school. That’s what a punnit square is dude, compartments of info from parent to child in genetics.”
Gene looks at Dante as if he’s torturing him. “I’ll never leave this water. But .. should we be talking about real food? I mean I can cook, because sometimes they made me, but it’s mostly French. Why did they keep putting me with the French? No offence to the ones you love but damn.” he looks at Shaw. “Yes .. Listen to Mendoza. He is wise and smart.”
Shaw gives a little nod and then just eats the meatloaf. “I don’t mind Klik…...and I hate beans.” He happily eats and then looks at the drinks area “I’m gonna get some apple juice.” And he gets up to do so.
Dante chuckles “Can’t we just dream about real food? Mauve we could draw pictures and eat the paper? My foster mom is all about the international cooking. Pack your bags...we’re going to Morocco tonight kids….it’s always interesting. But yeah I’ve eaten more French food with Gen. It’s been good. Maybe Quebecers and I think they call then FrancoManitobans are different French...I don’t know like Latin America and Spain?”
Gene looks at Shaw. “Only ONE.” he calls after him. Then he looks a Dante. “Man if we keep talking about your foster moms international cooking I’m gonna need a rock hammer and a poster of Rita Hayworth.” he jokes about the escape from the Shawshank Redemption. “I might have a bit of a bias against the French. The food is OK, I just screwed too many French housewives.” he gumbles and sips his water, looking first after Shaw and then over at Ho, who is still flirting.
Dante holds up one finger at Shaw as well and watches him surreptitiously down the cup he’s poured and then make a show of pouring a second as if it’s his one. “Little fucker’s worse than my foster brother Stone.” He laughs about the poster and the hammer “I saw that one. Be funny if they showed that on movie night. Or the series Prison Break….I don’t think they’d give us Orange is the New Black because of all teh lesbian sex. Ho’d have a hell of a business boom after though. I like Prison Break because the dude’s story is tied to his tattoo. French housewives….that’s a weird fucked up life….and all old enough to be your mom….”
Shaw looks pleased, thinking he’s gotten away with the drink trick and isn’t watching where he’s going coming back and turns and crashes right into Walker, the guy with one false eye who threatened him on the way to the shower. The apple juice goes down Walker’s shirt and Shaw starts shaking “Oh shit I’m sorry…...seriously….sorry..”
Walker moves so he’s right in Shaw’s face and then his hand goes to Shaw’s throat and tightens “You stay the fuck out of my way….you hear me!” He lets go with a shove sending Shaw into all the drink jugs and causing a small flood of juice in the area around the station.
A CO comes barging in but missed the threat and hand at the throat “Shaw what the hell? Clean this mess up!”
Shaw scrambles to get up and looks terrified, rubbing at his throat “Yes Sir….” He runs to the kitchen to get the mop.
Dante had stood up at the hand to the throat and looked ready to pounce until Walker let go. He exhaled at the result being a shove and the spilled drinks but still watched with worry.
Gene stood up at the commotion and watched it happen. The CO is barking something about a mop at Shaw. Gene slowly sits down. “We can’t, you know.” he is looking at his plate, but speaking to Dante. “It’ll fuck up both of our cases if we get in trouble … they don’t give a fuck if we’re protecting the weak.” he looks up finally. “I told Ho.nicely, of course, that if he propositions Shaw again, I’ll bite his cock off, but Ho is another weakling. His strength is in his mouth and ass. But Walker … that’s a real fight, Dante. We can’t.” he looks pained.
Dante had sat back down and can’t help but laugh at what Gene threatened him with “His prized possession? Man he may never even say good morning to Shaw now.” He sighs “I know…..Walker would be. But he also might never squeal if I had to kick his ass…..I won’t though.”
Shaw comes back through and starts mopping. The A block files out and all harass him a bit “Shaw, missed a spot…” Calder pours out the last of a drink on his shoe and then smiles at him. Shaw, remarkably, takes it and doesn't mouth off to any of them. Skelly is still sitting with Ho and his little fanboys now after the flirting and he watches the rest of his crew having a little fun with Shaw looking like he’s enjoying himself.
Gene snorts. “Oh, Ho will still talk to him. Basically I just friendzoned Shaw .. so Ho will know that if nothing else, Shaw likes him for him. It’s a gift to both their asses.” he watches Calder’s abuse and then Skelly. “Fuck … I was thinking we could teach Shaw to fight but … then its HIS black mark. He can’t tell, or he’s labeled a snitch and he’s dead.” he shakes his head. “They really do have it so we can’t fucking win in here, man.”
Dante takes a long sip of water and thinks as he watches A block be A Holes. “Fuck it, let’s teach him to fight. He might be in here longer than both of us. I’d hate to read his name in the news….you’d think everyone could just get it. We all want to do our time and get out. But those guys who fuck with people...they know they’re risking their own sentence time. Why can’t they be properly selfish asshats and not just halfway selfish ashats?” He throws up a hand in futility.
Shaw rings out the mop quietly and away from the now fringe of A block watching him. As Calder walks closer Shaw calls out to the CO “Hey you wanna inspect my clean up?” His way of asking for help without snitching.
The CO was looking the other way for most of the taunting and now looks at Shaw like he’s an idiot “Why...your mom didn’t teach you how to mop? Put it away Shaw and be more careful.”
However just the act of drawing the CO’s attention did make the A crew A Holes walk away.
Dante cracks a smile “Well look at that…..nice job Shaw.”
Gene listens to Dante, holding his water. “They got no future in or out of here. Skelly’s an idiot. He’s just biding his time here until he’s old enough to go do grown up prison.” then he watches Shaw’s calling of the CO. He grins. “And Shaw might be the smartest mother fucker in this place. Survival wise, anyway.”
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