Story 3 Chapter 1: Christmas Sadness
Tuesday, December 18, 2014
I apologize for the long descriptions in this story and its chapters. Here you are going to learn about daily life in prison, me and my friends, our suffering… our lost lives.
“Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain,†my alarm went off at 6 AM on the dot to the sound of the song.
I was honestly at that point where I was considering that. I truly hated my life, and I went to my bathroom, used the toilet, and splashed water on my face to wake myself up while waiting for it to heat up. I then washed my face in the lukewarm, at best, water to get any grease off it. I went to my room and did some stretches to limber up before I stood up straight and tall and decided I was going to enjoy a rare day off; school was done for a few weeks, and it was my day off from work.
Breakfast wasn’t so great, really. A plain bowl of cereal; milk was a luxury. I only got cereals that were on BOGO that day; a fried egg sometimes accompanied that. I crammed myself at the chair between the table and the sofa and checked my phone. Was I really missing out on things if I… rubbish thoughts. I had a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree on the floor by the bathroom door because I wanted the holiday cheer more than a new outfit; was it worth it? Christmas back in juvie was better than this; I should know since I spent two Christmases there.
After a brief period to digest, I began my morning exercise while still in my pajamas, which were just my summer wear of blue spandex running shorts with white trimming and a white sports bra. Out the door I went for a 15 minute run before I came back into my home and began my shadow boxing routine. Every morning went like this unless I had early class or work. I had no equipment for strength training, so I used cinder blocks and furniture in any way I could to at least keep my strength from faltering. I was the only girl in Best Buy who didn’t need assistance to lift anything, and I was keeping it that way.
Then I took a nasty shower (the water was lukewarm) and put on my clothes for the day: orange sweatpants, a blue sweatshirt, and an orange bandana headband. I only had three of each piece of clothing to go through: blue, orange, and white. I had bought myself the orange as a treat after my last modeling gig; I needed that money for next semester’s tuition and books. I clung to my headgear though after spending my first 6 months in juvie banned from having even scrunchies. Today I added my solitary white scrunchie as well.
There are 48 pixels to the foot. Do the math. This place was like 300-something square feet total. After our little afternoon of passion, Michela looked at my mattress and how I jammed it into the one gap and remarked “Home sweet cell, huh?†I was so disturbed by that comment I started crying. I was living in a pod once again, and I was even having quiet time in my cell…
BRRRRRRRRIINGGGGGG! my phone rang.
I stood up at attention and began waiting for a guard to arrive.
BRRRRRRRRIINGGGGGG! it rang again.
I continued my attention before remembering that I was no longer inside.
BRRRRRRRRIINGGGGGG! the phone rang a third time.
I looked at it. It was a couple digits from Michela’s, so I answered it with confidence.
“Hello.â€
“Is this Miss Hannah Larsson?†an older sounding Michela answered.
“Yes, ma’am!†I responded eagerly not knowing the bombshells that were coming.
“Hi, this is Michela’s mom…â€
Mrs. Palmeri told me of how Michela now slept with the door shut, sometimes took her food to eat at her desk in the bedroom instead of at the kitchen table, sometimes with the door shut, had times of day where she kept a strict silence, and sometimes would be found standing around with her legs spread and her hand clasping her wrist while facing a wall and waiting for an order to do something.
“Tell Michela I am going to come pick her up after I have done my laundry,†I responded.
“Thank you, Hannah. Michela talks so much about you. See you soon.â€
I put my laundry in the washer and started crying. What was wrong with Michela?
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Interlude 12A: A Day in Prison Part 1
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Ding! Ding! Ding! the bell rang repeatedly for one minute every morning at 6 AM on the dot, and the fluorescent lights automatically turned on.
“Good morning!†Michela sprang off the bunk as she woke up just before the bell.
“I want to sleep,†I groaned.
“Well, excuse me,†she dropped her pants to pee on our toilet that was against the same wall as the door.
“How can you be so happy?†I asked as I stretched to unstiffen myself.
“I’m alive at least. I could be getting assaulted by my dad instead,†she flushed the pot.
“Let me have a turn,†I growled and sat down to do my own.
Michela turned on the sink and splashed some cold water on her face, and I then washed my hands and did the same while waiting for it to heat up. Despite 128 girls doing this at once, we did have nice hot water with which to wash up. Then Michela every single day led me in doing my stretches until the familiar voice came over the audio system that listened to us… and spoke to us too.
Prisoners F-0-9 and F-1-0 please step away from the door, they even talked in f-cking “Courier New.â€
“Couldn’t they at least call us ‘Larsson’ and ‘Palmeri’?†I asked rhetorically.
“Shut up,†Michela smiled at me knowing it was 6:15 AM.
“Oh, come on. Don’t you like breakfast?†I teased her knowing she hated the food.
“If I didn’t love you.â€
The sound of a key rattling followed, and through the slot came first one tray and then the other. We took our breakfast trays which were, frankly, the best breakfasts I had outside my grandma’s house. Two small pancakes, a sausage link, some eggs, and breakfast potatoes… even a pod of syrup! Plastic utensils ensured we didn’t stab each other to death. We pulled and locked our folding chairs and table from the wall so that we could sit and eat. We get 45 minutes to eat, but of course Michela and I are done long before that.
At 7:00 AM… quiet time: we stayed locked in our cell on school days despite the schedule using the word “pod†in that column, and we’re not allowed to talk to each other. That got counted as a form of “talking in line†since that got us docked 2 points. Instead, I studied my school books during this time while the I’s had their lone hour out of the cell for the morning. You hear the announcements for the others. When the voices ring out about thirty minutes later, it’s 7:30!
Prisoners F-0-9 and F-1-0 please step away from the door.â€
Michela and I again faced the wall and waited for the door to be opened from the electronic desk. The door swung open, and I led Michela out the door, turned to the right, took four steps, turned to the right again, stepped forward, and faced the wall. Our hands, as usual, were clasped behind our backs, and we stood straight and tall with our legs spread so that our feet were inline with our shoulders. We remained quiet until Michela and I received the order to walk with the succeeding cells following behind us. We were allowed to use one hand to grip the rail as we descended the stairs.
Pods F & G were one-sided two story pods with stairs because the laundry and control rooms would block the sunlight if these were full-sized pods like in A-E and H. Out we went: Bridget, Phoebe, Kendra, Brooke, Kylie, me, Michela, Stacy, Janine, Ashley, Mary-Ann, and LaRyssa. The rest stay behind because they were I’s.
“Good morning,†the guard said cheerfully as marched by.
“Good morning, Mrs. Copley,†I replied in earnest.
Out we turned right, straight and tall with our arms clasped behind our backs, filing in behind the II’s and up from E while G & H filed in behind us. Today we went to the indoor gym, where the instructors ordered us from Pods E & F to file onto the treadmills, which meant I got one labeled as #209. We changed up, but we all got a 15 minute window on the treadmill during the day. It’s 15 minutes of treadmill, strength training, rhythm training, and something fun. Strength training was always a weight machine; rhythm was shadow boxing for today; and fun was basketball this time. We rotated players so that everyone would get an equal time, and the gym was big enough to have multiple courts and all the rest that happened. When the games were done, we were then expected to congratulate each other on a job well done even when one team f-cked the other.
“One two one two,†the guards tried to keep the slow ones from lagging.
We filed back into line now that we were sweaty and returned in order, still straight and tall and still with one hand clasping the other wrist behind our back. On the way back, H peeled off first, then G, and then us. The pod door unlocked, and we entered an empty pod as the I’s are locked up until their afternoon rec hour. I led the train of inmates 9-16 up the stairs. Eight shower stalls were along the north wall with a small bottle of shampoo, soap, cream, and razors. The opposite wall had hooks and shelves for clothes and towels. I took off my shoes, jumpsuit, panties, and bra, and I was facing 6 other buck naked teenage girls. How had my life come to this?
After we had our showers, the jumpsuits went back on along with our shoes, and the same group of us marched out to school.
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My washer and dryer were behind the refrigerator and in my bedroom. So screwy. Just as I was putting the sheets in the dryer, I noticed a glowing light on my cell phone where it sat in the dark corner on the table. I never got texts; all my friends use apps. Rushing over to it in excitement, I saw that the text was from Steve Moreau.
“Are you and/or Michela available for a shoot on short notice? A scheduled girl canceled.â€
“I sure am; will check with her.â€
Just then, my phone started ringing with a phone call from another number I did not recognize. I took the phone and my things and answered the call with a fearful “Hello†because the last phone call I received from an unknown number ended in me getting busted for felony drug possession. I wasn’t going inside again!
“Hannah Larsson?†a calm voice asked me on the other end.
“Who is this?†I seemed to recognize the voice, but it had been too long.
“It’s… me… Kendra, Kendra Kristensen. I’ve… missed you. Where’ve you been hiding?â€
“Hey, Kenny! Wassup?†I responded cheerfully, “I’ve been… hiding from people.â€
“I’m in sin right now, and I asked around and was told you were the Pod F queen of finding quick, legal dough. Ever since I got out, I’ve been living poor and at home.â€
Kendra had been one of my customers, if you will, and it was through her phone getting tagged by her parents that I had been caught. She was the only other person I really knew in there from out here, and I could hear that jonesing shake in her voice. Someone had told her the truth; I was good at getting legal dough and getting troubled friends out of trouble. I had gotten our podmate Stacy to go into rehab after our little disaster with Greg, and she was doing much better.
I had just gotten an affirmation from Michela, and I warned her and Steve that a third was going to join us on this expedition while I was stopped at a light. Kendra came from a more strained family as one of 4 children and the middle girl. She strove to get noticed by trying to do well in school and excelling at sports and, when it all failed, she waved the white flag and turned to me for supplies instead of her other relations for support. Apparently, Kendra squealed as she had been caught when she was going to provide supplies to her own ring, and the money had been stolen from her parents. She went inside one week before I did and exited 6 months earlier in exchange for squealing. An exemption was made for her to stay in juvie later even though she graduated high school that spring and was 18. How could I say no when it was my fault that she was in this spot anyway? I had no clue just how bad it was for her.
“Hey, Larsson,†Kendra satin the passenger seat.
“I'm headed up north first. Is that cool?†I asked her, “We have to grab Michela.â€
“Did Palmeri and you resume rubbing?â€
“Yeah. Why?†I got defensive.
“Just checking. I'm not into girls. Glad someone's happy. I missed your friendship.â€
“I'm sorry I got you into so much trouble,†I responded, but she became silent and sullen.
I was far from the ring leader, but I was the one who was Greg’s girlfriend. I often stowed things on me and made the transactions on his behalf with those in Mudville High. I even had a burner phone I used just for the business side and dealt with all of the customers in code. I knew all the terms and not to touch any h, horse, or brown, but I transported enough weed, blow, and meth. I was just lucky that I only had weed when I got flipped. I felt bad for doing it, but I wanted my own weed which I got for free as Greg’s girl, and I liked how his d-ck felt inside me.
I don't know which was harder: Walking up to a 3000 square foot, fully paid home and realizing it was Michela’s family's home, or walking into the house and seeing her staring at the wall in a chilling position. Only now did I realize that I was wearing orange, and she was dressed in quite a similar manner. She had an orange knee skirt, a black t-shirt, and an orange bandana headband like me. Orange, orange, orange! I still strangely comfort myself, to this day, by wearing orange or, like the later jumpsuits, lavender and black!
“Michela? Michela, it's me, Hannah,†I know not to touch her and stand at similar attention.
“You back from doing the whites?†she asks me blankly.
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Interlude 12B: A Day in Prison Part 2
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Number 13 is unlucky. Time to look at the layout of the prison. See the orange doors like going from the pod to the hall and going to the cells and going down the pink to the arrow marked “the world� Those doors had electronic locks. In the pod, they were controlled by the orange box that marks the guard station. When we were told to stand back from the door, they were using a computer to control the door lock. The ones in and out of the pod were big, heavy sliding doors; we called them “Incredible Sliding Securidoors.†All locks were also run from the control room. Most white doors stayed open during times we would be needing to pass through them.
Out we marched, in typical fashion, but now with our school books, to the left and toward the white door for our morning classes. We had the usual courses: science, history, math, English, and an elective. The elective I chose was a computer course. Science and math were definitely my favorites because those required smaller groups and used Classrooms 1 and 2, whereas we basically did silent busywork for the other two and thus used the auditorium. Teachers were there more to help us if the guided lesson didn't make sense and to assign and grade quizzes and tests as needed.
We scattered by grade for different parts of the day, as possible. Most of us were in high school with accommodations made as needed in the rare case of someone not in high school. Thus, the system worked well for us! Ms. Schumaker made sure we all knew that we were just as special as high schoolers on the outside, and never once did I feel patronized or ashamed in her class.
Classrooms 1 and 2 were special. In the cell, we had the described cramped folding table and chairs. In the pod, we had rigid setups with the chairs attached to the table via a metal framework with all bolted to the floor (the yellow you see in the pod is the four chairs around a round table). In the auditorium, we had rigid chairs with a folding desk arm. In Classrooms 1 and 2, we had rolling chairs! We had so much fun with those in the few moments between taking our seats and class beginning, and the teachers, especially Ms. Schumaker, allowed us this because it was a rare chance for us to feel like kids again. 8:45 AM is my history in Classroom 2, and at 9:20 AM is my chemistry class in Classroom 1.
After two classes, at 10 AM, we were marched back to our pods for a brief rest, a snack, and to exchange books for our other classes. The snack was a crappy packaged snack cake like an old sh-tzo Hostess ones. Then, at 10:15 AM, we marched to Classroom 1 with my group’s English, which took the entire period. Classes were nice in that we were free to sit anywhere, unlike gym class where I had to use machine 2x9. I could forget that I was in juvie until I looked up and saw all the identical outfits everywhere.
At 11:30, we had a “break†in the pod. It was a break because we were allowed to talk unlike in a quiet time, but us II+girls were expected to work on homework. I did it with Phoebe, Michela, and Stacy most of the time, and Kendra and Mary-Ann, who had graduated and were nearing the end of their sentences anyway, would help. The four of us were all in this hybrid 11th-12th grade phase because even summer weekdays are school days in juvie. You just kept progressing until you took the GED exam.
Lunch was the first meal for which we left the pod, if you were a II+. We filed out regardless, though, and headed down to the dining hall in the same kind of march. At the door, we scanned our badges; if it was green, you sat in there and ate your lunch but otherwise you had to wait in the hallway and then filed in afterwards and returned to the pod with your tray. As with school, we could sit anywhere we wanted. We were expected to keep conversations quiet, but laughter and such inevitably happened. On a cold day, a bowl of chicken soup hit the spot as did cheap garlic toast. I couldn't complain as my parents never put half the effort into meals at home. In fact, I was wishing for seconds after the meal that day, but I had to wait.
At 12:30 PM, it was back to the pod because why not? It was a prison, so you should have little free time, little to no time to talk, and little to no time outside your cell, am I right? We were free to take a shower during the break, and today I had put in a razor request to shave my armpits and legs. I turned the water to as hot as I could tolerate because my skin cut up so badly otherwise. I finished my homework for the earlier classes already as well and was ready for the school march.
1:30 PM was some bullsh-t class on sociology and psychology designed to remind us we were all evil inmates who somehow failed or were failed; this was in the auditorium as it was a workbook class and could have two or more grades mixed together. I hated the class , but I still tried for all A’s and succeeded. At 2:10 PM, I headed to the computer lab for a computer programming class. It was amazing how they had the materials for research papers and computer programming on a system disconnected from the internet. Whoever did this was dedicated to his job. At 2:45 PM, it was back to the auditorium for my math class, which was also a workbook. Again, I just tried my best but was not crazy about it.
Then the 3:30 bell rang. At that time, I took a detour. While the rest of the pod went back to the pod, I didn't. I accompanied a guard to my volunteer duty of folding towels, washcloths, panties, and sports bras that were washed that day. It wasn’t special, but it got me brownie points. Every so often, when Kendra was a IV, she accompanied me.
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“I didn't do whites; I have so little clothing I do it all at once.â€
“Your jumpsuit is the wrong color. They'll take 2 off your score for that.â€
“Snap out of it!†I snapped myself.
“Gotcha,†Michela grinned, “I snapped out of it as soon as you said they weren't whites.â€
“How dare you!†I saw a vacant smile; inside she's crying for some reason, “Let's go.â€
“All right. See ya, Mom! Be back before dinner.â€
That was so disturbing to my peace I shuddered. What a cruel prank to play on me, but she had never played a prank in juvie. Was she showing the first sign of her life being normal again? We held hands as we walked to my car; I gave her a kiss on the cheek before holding the door for her and then got into the car.
“I gotta stay in-county, FYI. Probation,†Kendra said regretfully.
“You're still on probation even with a six month stay?†I was confused.
“You weren't bagged while holding enough snow for four to have a real party.â€
“I tried that sh-t. I don't get why anyone does it. So… what’d you get for me?â€
“I was gonna get 5 years in Shakopee min. I got 6 months in juvie and 18 house arrest for you and Wendy Martin. I only turned rat when they promised to send you to juvie.â€
“That’s why you were at my hearing! Kenny, thank you!â€
“I didn't f-cking do it for you! I did it to save my ass. Now I got this f-cking ankle monitor, this f-cking probation officer, this f-cking tapped phone, Ma who b-tches me out all day cuz no one will hire me and CC won't take me and even my little sis is being an absolute c-nt that won't let me live it down. Oh, I get tons of f-cking attention now I don't want none of it! I’m sorry. You have proven to be a nice girl and all, but I’m bitter that I f-cked it all up. We helped each other out, but now I need help. I know you, Larsson; I can see you’re different now.â€
“You two were acquainted before juvie?†Michela didn't realize she wasn't helping.
“Get bent, Palmeri,†Kendra snarled.
I carefully explained to Kendra how I made my money, and she decided that she didn't care any more as long as it was green, because she was now treated like a total reject. By law she had to live at home; her parents would have to accept her income since it was legal for her as a 19 year old to engage in fetish modeling. It was legal, and that was good enough for her. Like me, she wanted her life before drugs, warts and all, back and struggled to accept it wasn't coming back.
“Remember folding whites?†Kendra smiled at me.
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Interlude 14: A Day in Prison Part 3
Thursday, February 21, 2013
By 4:00 PM, I and the other laundry girls were back in our respective pods. It's quiet time, so we're locked in our cell. I wasn’t allowed to talk to Michela, and she seemed to be taking a nap. I passed the time by reading more of my chemistry book as I worked to finish this class in my first February here.
The 4:30 PM bell rang, which meant it was dinner time. Same routine as lunch, but we got 45 minutes to eat, could get more as long as it was available, and got choices instead of a common meal. The remaining 45 minutes were so those inmates who volunteered for kitchen duty could do that; for the rest of us, it was back to the pod for, you guessed it, quiet time where, locked in the cell! This time it was I waiting on Michela with the dishes like she waited on me with the laundry. The usual Courier New voice tells me to stay away from the door when she returns.
6:00 PM was, tonight, visitation hour. A guard came in and announced the names of those with scheduled visitors, and they were brought out to visit while the rest of us were locked in our cells for the hour. Many of us, including me, cried because we never had any visitors. Michela was denied visitors because several people wanted to see her every visitation time; her family missed her.
7:00 PM began rec time for us II’s and up. This was the real highlight of the day. Our cells were unlocked and even the pod door was unlocked, and we were allowed to go to the kiosk and ask for board games, supplies to use for personal purposes (like combs; toothpastes if we so desired, etc.), or a snack if we had the behavior points. What we were allowed to get was more defined on a personal basis.
Grandma gave me a little money after I asked her in my last letter, and Michela and I walked to the commissary for three things: a deck of Uno cards, a better comb because Michela broke yet another on her hair, and a snack each because we had the behavior points. In some juvies, only money can buy snacks, but here it only gets you extra hygiene products, hair accessories if you're on the permitted list, and haircuts.
We were allowed to talk and laugh and enjoy being kids for a little while. Reality only sank in if you looked past the faces or when the announcement came that II’s had to go back to their cells and get locked in. That was at 8:30 PM. At 9:00 PM, the III’s went away, which meant Phoebe and Kylie were taken from our game; Mary-Ann took one place and Ashley the other. Then at 9:30 PM, we all went back to being locked in our cells. The doors ominously shut, and Michela and I had 30 minutes to, in silence, handle our hygiene, study, and do any remaining homework if we didn't do it during rec time. At 10:00 PM, a voice comes over the PA telling us to be quiet, and the lights turned out.
I am sorry this was so long.
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“So, Larsson, Palmeri, still addicted to orange, huh?†Kendra’s voice seemed hurt.
“I only spent a little while in it,†I laughed it off, “I liked it before.â€
“You were always a bit of a d-ck, Kendra,†Michela was less amused.
“We all are; that's why we were in juvie,†her words rang true, “I f-cking hate orange.â€
“Kenny, I really think the person you need is your cousin Jenny,†I was brutally honest.
“She's too busy having fun at Minn Tech to give a sh-t about me,†the tough girl refused to cry.
“I am sure she, of all people, still loves you.â€
“Let's do this. If either of you touches my p-ssy, I’ll cut your hair off.â€
“Big words from a midget who likes two kinds of blow,†Michela was seething.
“Look,†I stepped in, “Be nice, both of you. Don't sweat it, Kenny.â€
“She’s pissing me off!†I heard the pain in her voice.
“Honoring boundaries is essential here,†my eyes met hers and earned her trust.
I saw relief show on both girls' faces as we got out of the car. I held Michela’s hand in my right hand and had my left arm wrapped around Kendra’s body as we walked up to the door of Steve’s home. We were all defeated, but there were multiple rounds in this fight, so we were fighting to win the war still. I confidently knocked on the door and waited. I guess I should tell you that Kendra had shoulder length brown blonde hair and a stocky build without much muscle.
“You brought another friend, I see,†Mrs. Moreau was sympathetic to our situation.
“I did. Sorry to keep doing this without asking, ma’am,†I shivered with my friends beside me.
“We understand; Kristine has a similar story.â€
“See,†I looked at Kendra, “I told you, Kenny. It’s like a family here.â€
“Yeah,†I saw hope in her eyes, “You said it.â€
Kendra let go of me in one of her “tough girl†routines while I cuddled up against Michela, who gave me a kiss on the cheek. I barely noticed Kendra talking to Steve and quickly flying through the paperwork to do the gig. I realized that to have all this the Moreau’s had quite a bit of money that could not have come from running a modeling agency. Michela and I were invited to sit and cuddle on the couch, and we were all given cups of hot chocolate to enjoy. I was so cold that we were given a blanket to warm ourselves. I did the talking while Michela held me in her arms.
“You’re the world to that girl,†Mrs. Moreau observed.
“We were cell mates, so it’s a little bit natural,†I defended my vacant girlfriend.
“That explains it. You’re so much happier together.â€
“Oh, for sure. Come on, Michela, let’s go get dressed.â€
“Oh, all right. Coming, Kendra?†my spaced out lover let go of me.
“Just a moment. Here I come,†Kendra followed us to the basement.
I picked through the clothing pile and selected something really hot, just for Michela, who was going to be tying me up for the first time. The three of us shamelessly stripped, although Kendra kept her bra and panties on. Michela and I even stripped off our (shameful) sports bras. All of us wore sports bras exclusively, it seemed, and I do to this day. I put on a floral bikini top, some hose, a red garter, and a pair of matching blue heels. I drank my hot chocolate in one huge gulp and put the mug down on the nearby counter.
“Are you already done with that?†Mrs. Moreau asked me.
“I guess so. Been so long since I drank anything but water,†I laughed, but it was disturbing.
“Um… when was the last time you had anything but water?†she probed unknowingly.
“Probably before,†I froze a little and grew pale, “My boyfriend… Greg… Ummm….â€
“Hannah, what does that mean?†my lover noticed my disturbed spirit.
“Larsson, what did he do to you?†Kendra noticed I was hyperventilating.
“NOOOOO! I WON’T TALK ABOUT IT!!â€
Then I blacked out.