Clack Clack

The door to the quarantine section opens up. The air smells rank, dense with despair... and someone(s) definitely shit themselves recently.

I think it smells worse because all my senses are on high alert.

“Watch it! You almost rolled over my foot,” Tad says to Scrappy, building up momentum for their mock fight.

“It’s not my fault if you’re not paying attention,” Scrappy claps back.

“How many times do I—”

I tune out the vocal noise and focus on the task at hand. I spot a copper heading toward Q’s cell, so I quicken my pace to get there right as it opens.

Q stands in the doorway with a bundle of clothing in one hand and a garbage bin in the other. He up-nods at me. I return a slow, down-nod to signal I’m on board.

The cell door pops open, and the copper doesn’t even check Q’s clothing bundle. He just heads straight inside, trying to get his nose through this section as fast as possible.

The plan kicks off smoother than I hoped because Q had the foresight to fold one corner of the sticker’s sticky side onto itself, allowing me to pull it free without fumbling.

Smooth is not what I wish my palms were right now though. The sweat is making the sticker slide around, and I have to clutch it in my fist while awkwardly gripping the garbage bag. Q walks off to get in line, and I can hear Tad and Scrappy arguing in earnest. The copper coming out of Q’s cell heads to the next one, but his attention is locked on the commotion my comrades are creating.

Now’s my chance. I deliberately step out of one of my Crocs. As I bend down to slip it back on, I lift the garbage bag to hide my movements. I only have one free hand to peel open my sock and shove the package inside.

After securing the drugs and sliding my foot back into my Croc, I stand and scan the room. No one on the bottom level is even looking my way, but as I glance upwards my heart skips a beat.

Up on the second tier, leaning over the railing, Officer Parker is staring down at me.

Fuck. What is she even doing up there? From that angle, she could’ve seen everything.

I have no choice but to act like nothing’s wrong.

When I come into view of Tad and Scrappy, I give them the down-nod that we’re good. I pray that we actually are.

“You know what? The real issue is these old squeaky carts,” Scrappy says to the lieutenant who’s watching them from the copper station.

Tad chimes in. “Yeah! These things are falling apart. Lieutenant, how about getting us some new ones before somebody loses a toe?”

Lieutenant Farkle responds through his thick white mustache. “I think they work just fine for what they’re made for.”

“This cheap-ass jail,” Scrappy says. “You’ll regret it when you get slapped with a million-dollar lawsuit for maintaining a hazardous work environment.”

“That’s enough chitter-chatter,” the mustache says. “Back to work. You’re holding up the line.”

Paranoia lingers in my shadow as I go through the motions of my job. I’m just waiting for Officer Parker to stop me and demand to know what secret I tucked into my sock.

But she doesn’t.

Every time we come within speaking distance, she only gives me that same unreadable look.

The time drags at a miserable pace as we move through the fourth and final section.

We’re almost back to our own section, and Officer Parker still hasn’t given me a single clue about what she’s going to do.

Clack Clack

We’re back.

Scrappy doesn’t know what I know when he asks Officer Parker, “CO, can we watch a movie tonight?”

“What do you think, after what y’all pulled this evening?”

“What do you mean?” Scrappy asks before anyone else can speak.

“Oh, come on. Just because I’m blonde don’t mean I’m dumb. I know you and Tad fighting was just a ruse.”

Oh shit! We all think it at the same time.

Tad responds swiftly. “He really did almost—”

“Like I said, I ain’t buyin’ it. I know you guys have asked for new carts before, but nothing moves quickly here. Y’all know that it’s stupid to try and create a scene just to force change.”

Phew! The other three are probably thinking.

“We just take our job very seriously,” Scrappy says like he’s a boy scout.

“I see that, and I appreciate y’alls strong work ethic,” she says, looking at me the whole time. “Which is why I’m going to say yes to a movie tonight.”

Tad praises her immediately. “CO, you’re the best CO in here, you know that?”

“I know,” she squeaks from the copper station.

I can’t tell if her mood really is changing that fast, or if she’s just acting. Either way, I feel like something else is going on behind those eyes right now.

She pops the TV room door open, and as we walk in, she says, “The laundry closet does need organizing and cleaning tonight though. I already know you guys would vote for the newbie to do it, so Knight are you ready to put in some overtime?”

 We all freeze.

I’m already halfway in the T.V. room when Scrappy speaks first. “Normally we would, but he’s had a rough day with some news about his family. We can give him a pass this time.”

Thank the gods for Scrappy’s quick thinking. I just want to get this heavy rock off my shoulders.

“Well, I think some cleaning will help take his mind off things,” she retorts.

I finally decide to speak for myself. “It really has been a long day. I wouldn’t mind learning the next time around.”

But Officer Parker just won’t relent. “Look, if you don’t think you can handle the load of a laundry trustee, then maybe we should find a replacement who actually wants the job.” Her threat removes any remaining resistance.

“No need for that,” I rush to say. “I’m good for a little cleaning. Like you said, maybe it’ll be good to take my mind off things.”

“Okay Dokey, off we go!” she says, walking towards the section door.

As I pass Scrappy, I ask, “How long does it usually take?”

“Won’t take long, maybe a half hour. You good?” he asks.

“I’m good. We’re good.”

We confirm it with a knuckle punch.