While
standing in line for breakfast, Mikai came out and made an
announcement.
“I'd
like to say good morning to my fellow inmates. To my Spanish
brothers, hola. Someone stole my blanket and replaced it with a
shitty one while I was in visitation.” His voice got louder.
“That’s not mother fuckin' cool!” Mikai told me the previous
day how his cell mate, Pruane, gets picked on constantly. They stole
his pants, beat him up, and play tricks on him. I guess it trickled
down to Mikai.
>
“I'm
a grown ass man!” Mikai shouted, “I WILL FUCK SOMEBODY UP!”
Silence.
It was 5:30am. Everyone just wanted to eat and go back to bed.
Lunch
rolled around and I was just waking up from missed sleep. I was one
of the last ones to get a tray so I was the last one to get a seat. I
went from table to table but like Forrest Gump, all the seats were
taken. I settled at a table with 3 occupants 1 of which was a tall
lanky while Muslim who introduced himself to me yesterday as W.M in
his thick Baltimore accent.
“Thanks,”
I said, “everyone else shunned me.”
“Well we won't shun you. We don't know you well enough yet to shun you.”
“Well we won't shun you. We don't know you well enough yet to shun you.”
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
It's
hard judging the kindness of people. People are malicious and
tainted. I'm the new kid on the proverbial and literal block. It's
obvious I'm currently commisarryless. I've been approached many times
today with offers.
“I
have 2 soups for you if you want them.”
“No thanks.” I'd politely reply.
“Hey I got a bowl.”
“Thanks but no thanks. I'll buy one next week.”
“You need books? Let me know.”
“Maybe.”
“No thanks.” I'd politely reply.
“Hey I got a bowl.”
“Thanks but no thanks. I'll buy one next week.”
“You need books? Let me know.”
“Maybe.”
For
all I know 3 weeks down the line they could come back to collect. I
took one soup from an old Hispanic man in a wheel chair, Wheels.
“Where
you from friend?” he asked.
“Upper Darby,” I replied
“Ah ok. A lot of guys here are from there. You know what, I'll get you a soup.”
“Upper Darby,” I replied
“Ah ok. A lot of guys here are from there. You know what, I'll get you a soup.”
Before
I could reject him, he used his one functioning leg and kicked
himself to his cell. He returned with a beef flavored soup.
“It's
yours. I don't make people pay me back. I try to be nice to
everyone.” This is true. Everyone is cliquey but Wheels was one of
those people who talked to everyone.
