Break Time

I tried not to attract any attention as I walked into the mess hall.

It was no use. I had barely gotten two steps in when the guard bellowed at me.

Daddy? Where have you been? Have you been on the toilet all that time? Were you on your phone? It's time to feed the little boom, get over here?!

The guard sounded pissed. I hope she didn't really know I was on my phone communicating with the outside world when I claimed to be on the toilet.

You don't mess with the guard. I just want to keep my head down until I have served my sentence and get out of here.

I took my seat reluctantly beside Fat Kid. He was grunting like a devil monkey and jamming a banana into his mouth. When he saw me his face lit up with an evil smile and he threw the banana onto the floor.

The guard stood.

Pick that up.

It wasn't a request.

I picked up the half-chewed banana, trying not to vomit at the smooshiness of it. I put it back on Fat Kid's tray. The guard nodded.

I hated sitting next to this guy. I knew he had designs on running the joint. Only last night there had been a scuffle in which he had grabbed my jaw with a meaty hand and shook my head angrily around like he was a window cleaner and I was a wet rag.

Fortunately for him, the guard had arrived before I got the shiv out.

The guard slammed down some burnt bread and something she claimed was eggs. It didn't look any different from the smooshy banana. I pretended to enjoy it.

Fat Kid grunted to catch my attention. I looked up at him. Holding my eye he held the banana out over the side of his chair. And dropped it again.

I rolled my eyes.

Daddy! Pick that up?

The guard looked stern but I could see a cruel laughter behind her eyes.

I picked up the banana and put it back on Fat Kid's tray. As I did, I noticed he had a piece of burnt bread in his hand. It was hovering over the side of his chair.

Don't you dare?

I thought.

He dropped it.

I pretended to ignore it but the guard was having none of it.

Pick it up.

Her voice was flat. Like the pillows in this joint.

I picked it up just in time for him to drop his water cup over the edge. I picked that up too, only narrowly avoiding the banana as it was flung at my head.

I picked that up. They were pushing me too far. I knew they were trying to break me but if that's what they wanted they had picked the wrong man.

His burnt bread landed on the ground again. He chuckled as if the world were a grand joke. Then he screamed and tried to push his whole fist into his mouth.

It was obviously a veiled threat for later.

We all looked at the burnt bread on the floor.

I glared back at Fat Kid then the guard in defiance.

I ain't picking that up.

Oh ain'tcha?

The guard sneered. She got up and marched round to my side of the table. As she did she knocked over my water sending it splashing all over my lap. An accident, of course.

Oops.

She lifted Fat Kid out of his chair.

You're on clean-up. I will see you later.

She hissed.

She marched out of the room with Fat Kid.

I looked at the wet mess that surrounded the table. So she would see me later? Maybe it was the special cuddles again? Damn. I take it back.

Maybe she will break me after all.