"Guard, come on! I gotta get outside. These walls are driving me nuts. Jarrod said.
"Shut up lifer!" came Billford's reply. "You'll get your chance like everybody else."
Billford was the largest of the guards here on the row. The man had arms like tree trunks, a chest wide enough to host a movie on like those old drive ins, and a smooth bald head. He was known as "The Bull" around "Hell's Gate". He had a way of coming at you with such force that the air in front of him rushed at you with the force of a hurricane.
"Come on Billford, I've been watching the shadows the bars create on the floor. It's my turn", replied Jarrod.
With a deep and booming voice came this speech, "Listen here you low life! You'll get your chance just like everybody else! You will go outside when I get good and ready to let you go outside! For all I care, you could waste away in that little tiny hole you call home!"
"Ok, wait a minute. I don't know what I've done to tick you off, but chill. All I asked was to be let outside, to get my fair chance at the outdoors", said Jarrod.
"Alright Randall", that was Jarrod's last name, "stop your whining. For a big nasty murderer, you sure are a wimp." Those words flowed as "The Bull" intentionaly unlocked the cell door at a snails pace.
"Nasty murderer?", those words struck fear into Jarrod. His stomach turned ice-cold from the sound of them. It was as if he had jumped into a pool of water just above freezing.
"Turn around killer", Billford said with a chuckle, "You know the drill."
Yeah, Jarrod knew the drill. Face the wall, hands behind your back and feet spread wide apart. So wide in fact you almost fell flat on your face. Lifer's or "The End of The Road Gang" as they were known, could not walk anywhere without being chained ankle to ankle and then another chain leading up to their waist. The wrists, cuffed behind their backs and attached to that second chain via a short extension. Sure, it was uncomfortable, but no further than the "end of the road gang" had to walk it was tolerable.
Sporting his "jewelery", Jarrod was off to the outdoors. To take in the fresh air, feel the warm sun pressing down on him, and yes to begin pacing again. Only this time the circle was much wider.
The turn of the key, and squeak of rusty hinges the door to the great outside opened. The sun burst into the short hallway like the flash from a camera in a darkened room.
Jarrod gave a squint. His eyes teared immediately in pain. The sudden exposure to the light played havoc on his visual senses. He was seeing spots and his vision was blured from the tears. Never the less, he enjoyed it. The feeling of the warm sun, the fresh air each drowning him in pleasure.
Billford handed Jarrod over to Talbot, the yard guard.
"Here ya go Tally, another dog to walk", said Billford
"Thanks Tom. You know, they're still people to. They have feelings just like you and me", pleaded Talbot.
"Yeah, sure whatever", said Billford as he turned to walk away, mumbling, "what a wuss."
The door clanged shut behind him with great force.
"Hi ya Jarrod. You doin ok ta-day", asked Talbot.
Jarrod liked Talbot. Why, he didn't know. Just found him very friendly and easy to talk to. He guessed it was Talbot's soft green eyes and quiet nature and they way he seemed to take up for everyone on the row.
"Yeah, I'm ok I guess", replied Jarrod.
"Well, I guess ok is better than dead. Don't ya think?", asked Talbot.
"Yeah sure Red, whatever you say."
Red was the nickname the lifers gave to Talbot. Talbot had hair so red fire engines were jealous.
"Not to talkative today Jarrod. Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm alright Red. Just put me in my "run" and let me be."
"Fine, turn around so's I can get ya undone", said Talbot.
Jarrod turned slowly around, staring at the sky as he did so. There's just something about seeing the blue sky inside of prison walls. It just didn't have the same blue.
Jarrod stepped slowly into his "run". That's what they called the 15 foot wide 40 foot long stretch of earth that allowed them a brief feeling of freedom.Save from the chain link fence that surrounded them, they were free.
Jarrod went to his favorite spot in the "run". Smack in the middle, letting the sun beat down on him. He plopped down on the ground like a ripened apple falling from a tree.
"Are you going to sit there like a bump on a log", asked the "Force".
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