On my third month in prison, I was starting to realize I would never see my babies again, I wanted to hold them and kiss them and bake cookies for them just like I used to. I accidentally bumped into someone on my way to my usual eating table one afternoon.
"Oof." I muttered.
The woman was large and threatening, I could see a tattoo of a serpent snaking itself around her bulky arm muscles, she glared at me. "Watch where you're going bitch!"
"I...I'm sorry." I quickly apologized.
She tossed my tray of food to the floor causing the other inmates to look at them.
"Great, now there's gunk all over my good boots." She pushed me back.
"I said I was sorry." I begged.
Two women stepped behind me.
"Well now, you gotta clean it, with your tongue! " She yelled at me, I flinched as the women held both my arms and forced me to ground as I begged for mercy. The other inmates cheered as the two goons forced my face to the boots. Tears spilled out of my eyes.
"Larson! Quit that and get back to your table now!" A guard shouted over the noise.
"Sure, we was just playin'." Larson the big lady smiled at the guard.
"Get up and get your tray filled again." The guard had told me.
I thought I had escaped humiliation that day, but what I didn't realize was that Larson had the right connection. I heard my cell gate open one night and before I knew it, I had fallen off the top bunk and she was beating me up yelling. You think you can escape me bitch! My cellmate didn't even raise an alarm, neither did anyone in that hallway.
I was beaten so bad, with fistcuffs I broke my arm.
It happened for a week. The warden only gave me medication when she found out. Larson was in solitary confinement for three days maximum. I had to endure doing all her chores, her laundry, serve her meals, give her my clean sheets, anything to avoid getting killed.
After two years, I started practicing on my own, how to defend myself, doing workouts, whatever I could to be prepared. Larson was diagnosed with a fever one time, and was in the clinic for treatment, the guards were easy to pay off, I beat her up, her henchies couldn't stop me, I gave her three broken ribs, a black eye, she had to go in for surgery. Everyone couldn't believe what had happened to her, but she never forgot, never stood up to me ever again, and if she tried, I made her remember how I almost killed her.
Zack opened his mouth in surprise as I finished my story. We were in the canteen, other ranch workers were listening in and I had to say, I've never had an audience in a while. They looked at me with discomfort and shock.
"That was so awesome, you could have killed her." Zack said in excitement.
"You know, I didn't care back then, it was self defense, and you only attack the weak at the lowest point, just like how women snag one of you idiots." I fold my arms.
They ooed in disbelief and cheered.
"You sure he should be listening to this." Nigel asked giving Mark a look.
"Yeah, he's a big boy, can take a few stories of prison life." I winked at Mark and ruffled his hair.
Mark winced at me.
"Boy, the only stories you should be listening to is from war veterans and not from ex-convicts, you just might get the wrong idea." Easton spoke up, causing uncomfortable stares.
"Lay off, man." Mark told him.
"That's enough Chloe, come on, let's all get back to work, Mark don't you have homework? " Wendy asked.
"Whatever." Mark grumbled and left the canteen.
"You heard the woman, back to work." Easton ordered. He looks at me as the men filed out of the canteen. Oh boy.
Soon, I'm waiting outside Scott's office, I hear Easton and him speak softly. I lean by the wall kicking a rock. Easton walks out.
"He wants to see you." Easton says.
I walk in, Scott is pouring himself a cup of coffee. He looks at me.
"You look like crap, not sleeping much, I know I'm not." I make myself comfortable on his recliner, I hadn't sat in a real chair in days.
"Easton says you're giving the men ideas and whatnots about your prison days, and that is unacceptable, I told you, I don't want anyone thinking I'm hiring ex convicts in my ranch." Scott said.
I stood. "Sure, big strong men afraid of a woman sounds like another day in the world." I stepped closer to him. "And are you afraid of me Mr Anderson?"
He stared at me. "No."
"Well you should be, because I killed someone years ago, spent most my life away from everyone I loved, so you should be very afraid, Scott." I touched his cheek. "But the truth is, I really was innocent."
I gasped when our lips touched. What was I thinking? I hadn't been with anyone in years but i felt an electric chill down my spine. Someone opened the door, I stepped back quickly, as Wendy came in.
"Oh, have you been fired?" Wendy asked.
I did feel some fire alright. I looked at Scott, who was clearly taken aback by the kiss, he folded his arms.
"No she hasn't, but will be when I get one more report, back to work ladies." Scott said.
* * *
Lisa had shared a room with her twin sister since the day they were born, their Dad had painted one side of the room baby pink and the other side purple, purple was her side, she had her own bed which was sort of messy, clothes beside her bed, comic books, posters of her favorite band on her walls.
Lana's side of the room was neat and perfect, just like her grades and everything she did.
She hated this house and everyone in it, if she had any control over her life, she'd get out of this lame town. She scrolled through her photo gallery on her tablet when Lana walked in and dropped her backpack on her bed.
"I'm so done with my bio lab partner, he's so lazy and incompetent. " Lana groaned.
"Just like everyone around you." Lisa muttered.
"Huh?" Lana asked.
"I said, that's a huge bummer." Lisa shrugged.
"What are you looking at?" Lana walked over to Lisa and swiped the tablet.
"Hey, that is not cool!" Lisa yelled.
Lana bursts into a series of laughter. "Oh my gosh, it's my lab partner."
"Yeah, and he's also happens to be in art class, it's from that field trip in NYC last year." Lisa takes back her laptop.
"Yeah, and you just happen to have a personal picture of Mark. That is so sad, you have a crush on him." Lana giggled.
"Get over yourself." Lisa grumbled.
Lana giggled and laid back on Lisa's bed. "You know he's an idiot right? Got held back a year and you have a crush on him, so sad."
"I do not have a crush on him, you're so annoying, get off my bed." Lisa yelled.
"Quiet down weirdo." Lisa sat upright. "You know who I saw yesterday at Papa's grocery?"
Lisa rolled her eyes, Lana wasn't going to stop teasing her at all.
"Mom." Lana said.
Lisa looked at her. "No, way."
"Yes way, Bobby recognized her, you know because you never stop showing him her photographs, and she was right there in front of us." Lana whispered.
Lisa tried to take in all of this. "Wh...what did she say? When did she get out?"
"She was in denial, different like a whole new person, it has been ten years, can't believe I forgot and she didn't even care." Lana said.
"You can't be serious, I don't buy it." Lisa stood. Deep down she felt, hopeful, hell she was excited.
"You don't have to believe me, just ask Bobby, and I'm glad she hasn't visited, because I wouldn't want Bobby to be around her, I'm sure Dad will agree, I haven't told him yet." Lana stood.
Lisa looked at her sister. "Who are you to make all the decisions in this family?"
"I'm being logical here-"
The door creaks open and their step mom Stephanie comes in holding Bobby's hand. Stephanie had proved to be a good parent since their dad married her, it was hard accepting her but after so many years, Lisa had gotten used to her 'motherly nature'. She had one child with Dad, Mikey, he's four, and was almost as obnoxious as Bobby. Stephanie sported a shoulder length darker blond hair, and had a slim body.
"Hey, girls, any idea why Bobby keeps talking about your mom." Stephanie asked.
"Why do you say that like she died or something?" Lisa asked.
Stephanie chuckled nervously. "Lisa I'm worried about Bobby obviously, he shouldn't -"
"She's back in town, Bobby's right." Lisa interrupted her. Stephanie looked shocked to hear that.
"Honey, I don't even know if this is true or not." Stephanie said.
"So you wish it wasn't then you'd be so relieved." Lisa said.
"Lisa." Lana whispered.
"Elizabeth, don't you dare use that tone on me young lady, no more disrespect from you and it is not okay." Stephanie said.
"You're not my mom, never have, never will be so stop telling me what to do." Lisa gritted her teeth with that, she ran out of the room ignoring Stephanie's calls.