Today is Friday, and every Friday we are told the Warden comes for inspection at 7:15am. So far, he is a no show.
The day starts over the loudspeaker. “Time to wake up. Get dressed. Be ready for inspection around 7:15am”.
Since I’ve been here, he has shown up once, but other times the assistant warden with a few others will show up, but today no one. It’s typical. And by the way, it’s not an army inspection at all. I thought it would be given the name ‘inspection’ but I’ve been taught either way to always keep my bunk and cube in tip top orderly fashion.
Now as we all wait, around 20 or so are fully dressed mulling around the tvs in the cafe area…some watching the tv, some eating and some just pacing.
My friend from the garage was near the doors, and I told him two things jokingly. “One, take the day off.” (since Garage was not heard over the speakers, this would be our sign to go to work, but since no “Garage”, we are off), and secondly, “You know what? You can go home on Tuesday!”
I was joking of course, but also ecstatic for him as he literally is leaving for home or the Halfway House on Tuesday after a 6 month stay. We laughed while 2 others overheard us and smiled as well, but the laugh was a real laugh. In fact, one of the bystanders thought I was only joking, so I said, “Nah, he really is getting out of here”. My happiness for him is so real. It’s a feeling I can tell most guys definitely feel for their comrades. I will miss him even more as he is also someone I’ve gotten to know being a work buddy, but this is the norm I am getting used to.
My friend who is leaving looked at me and said “On my way out, I’ll leave you the keys!”
Good for you my friend and safe travels.
People we see on a daily basis out of nowhere are not here. One guy just the other day left at 10pm for South Carolina to be entered in their RDAP program (drug program) to help with his recovery as part of his sentence. No fan fair. No goodbye cakes. No long goodbyes. In fact, I was on my top bunk, looked at him as he was leaving and did a right hand fist bump with him and said “Safe travels my man”.
I know that day will come real soon for me as well as everyone else’s. Each of us will have our day when the journey changes location as we will be one day sooner with our loved ones.
