Her life with a Gangster

In prisons around the world, almost every day was a special day for a particular prisoner. It would be the day when he becomes a free man and picks up the title of 'ex-convict'. Spending so long a time behind bars can be very trying. The isolation, the loneliness, the quiet. The prisoner is cut off from the society, but not for nothing. He is kept locked mainly for the good of the society and also for his own good.

The quiet and free time gives him more than enough opportunity to think things through and perhaps regret his actions, so that when he is finally released, he would be positively useful, not only to himself but to the entire society at large. But how often does this happen?

It was Thursday, the eve of John Baldwin's special day and he was looking forward to it with as much anticipation as his little frame could muster. He had been arrested and imprisoned for possession and dealing in heroine. Up until six months ago, he had been serving his sentence in a medium-security prison before he was brought to finish off the sentence in Ramsden or so the records said. Now walking leisurely in the yard, he could not help but try to imagine what exactly would happen with him after tomorrow.

"Yo Johnny? Wadup?"

John looked sharply behind him to find his friend and cell-mate, Henry Gonzalez running after him with no small difficulty due to his enormous size. Both men were about the same height, but Henry was much older and had a very large belly which was quivering as he fell in step with John.

"Tomorrow's your day, right?", he asked breathlessly.

"Yeah. Can't wait for tomorrow."

"Look at ya. Ha ha. Can't wait for mine too, you know. Wish we could swap places."

"Not on your life."

Henry laughed loud and long. John stopped and looked at his friend, his large bass-like mouth was turned upward, howling a laugh that sounded like a hyena's. He knew from experience that if he let him, Henry would keep laughing till he fainted. John punched him on the shoulder in an effort to get him serious again.

"Wha... what say you, I kill you now and take your place, huh?", Henry gasped between laughs.

"Impossible. But hey, you haven't given me that stuff."

Henry was suddenly serious again. He looked furtively around and huddled closer to John. Clearing his throat, he put his hand into his large overall through the neck and after a lot of struggling, pulled out a piece of paper that was folded into a tiny square shape. Glancing furtively around again, he handed it over to John.

"There's the whole thing, man," he whispered. "Directions and numbers. Everything you need."

John nodded enthusiastically and quickly hid it away.

"Thanks man."

They shook hands and embraced. Just when John thought he would get pulverized, his large friend released him and held his face with meaty hands. A couple of slaps and pats and Henry was on his way, his large belly leading the way. John stared at the heavy figure of his friend rushing across the yard. He couldn't imagine how he managed to breathe at all with such a large belly. He shrugged and patted the part of his overall where he had stowed the all-important paper. Just then, the loud prison alarm blared, announcing the end of yard time and John had to join the crowd of prisoners heading for their various cells.

***

It was early evening and Henry was snoring just few feet away from him and John, knowing the talkative nature of his friend, knew that it was the best time to do what he wanted to do. He brought out the paper Henry had earlier given him and carefully unfolded it. He glanced back at Henry again before perusing the little document. He found that it contained exactly what his friend had promised him: phone numbers and directions to Henry's friends on the outside.

Studying it minutely, he memorized every detail and silently recited them over and over again until he was satisfied that everything was committed to his elastic memory. Time was of the essence, so he quickly folded the paper and tucked it into the tiny space between the last bar and the wall before going to sleep.