"Coming in there Wicker-man" Boss Paul said through the door. Wicker-man got off his chair, reached for his sliver keys and unlooked the padlock on the inside of the door.
Boss Paul, Boss Dean, Luke and the Captain walked in to the bunk hut. Boss Paul and Boss Dean dropped Luke to the floor. He hit the wooden floor hard. The Captain walked in front of Luke, and managed to stand in a place so that all the prisoners could see him make an example of Luke.
"You run once, you get yourself a set of chains. You run twice, you get yourself two sets, you ain't gonna need no third set coz your gonna get you mind right...and I mean right" Captain starts to walk off. "Cool Hand Luke."
***
Luke had been back at Chain Gang 36 for a week. In that week he'd been in the box (courtesy of Boss Paul) and had been butted with the rifle about a million times. By the end of the week he was happy that he had a day and a half to rest up for Monday.
"Luke" Boss Paul called across the yard. He signalled for Luke to come over. Luke slowly made his way across the yard. His chains clinking as he did.
"That's Boss Keens ditch. There's dirt in it and it's your dirt. What's your dirt doing in his ditch?" Poss Paul said as Boss Keen throws a shovel on the ground in front of Luke.
"I don't know Boss." Luke said half heartedly.
"You better get in there and get it out boy" Both the Bosses walked away.
***
Luke had dug about a metre into the ground. Boss Shorty walked up
"What's this?" Boss Shorty said with his tooth pick hanging out of his mouth.
"Just getting my dirt out of Boss Keens ditch Boss."
"Well to hell if you think your gonna put your dirt in my yard...let's get in out of there".
***
"I thought I told you to get your dirt out of Boss Keens ditch didn't I?"
"Yes Boss"
"So how come it ain't out?"
"I don't know Boss"
"You don't know" Then Boss Paul pushed Luke to the ground. Finally tired of being pushed around by Paul Luke retaliated against him. Luke attempted to know Boss Paul to the ground, but Boss Paul hit him on the head with his baton. Luke fell to the ground. He then rolled over, picked up the shovel and began digging the hole again.
***
After dark but before 8pm.
"What's all this dirt doing here?" Boss Paul said in a taunting way. Luke looked up at Paul, put down the shovel and leaned on his right arm.
"I don't know Boss" Boss Paul drew back his cane and his Luke right on the head and kicked him back into the 'grave' shaped hole.
"Don't hit me anymore...Oh God, I pray to God you don't hit me anymore. I'll do anything you say, but I can't take anymore". Luke said as he started to sob.
You got your mind right, Luke? Boss Paul asked.
"Yeah. I got it right. I got it right, boss". (He grips the ankles of the guard) Luke said back obediently.
"Suppose you's back-slide on us?" Paul asked hoping to hear the correct answer
"Oh no I won't. I won't, boss". Which he did.
"Suppose you's to back-sass?" Again another question to get the right answer
"No I won't. I won't. I got my mind right" By this point Luke was sobbing wildly
"You try to run again, we gonna kill ya". Said with a stiff upper lip.
"I won't, I won't, boss".
