I headed towards the common room swallowing the rest of my breakfast. Reaching the end of the long hallway, I entered a large room with a dull pink heavy door. I pulled it open to reveal 3 seats left. One of them being next to Watson, thank Jesus. H. Christ there was someone here i recognised. We waited what felt like forever before a CO wheeled a television and VR set into the room, he set it up ready to play. Piper quickly walked in looking for a seat.
"Sorry I'm late" she mumbled. The guard shrugged and told her to sit down. Despite being told not to sit on the seat she picked because it broke she flopped down on it. CO Thompson pressed play on the remote and a fuzzy pictured woman came on the screen. Watson couldn't help but snicker at what we were being told and i must admit i was holding in a giggle, it sounds more like boarding school than a prison. Utterly ridiculous.
Just when i thought it couldn't get much worse we were told we would have 'special guests' coming in to introduce themselves. First we had the guy who took our ID photos yesterday. He sported a moustache and came into the room holding a copper pipe. He stopped in front of us, holding it up.
"This is a piece of copper pipe. It was taken from the laundry room." He smacks it against the palm of his other hand "It's hard. This was used to break two ribs, could also be used to crack your skull, break your knee, muss up your make up. Amongst other things" he stated to rub the pipe up an down. I raised my eyebrows at him.
Next was the health professional to give us a talk on mental health in prison.
"Suicidal thoughts will come. Frequently" I think I'm beginning to have some right now, I wanted say, but bit my tongue as he continued "Some days, it'll feel like there are no other thoughts. 'Dot it,' they'll say 'End it'". I just slid further into my seat wishing for the session to end.
Next was Mr Caputo, he seemed to have more of a sane mind. Telling us what will happen during orientation period. I have to ask though, what is it with the moustaches around here? Maybe that's a question for Lorna or Nicky.
"You'll be assigned bunks soon. Uniforms will be issued next week. State your correct size on the form. No Baggy hip - hop pants. Yes I'm looking at you" He pointed to Watson, who just folded her arms and rolled her eyes. Wow racist much?
The last 'special guest' had to be my favourite. She ended up being the quickest person to greet us and say goodbye to us.
"Hello Ladies, I am Natalie Figueroa" Her voice was husky and she had all eyes on her as soon as she entered the room, even Piper tried to sit correctly on the broken chair. "I am the executive assistant to the warden. I try to visit often. If you have an concerns, specifically regarding your needs as women, please come to me. I will handle them personally"
I heard the woman in front of me, with long black hair mutter "yeah she will". My thoughts exactly as i watched her walk away.
After sitting in a stuffy room all morning, i was more than happy to go to lunch. Piper was a couple of people before me, when one of Red's serving ladies (Gina Murphy) took one look at the blonde and went on to the next person, handing them trays of food. When i got my own I muttered a quick "Thank you" and shuffled away. I found a seat with Jones and DeMarco, Lorna turned up with Piper after she tried to sit with an inmate called 'Crazy Eyes'. I looked over and she waved at me, i quickly turned away. She seems to have child-like behaviour.
"You know what? I'm just going to apologise" Piper said as she looked at the food on our trays longingly. "People make mistake. People say stupid things all the time" We all agreed whilst eating the food she wanted in her own stomach. "She's gotta understand that right?" We all looked at each other again and nodded.
That night we were all in bed, most of the room was asleep. Apart from Miss Rosa, Nicky, Piper and myself. Miss Rosa was filing her nails, Nicky was singing and eating pretzels, sneaking one down to me every now and then. And Piper, I think was having suicidal thoughts.
"You okay Chapman?" I heard Nicky's voice.
"Yeah"
"You know, I'd give you a pretzel but the walls have eyes and I'm not retarded."
Miss Rosa stopped filing her nails for a second before adding her thoughts "When I first got here, I had troubles like you. There was a disagreement. Then we brawled. That's how you settle things. If I'd have won, I'd have been la jefa. Thank God I've got cancer, Nobody fucks with cancer."
Nicky passed me another pretzel, i nibbled on it quietly. "Good talk" I said after swallowing the salty treat. Miss Rosa turned her torch off and Nicky shuffled down the bed. As i was nodding off i hear Piper's stomach make a noise. I sighed and turned over so my face was towards the wall and shut my eyes.
The next morning i found myself invited to the kitchen with Nicky and her prison family. They were all mourning a freezer called Betty who apparently finally gave up during the night.
"She was a good girl" Red said mournfully
Luschek the prison electrician and CO, was double checking the old thing was dead. Gina muttered "No one heard her go"
"Get over it, it's a freezer" I frowned at his words.
"Just because it's freezer doesn't mean we can't be sad to see it go. I bet you cry over your laptop breaking, how else are you supposed watch porn" i heard Nicky snicker.
"That is a shot inmate" Luschek said from the position he was in hanging from the freezer with an ice lolly hanging from his mouth. I just shrugged. "See, what happened was a breach in the main coolant. Big, nasty breach."
"What's the smell?" Tricia, a blonde woman with tattoos going down her neck asked.
"That's the Freon. Some people use it for huffing" I raised my eyebrows at him. "Makes for super intense, but short-lived high. Similar to crack but without the migraines" I just looked at him and crossed my arms. I saw Tricia and Nicky exchange a smirk. Clearly they've tried that trick before, i mean haven't we all. This wasn't exactly new information.
"Put those in Ice water. Don't stack those, Gina" Red was barking out orders behind us. I moved towards the frosted windows to give them a little more space. Miss Claudette then removed a frozen cat from Betty.
"Nice Pussy" I couldn't help it. The joke was right there. Nicky laughed and gave me a high five.
Red tutted "Don't ask" Miss Claudette just shook her head. "Thanksgiving is coming twice this year, ladies. Spread the word!" Suddenly Piper comes storming in the kitchen, looking around for Red.
"Okay, I understand what you have to do. I'm not a fighter. Go ahead."
"I'm a little busy here. Pick up those rags." Red replied shortly as she was moving things from the freezer to the sink across the room.
"I'm not going to swing first"
"Good"
"Just hit me and get it over with" Piper was now pleading with her, I genuinely think she might end up on her knees begging Red to punch her in the face.
"I said I was a little busy" Red's patience was running out and her Russian accent was getting stronger.
"I'm not leaving until you do"
"Three. Two. One" we heard Red mutter on under her breath leaning against the sink before she turned around to face the blonde. "You want me to hit you? Okay, get ready. You called my food disgusting. You're not getting hazed, you're not getting harassed, you're getting starved. To death" Red pushed Piper into the storeroom door. It's dirty, metal surface hit her back with a muffled thump sound. "You'll leave Litchfield as a skeleton in a body bag. Pow! Now, march your yuppie ass outta my kitchen"
Piper took a gasping gulp as she turned on her heel and almost speed walked out of the kitchen. "Slowly, so you don't burn too many calories!" Red called out to her.
Every Tuesday and Friday the commissary shop opened in the afternoon making it so prisoners were able to buy items they needed either from the money relatives sent in or from earning it whilst doing their jobs in the prison. I had somehow been dragged by Nicky to go with her and Piper to the little window in the corridor.
Whilst waiting in line, Nicky and I decided to play thumb wars. I don't know why but we just clicked these past couple of days since I've ended up sharing a room with her. She's been a great comfort me.
"Yo, y'all got headphones for movie night?" Poussey asked. Obviously not receiving the answer she wanted, I heard her slam down the pen. I looked away from the current thumb war making Nicky win with a smirk on her face. "That's some bullshit. I ain't tryin' to watch no silent movie"
"Sold out. Next" We heard Chang call out.
Nicky threw her arm around me as we moved up the queue. "Spanish ladies are calling you La Llorona, the wailing lady" she told Piper.
"Well you would've screamed just as loud if someone handed them a used tampon sandwich" Piper bit back.
"Oh yeah. Or if they saw an ex-girlfriend in prison" I chimed in. Nicky smiled at me.
"Hey, what's her name? Alex?" Piper turned to face Nicky, startled.
"What did she say to you?"
"Not a word. I just know dyke drama when I see it" Nicky tried to calm down.
"You gonna buy something or not?" Chang's voice stopped Piper from retorting.
"Yes. Hi, I should have some credit here. My fiancé sent a check on Wednesday"
"Take seven day to process" Chang replied to her.
Nicky unwrapped her arm from around my shoulders "You can use mine. It's not like you're going anywhere"
"Well aren't you a sweetheart?" I whispered to Nicky who flicked my ear.
"For Food?" Piper questioned.
"Fuck no" The redhead made her way to Chang and rolled her eyes our way. "Yo, Chang. Uh cocoa butter..." I looked at Piper as she whispering demands to Nicky from the wall next to barred window. What did she need rubber gloves for? I'm glad Nicky went for the butter, she doesn't sound like she needs to be locked in psych. "Okay. All right, you got a strainer?" Chang looked behind her to CO O'Neil for confirmation. She got handed a cup instead.
"This is a cup. Knock yourself out" Chang explained to Nicky. I snickered from where I stood, next to Piper.
After the evening meal, courtesy of dead Betty, so much corn and chicken was available. We were shifted back into the bunks ready to be counted again. Muttering could be heard from the hallways as we entered the room. Piper rushed in just as CO O'Neil made an appearance clicking as he looked around the room.
"All good. Thanks, ladies" he said as he exited our room and entered the one next door. CO Bennet then came in after him and clicked us all again. Nicky climbed up to the top bunk, Daya Diaz, pulled back her blanket to reveal some gum she must've hidden away earlier. Piper grabbed her cup and poured it into a little empty bottle ready to hand to Red.
Piper seemed to be in a happier mood as we walked down to the movie night held in the common room. Apparently the prison held one once a month showing various films the rented from the store or whatever the CO's brought in. I managed to get a seat on Nicky's right whilst Lorna sat on her left. It was a comedy tonight it seemed, the inmates were roaring with laughter. However, unlucky me didn't get any headphones from the commissary. Nicky noticed the bored, sulking look on my face and decided to share one of her ear phones with me.
As I was laughing at a joke, I saw Piper's head lean toward the person sat next to her, who shuffled away when they saw the blonde woman trying to listen in. Crazy eyes made her way over to the empty aisle seat next to her and put an ear bud in Piper's ear. I then watched as Crazy Eyes' hand moved up Piper's leg. Her mouth dropped open and she turned to look at me with her eyes wide. All I could do was laugh and give her the thumbs up. The next few weeks are going to be interesting for sure.
