Doing Time

by Nicole Phoenix

This is the first in my Tales From Lardner series. It follow a younger Vern Schillinger through a four year term in Lardner State Correctional (the other prison they speak of on the show.) Doing Time recaps his first two weeks.

2. The Crime

November 3, 1975

Vern began to worry. His sister, Greta, had left the house earlier that evening, but she hadn't returned. Him and his friend, Bobby, left in search of her.

"Greta, Greta." they yelled, as they drove throughout the city.

Suddenly, they heard a young woman scream.

Greta was his first thought. Vern and Bobby ran toward the voice. It was Greta. Some black guy had her pressed against the wall in an alley, raping her. Vern didn't ask questions, he began to level the man with punches. The man recovered quickly and tossed Vern against the brick wall. He, then, picked up a brick and smashed Vern in the face with it. The blow had such brute force that Vern was knocked to the ground, his mouth bleeding and his jaw broken. He recovered, pissed off and embarrassed. Vern grabbed the guy and smashed his head into the wall. Filled with rage, he found a lead pipe and beat the hell out of the man. The only thing that stopped him was Greta crying, scared that he must have killed the man.