Shayna Talbot looked out the dust-caked bus window,staring out at the vast whirlwinds of nothingness.The bus had been moving swiftly down the highways and interstates for eight hours already,from 5:00 in the morning to now.She guessed it was around seven o'clock,though,judging from the way the sun painted the sky with streaks of red and orange.It was sweltering on the bus,and the guard's white-hot stare made it worse.It wasn't this bad in her hometown of Birmingham,Alabama,and it would definately take some getting used to.There were holes dotting here and there as far as her brown eyes could see.She took a deep breath,instantly remembering what she would be doing for the next 24 months.

"It's your own fault you were sent here,"she reapeated the words the surly guard two seats ahead of her had said when he first saw her.She wasn't wering any handcuffs or restraints,so she hiked up the neckline of her wifebeater,which she knew the guard was gaping at.Who could blame him?The bus slowed to a halt outside a lot of run-down looking office buildings.She walked regally down the aisle of the bus and jumped out.She followed the guard inside one of the buildings.When she walked inside,the heat seemed to slap her in the face.It was as bad-if not worse-as outside.There was a man with a heavy beer stomach behind a desk.His Elvis-like sideburns hund to his jaw,and he looked a little unhinged.

"Siddown."He motioned to the chair in front of him."So you're Shayna Talbot,huh?"

Shayna nodded.She hated the way he said her name in his drawling Texan accent.She fiddled with the duffel bag in her lap.

"You're here for two years,darlin',and you'd better get used to the way we do things here,hear?"

"Yes,Sir."

"That's Mr. Sir to you.Now,there's only one basic rule here for you:no messing around,and you know perfectly well what I mean,"he warned as she wiped the clueless expression off her face."You dig holes here to build up your character,five feet each way.That means the hole'll be five feet deep and five feet across.Follow me."

Shayna walked behind Mr. Sir to another building,noticing curious stares from the boys following her.Loud catcalls echoed in her ears.She felt safer when they got inside the building.Mr. Sir threw two orange jumpsuits at her,both of which landed on the floor.A pair of Army boots followed.

"Undress and put on one of those,"Mr. Sir ordered.Shayna begrudgingly did as she was told.She teased the boy with the greased-back hair behind a table by undressing slowly.She smiled when she saw his expression.Old habits died hard."

"You get these two sets of clothes,"Mr. Sir continued,"and put one on for work,and another for relaxation.After three days,relaxation becomes your work set,and the other'll be washed.Back to the holes;when you dig,your shovel is your measurin' stick,and only after the hole's finished can you return to camp."

A short man walked in.He had a horrible red face,and he was only and inch taller the Shayna herself,who was only about 5'5.

"Shayna?You may have done some bad things,but you are not a bad person.We all respect you,and we want to ensure that you go back to respecting yourself."

Shayna almost laughed.The line seemed well-rehearsed.

"Well,if you'll follow me,we'll get you settled in,"he said brightly."My name is Dr. Pendanski,and I'm the counselor for D-Tent,where you'll be.It stands for 'diligence'."

Shayna felt more stares burning into the base of her neck.She felt like everyone knew why she was here.When she got into the tent and Pendanski had given her the rest of the 'Welcome' speech,she fell back onto her bed and pulled her stuff out of her bag and stowed them in a crate next to her cot.She turned on her smuggled-in CD player and started listening to Motley Crue.

That sux for an opening,but I hope you could a least tolerate it!Please review,and I'll continue the story.It'll get better.