The officer finally removed my cuffs. Dark red rings encircled my wrists. I remember thinking he had placed them too tight on me but I would have done the same had I been the officer. I’m a big guy after all.
I rubbed my chafed wrists and took in my surroundings. I sat on a bench in the middle of the station. Cops wandered around, all business. When I’d show them a smile, they’d either roll their eyes or turn away. The stench of bar smoke radiating from my shirt drowned the rest of the odors. The few jail cells I saw held multiple prisoners (I think they’re called prisoners in a county jail). They weren’t anything like you see in the movies. There were no bars, nothing but a small, thick window placed in the cell door, criss-crossed with wire.
They escorted me to the nearest cell. The cells were larger than I originally thought, but there were also more prisoners squeezed in than I assumed thought possible.
The cell’s dimensions were about six foot by twelve foot, with extra space at the end for the toilet. A short cement wall stood between the throne and the rest of the small room. A pleasant surprise after all the movies I’d watched showing the prisoners use the restroom in the center of the cell. At least a dozen men crowded the cell, tight enough that I didn’t dare raise my elbows. The door closed behind me. I stood at the front of the small group, noting that almost every set of eyes focused on me. Some of the prisoners were short, some tall, some huge.
The cell’s dimensions were about six foot by twelve foot, with extra space at the end for the toilet. A short cement wall stood between the throne and the rest of the small room. A pleasant surprise after all the movies I’d watched showing the prisoners use the restroom in the center of the cell. At least a dozen men crowded the cell, tight enough that I didn’t dare raise my elbows. The door closed behind me. I stood at the front of the small group, noting that almost every set of eyes focused on me. Some of the prisoners were short, some tall, some huge.
“So… What are you all in for?” My stomach flipped end over end as soon as the words left my mouth. The stereotypical saying didn’t sound as cool as it does when said in movies.
After a long pause, they all cracked up. Music to my ears considering where I was.
The rest of the night went smooth for the most part. Over a period of hours, they removed every prisoner except two others and me. I sat on the stone bench with my arms crossed, leaning back against the cold wall. I pondered the evening’s events and my actions.
That’s when it began. A low moan echoed through the cell. My eyes slowly opened. I searched for the strange sound, barely audible over my cellmate's snores. I heard it again right before the splash of water.
That’s when it began. A low moan echoed through the cell. My eyes slowly opened. I searched for the strange sound, barely audible over my cellmate's snores. I heard it again right before the splash of water.
Toilet paper flashed through my mind, along with the current location of my other cellmate. An hour and a half this went on. I wish I were kidding. Snores, moans, a putrid odor… And don’t forget about the occasional splatter of water.
I really didn’t sleep after that. If I did, it wasn’t more than seconds at a time. Eventually, the snoring stopped and the black man sat up with a wide grin, renewing my fears. He's not too big, about six feet. Hope he's not in here for any violent crimes, rape or something. Maybe he's a murderer... Nah, they wouldn't put me in with a hard‑core criminal. I'm just a drunk driver... never committed a crime, never had an accident, never been in jail. Look, Officer, I didn’t want to kill any babies; I just wanted to get home from the party. You expect me to walk home from Tampa ‘cause I drank some beer? Says 'Safe Driver' right on my license. They wouldn't... None of us spoke until breakfast. I’m not sure what time, but it was early, a cop entered with three small brown paper bags. He handed one to each of us and left.
