Chapter 16

After showing the guards her papers, Jenn was told to get on one of the buses outside the prison. Everyone on the bus was completely silent, and after her experience at lunch the previous day, Jenn quickly decided it would be in her best interest to keep quiet and just do as she was told. Jenn watched as the bus took a short drive out of the city and onto what appeared to be a country road.
“All right! Off the bus!” one of the guards barked, and all the prisoners walked in an orderly fashion, row by row.
“These prisoners are remarkably well behaved,” Jenn thought. “The guards must have an awful lot of power over them.” Jenn soon learned that the prisoners were expected to pick up all the litter on the side of the road. It wasn’t difficult work, but it was hot, and Jenn was soon exhausted. Unfortunately the only break she got was at 1 pm when they stopped for 20 minutes for a lunch of what seemed to be mostly bread and water. Not particularly hearty fare.
Around five o’clock they got back on the bus, and rode back to the prison. The ride was as uneventful as the entire day, until they were almost back at the prison.
A car ran out in front of the bus and the driver of the car ran out screaming and shouting. The bus stopped, which caused just enough commotion for one of the passengers in the back to open the back door and jump out. With all the commotion hardly anyone seemed to notice. "At least, " Jenn thought, "nobody said anything that would indicate that anyone else noticed." But Jenn didn't say anything either. When everything was back to normal the bus started moving again, and they were on their way back to the prison. As soon as they got off the bus they were herded back to their cells. “I’m so exhausted,” Jenn sighed as she lay down on her cot.
“You’re in luck,” Matt replied. “You’re just in time for dinner.”
“I hope I don’t waste all my time filling out forms and then completely miss dinner,” Jenn said snarkily.
Matt laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Fortunately you only have to do that once.”
“So, what did they have you doing all day, Jenn?” Matt asked.
“I had to pick up trash in the hot sun. Fun.”
“You’re lucky.”
“How so?”
“There are a lot worse jobs you could have than picking up trash.”
“Like what?”
Before he could answer her a guard walked in. “Don’t worry about it, you’ll find out soon enough.” Matt quickly finished.
“Dinnertime,” the guard announced. “Please follow me.”
Jenn was beginning to get used to being led everywhere she went. She was even getting used to the constant supervision. The lack of privacy while going to the bathroom was starting to get to her though, and she was hoping that she would soon be able to change her clothes or at least take a shower.
After her third day, things were starting to feel a bit routine. She followed the lines through dinner, and ate in silence at her table like she had the previous day. For Jenn, meal times were normally full of conversation and friends. It was now, at dinner, that Jenn began to really miss them.
When Jenn arrived back in her cell, Matt was already there. He was reading a book.
“Hi Matt,” Jenn said. “You got here quickly.”
“Oh, not really.”
“So, what are you reading? Something good?”
“Just a novel.” He continued reading, then stopped. “But actually, I think I might have a book you might be interested in. Have you ever heard of Darien Mallory?”
“No, should I have?”
Matt’s eyes widened. “You haven’t?” he stammered, unable to contain his surprise. Then he thought for a moment and laughed it off. “You know, I’m not really surprised about anything you say anymore. I think I might actually understand if you told me where you came from.”
“I doubt it.”
“Well, at any rate, I think I have a book you might be interested in.” He reached over and tossed it to her.”
Jenn looked at the cover. The Life and Times of Darien Mallory. “What a creative title,” she thought. “I hope the rest of the book can live up to it.” With that she settled in and began reading.