Jail bait

I hadn't been inside the prison for long, when I realised that I was under scrutiny.

I was listening to the tall skinny fellow droning on in a high nasal whine about the impossibility of escape, when I got the feeling of eyes on me.

Turning slowly, I looked across to my right, standing a few feet away was a big athletic looking guy, and he was looking me up and down, much the same way a guy might cast an appraising eye over a sleek sports car, or a powerful racing boat... Or a buxom, bikini-clad babe.

As I watched him watching me, his gaze travelled appreciatively back and forth across my body, lingering here and there.
His lips were pursed into the kind of look someone gets about them when they're assessing the value of a purchase before they part with their cash.
I got the feeling that he was imagining something else roving all over my body, his gaze eventually worked its way back up to face level, and when he caught my eye he winked at me.

Not a full 'eye completely shut, head-twisting' wink, more like a tic in his lower lid, but a wink nonetheless.

then he raised one eyebrow slightly, pursed his lips and he blew me a kiss!
He blew me a goddam KISS!

Oh Christ, I could feel a ball of tension starting in my guts. This was all I needed.
I'd never had to deal with this kind of situation before, and I felt the first stirrings of unease worm their way through my stomach.

I'd heard about the things that went on behind bars. Scenarios from various prison films I'd seen throughout my life kept popping into my head.

I glanced around at the others, no-one else seemed to be aware of what was going on.

I thought maybe if I ignored him he would just leave me be.

I looked around at the depressing concrete walls and floor, god, what a place to have to live in.

I hoped my face wasn't reflecting the discomfort that I was feeling. If there was ever a time I needed to look like I could handle myself, this was definitely it.

Some of the inmates had spent over twenty years in this shit hole, jeez, my eyes had barely had time to adjust to the gloom, and I already felt like I'd done half a life sentence.

Turning back to look, I took stock of my admirer.
He was powerfully built, and I'd be willing to bet that he was well accustomed to pumping iron, Christ, he looked like he ate dumb bells for breakfast. He was about eighteen stone of pure muscle, and had a chiselled, eastern European look about him.

Great, I'd barely walked through the prison gate and I was getting the glad eye from an Arnold Schwarzenegger look-alike.

I wondered what the chances were of me fighting off a guy that size if push came to shove.

My fear intensified as scenes from 'The Shawshank redemption' wormed their way into my mind.
Images of Tim Robbins being brutally attacked by the vicious Sisters.

I made my way deeper into the throng, hoping for safety in numbers.

No good, he just followed, nonchalantly pushing his way through after me.

The next time I plucked up the courage to glance at him he'd returned his gaze to my backside again, This situation was not looking good.

For the next two hours or so, wherever I went he was never more than a few paces away.
Watching, looking, leering suggestively.

I wish to god that I could just walk out of the door and go home.

But I was in here now, and I'd have to deal with it, wouldn't I?

I glanced over in his direction again… oh Christ, he had moved closer.

I wasn't exactly sure what to do about the situation. I looked over at the tall skinny guy who was still talking, but didn't really expect any help from that quarter.

I walked slowly along the landing, peering into the cells as I passed, running my hand over the cold steel bars, anything to distract my mind from what was happening.

The tall, skinny guy was still rambling on, I couldn't tell what he was saying, the only thing my frightened mind could concentrate on just now was dealing with the predicament I was in.

I became aware of a slight movement at my side...

I felt the velvety light touch as the back of a hand brushed against mine... Oh jeez!

Without looking I just KNEW he was standing next to me.

And then he spoke.

“Hi, I'm Scott”

I turned to face him, looked him in the eye, and said “Look Scott, I'm not that way inclined, so why don't you try your luck somewhere else, huh? And if I catch you looking at my backside just one more time I'll break your goddam jaw.”

His face took on an expression of surprise and he stepped back a pace, he opened his mouth as if to say something, seemed to think better of it, then he turned around and walked off into the crowd.

“Right, Ladies and Gentleman.” Said the tall skinny guy. “ We hope you enjoyed your tour of Alcatraz prison...blah...blah...”

I turned on my heel, and joined the rest of the tourists as we started making our way back down towards the ferry.


©2010 Stephen. J. Green.