DannyBoyinExile

The last few months have been relatively easy for me, work-wise. The last few weeks: not so much. Since I’d already done most of the major detail work in the mattress factory, maintaining it was much easier. And if my presence wasn’t required, I didn’t feel like I needed to go for nothing – so I missed it as often as I could. Forced to decide between STANDING around in the mattress factory all day, and LAYING around in my cell, it wasn’t a particularly difficult decision to make… Besides – my cell has a tablet, which is just about GUARANTEED to keep me occupied!
Now that I work in the Captain’s Utility Squad, and my immediate bosses are the Captain and the Major, missing so much work is out of the question. (That is, unless I want to go back to the mattress factory!) There are only a handful of us, and we keep the whole unit squared away. When the Major decides she wants the pickets cleaned (or the pipe chases, or the fans, or whatever else), we better be on hand to do it.
I must admit that I love it. I mean, cleaning the officers’ bathroom is nobody’s idea of fun, by any means. But I love being one of the guys they call on (depend on, actually) when something needs to be done, and I like the fact that what we do is very visible. People can see the results of our efforts, so it matters, and doesn’t feel as if it’s a waste of my time.
I also love the exercise. I’m on my feet, and active, all day long. I walk miles (cumulatively) up and down the halls each day – and all the wiping, polishing, scrubbing, or sweeping definitely counts as exercise, too. I’ve used muscles I hadn’t used in so long that I’d forgotten them – until they were sore the next day!
I even enjoy being a “public figure”, mingling with everyone on the unit each day. It has made me sharpen up my people skills, for sure. Imagine the most overzealous guards, who LOOK for inmates committing some sort of infraction that they can say something about. I see them every day. Imagine the most loud, disrespectful, cantankerous inmates here, and I interact with all of them each day, too. That, also, is good for me. Even on your side of the fence, you have to deal with people who are rude, impatient, dishonest, or disrespectful – but you have to learn how to deal with them, and defuse potential altercations before they escalate. If I can do that in here, I can do it anywhere.
Your job makes a difference, especially in prison. It’s not just a job, but a routine. Your whole schedule (even your lifestyle) changes along with your job. There’s probably not one inmate in a hundred who could last at my job – and even less who could do it as well as I do. But it suits me. I saw the Major the other day, and thanked her for giving me a chance. If she ever sees me with my pants hanging too low, it’s not because I’m “sagging”, but because I’ve been working my ass off for her! =-) (just kidding)
I feel pretty good, right about now. I’m staying positive, and making the most of my situation. I’m polite and helpful to everyone I encounter each day – and I’m keeping out of trouble as well. If that doesn’t make me a “model inmate”, I don’t know what does… So says DannyBoy.