DannyBoyinExile

The first time I was ever fired from a good job in TDCJ, it may have seemed like the end of the world – but it gets easier every time. I just hate that I never seem to get fired from the jobs that I WANT to get fired from!
Some inmates feel that once you’ve worked directly for a Major, any other job would be considered a demotion, but I disagree. Well, going to the mattress factory was definitely a demotion, for sure. But that was because the Major I worked for was promoted and left the unit, and not because of any wrongdoing on my part. So I was confident that I’d eventually get another good job.
After 30+ years in TDCJ, there isn’t much that I don’t know how to do. And I’m the sort of worker who LOOKS for things that need to be done, and does them, rather than waiting to be told to. (Some inmates won’t do something even AFTER they’ve been told to, but that’s another story, for another essay.)
The bottom line is, I do what needs to be done, quickly – and I have a good attitude while I do it. I knew that SOMEONE would want me to work for them (though it clearly wouldn’t be the Queen!), and they did.
The night shift Captain quickly got my job changed, and put me to work for him – basically doing the same thing I did before, except at night. (When the proverbial freaks come out!) haha
To my coworkers, and some of the staff, I was “the new guy” – but I quickly got their attention by the sheer amount of work I put in, not to mention all the things I did that noone else thought to do. Some people felt like I was trying to show them up, or make them look bad, but I firmly believe that NOBODY can make you look bad, except yourself. All I can do is make me look good! So I kept busy by cleaning windows, wiping down bars, or cleaning marks from the walls, rather than just standing around all night. My coworkers realized that that’s just how I am (and the hallways looked noticeably cleaner!), so I became a valuable member of the night shift crew. Alas, it was not to be…
One night, an unexpected visitor DID come out at night, in the form of the Queen – who showed up at 5am, rather than the Majorly time she normally came to work.
Clearly, I’m a more outstanding worker than even I suspected, because she noticed me right away.
“Matthews! Are you an SSI?”
“Yes, ma’am, I work for the Captain.”
“Who hired you?”
“The Captain, of course.”
“Let me see your ID.”
So I showed her my inmate ID card – which she promptly took a picture of, with her cell phone. I immediately suspected some fuckery (I mean, trickery!) was afoot, and my suspicions were correct. Later that day, my job was changed to Inside Medical Squad (meaning I don’t work at all), and I was fired again.
If I was guilty of working too hard, I apologize – but I’ll make up for it by NOT working, even harder! I’m honestly not sure why the Queen doesn’t like me to the extent that she does, but it’s clear that she doesn’t. All I can do is be me, and do my best to overcome this setback with the same attitude that I’ve overcome the rest!
A wise woman once remarked that a person’s love can be fake – but their hate is real. And that’s something we should all think about, before we do anything to make someone dislike us.
I go out of my way to be a good worker, and a good person overall. I don’t do any of the things that cause most people to get fired, and I even worked directly for the highest ranking officer on the shift – but if the wrong person doesn’t like you, that matters more. When it comes down to it, I’m still just an inmate – and that matters most of all. So says DannyBoy.