When you’re a prisoner the Kanga is always worth keeping an eye on. Like parents finding chores for kids that complain that they are bored, it doesn’t do well to be standing about when a Kanga is on patrol. When one hears the jangle of keys it pays to scatter and look busy, sweepings will be swept and the like.
Well this morning, at 5-45am I was washed, coffeed and had broken my fast as I made my way up the hill towards reception. I had been offered a job you see – a real one in the real world – and after 4 months of checks and scrutineering I was finally starting work. May I say, your minimum wage means that In every 90 minute period I earn the equivalent of 1 week’s prison wages! Woo Hoo!
So at 5-45am as I walked up the hill this Saturday morning I must have been the first to head out – for I disturbed a nefarious posse of miscreants skulking and skulldugging. Like prisoners to a Kanga, these rabbits scattered as I approached. They didn’t venture far, but they went in different directions and paused – waiting to see which one, if any I would pursue.
By the time I had walked 15 feet they had resumed their interactions, much like prisoners who resume what they were doing before the kanga came past. At 6am I am on the road with my licence in my hand and the prospect of earning 6 weeks wages in a single day.
And the best thing about it all? Well there are a few wins. At lunchtime I can eat what I fancy that day – not what I ordered from the menu 10 days ago. I speak to people all day about people things, there are no drugs, no nickings, no probation, no paroles and no bleating on about the injustice of it all.
At 7pm it will be back to camp for a shower, some food and an hour of TV – I will be in bed shortly after the 8pm roll check before the 5 am alarm of tomorrow. Between 13 hours at work and 8 hours sleep I’m technically only doing 3 hours jail per day – and two hours of that are getting ready before work and getting ready for bed.
A life sentence is a terrifying prospect – and rightly so – but the system can be made to work. I’d like to think that I am proof of that. With patience, resilience and determination there are great opportunities to achieve rehabilitation in here. And there are rabbits.
