6 &

My eyes flew open of their own accord. Same time every morning. So damn early that if I were home I'd still be calling it last night. Here, it's this morning. I'm staring up at the vent stuffed with tissue. It's freezing in the cell but they never turn the ac off. Keep it cold to control the germs. Not like you can open a window for fresh air, right? I turn over on my side, the rough blue dickies chafing under my arms, the height of fashion. Here it comes. Right on cue. The clang as the locks on the first teir release sounds like some kid walking down a street hitting a metal fence with a wrench. One after the other like domino doors. The ritual begins.

"Up and attem Ladies. Count. Let's go, let's go Ladies. Count." This was accompanied by a bang on the door if you didn't move fast enough. I heard the c.o. give someone's door a kick. Probably Maxie's. That broad was slower than molasses on a winter day. I didn't see what took the other chicks so long to step up and out. It wasn't like you had to get dressed for a date or nothin'. I mean damn, we did this every damn day. Every damn day for almost a year....

"Come on Ladies. Move it or it's in-cell today." I thought that was some really dumb shit to say, if you'll pardon my French. It's in-cell everyday. Every day we're trapped in these cells, so why threaten us with eating lunch here? It's not like you were gonna take us out for pizza today.

I roll down off the top bunk and look at my sleeping partner. I swear this broad can sleep through anything. Gets her more than her fair share of in-cell days. I snatch her by the back of her jumper and tug her out of the bed laughing as she flounders then falls.

"Ah come on N.Y., it's too early for your shit!"
"Get your ass up, it ain't too early for count. Attilla working today."
"Shit."

Yeah I agree. Shit. I step into my showershoes hike my ill-fitting jumper up a little so the cuffs don't drag on the floor. I hit the door just as it clangs open with Red close behind me.

"One more time Ladies. Cooooooooooooooount."

It never ceased to confuse me, them calling us ladies and caging us like animals. I step over the threshold and shuffle to the line up next to my cellys, blinking in the harshly glaring flourescent light.

They call us one by one. Last name only. Like I had so many other mornings, before I answer, I tick off another day on the internal calendar. My heart's a little lighter today. It will get a little lighter tomorrow. I've got 6 more days. 6 days and a wake-up....