Get a Job

          “About damn time that you decide to join us, Cutter!” 

          Cutter tiredly looks to the left of the room and sees his partner, Officer Hale. Cutter says in response, “morning Hale. My bad but central took their sweet time getting my keys and sending the elevator down. Say where’s Langston?” 

          “Langston is out on COVID that which means she won’t be getting back till the 19th. It’ll just be the two of us until then.” Hale replies.

          Cutter pinches the bridge of his nose and states, “Dang, that’ll make things slightly harder, but luckily we only have to do change out on level 13 and 2 today. So, are we going to 2 or 13 first?” 

          Hale gets up off his chair and points two fingers upwards, indicating to Cutter that they’ll be working on the 2nd floor first. As Hale and Cutter arrive at the laundry, they notice that none of the clothing racks are complete except for one. Hale exclaims, “That lazy son of a bitch! He knows that there are no Laundry Officers on Saturdays, now he’s screwed us over by doing this shit!” 

          Cutter exhales and tells Hale that there’s no point in stressing out about the clothing racks. Instead, they’ll work with what they got and take the day in stride. Hale reluctantly agrees as he starts to pull the rack out into the hallway, “Sign the rack out, make sure that it’s for level 2 pod Charlie!”

          “Already two steps ahead of you, Hale!”

          As Hale and Cutter get inside the elevator and taken to the 2nd floor, Hale tells Cutter, “We’re not going to take on any requests of staff today, don’t have the time for that especially if we’re going to have to do both our job and laundry’s job.” 

          Cutter nods his head in agreement. The elevator stops on the second floor, and the duo takes the rack along with the dirty laundry bin out with them then stops by Charlie Pod. Cutter gets on the radio and states, “Central Control, can DST get an override entering 2 Charlie?” 

          As the sally port doors open, Hale immediately takes the clothing rack inside as Cutter takes the dirty laundry bin. Upon entering the pod, the inmates yell, “Changeout!” in a drawn-out fashion. Hale takes the top tier while Cutter stays down on the bottom floor. Hale lets out several inmates to go downstairs and get their fresh set of clothes from Cutter. After the top tier finishes receiving their clothes, Cutter begins to open up the bottom floor cells and have them pick up their clothes that are lying next to their doors. As he opens up cell #1, an inmate picks up his clothes and states, “Cutter, let me out. I need to ask Hale something.”

          “Nah, man, you know how this works. You pick up the clothes then you get back inside, but I’ll tell Hale to come by your cell when we are done with changeout.” As Cutter is about to close the cell door, he notices that the inmate’s foot is blocking the door so it won’t shut. 

          The inmate responds, “No, I’m gonna get out of my cell and talk to Hale so you're going to let me out!”

          Cutter responds, “That’s not how it works, get your damn foot back inside your cell or we’re gonna have a major issue on our hands!” 

          Upon hearing this, the inmate begins to push against the cell door and forces his arm outside the door. Cutter yells out, “Get your arms back inside, and don’t you dare push out on me!” When Cutter realizes that the inmate won’t listen to several of his orders, he calls out to Hale for assistance. As Hale starts to run down the stairs, the inmate pushes open the door in response. Cutter shoves the inmate back into his cell and shouts at the inmate, “Stay back or I’ll pepper spray the shit outta you!” 

          Hale approaches the cell as Cutter shoves the inmate back inside and locks the cell door. Once the cell door locks, Cutter starts to yell at the inmate, “You stupid son of a bitch! You are no longer an orderly, I’m having you tanked and 10 David’s calling your name.”

          Hale calms and advises Cutter to continue with changeout as he speaks to the inmate. Hale tells the inmate, “You can’t be doing that man, I already told you that I’ll speak with you once we’re done and now you do this? You do know what’s going happen, right? He’s going to write his report, you’ll find yourself on level 10 pod D, and that a place you don’t wanna be in.” 

          “I know Hale, but we’re orderlies we have to help.” The inmate says defensively.  

          Hale replies, “I know, man, but we get told to lock you down, and you can’t be touching an Officer!” As Hale and the inmate finish talking, he calls Cutter over as the inmate wishes to speak to him. When Cutter approaches the cell, the inmate begins to apologize profusely and asks for a second chance. Cutter knowing that the inmate is a hard worker, he has always been respectful, and that he hasn’t given him any trouble before. Cutter acknowledges that and decides not to have him written up for his actions. Cutter allows the inmate to have the benefit of the doubt, gives him a second chance. However, he gives him a forewarning that if it were to happen again, he wouldn’t be so kind. They part ways with a simple fist bump. Cutter and Hale work the rest of their shift without any further issues.