{"id":3499,"date":"2025-01-19T18:43:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T02:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/?p=3499"},"modified":"2026-01-08T15:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T23:47:50","slug":"prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/2025\/01\/19\/prison\/","title":{"rendered":"Prison – \u2013 A Short Story from my collection Short Songs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Miranda goes to visit her ex-boyfriend Hench, who is also her former martial arts instructor, in Jail, even though she has her qualms about visiting her abusive and violent ex.<\/p>\n

This story is featured in my collection of short stories entitled Short Songs<\/a>, featuring characters from The Rise and Fall of Skye Wright series<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/center> <\/p>\n

     \u201cAre they gonna search me?\u201d
\n     \u201cYeah. But it\u2019s no big as long as you dress down.\u201d
\n     \u201cDress down?\u201d Miranda was looking through her clothes as she talked to Skye on the phone.
\n      \u201cDon\u2019t wear any gnarly band shirts,\u201d said Skye. \u201cAn\u2019 nothing too revealing.\u201d
\n     \u201cYeah, not gonna wear anything sexy to a men\u2019s prison. But why no skull shirts?\u201d
\n     \u201cIf you wear something that looks too fucked up they could deny you entry.\u201d
\n     Miranda stood straight. \u201cReally?\u201d
\n     \u201cF\u2019real. Dress down. Wear something plain.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat about a regular band shirt? One that doesn\u2019t have, like, a rotting skull on it?\u201d
\n     \u201cThen it depends on what kind of mood they\u2019re in, and which guard you get. Stick with something plain.\u201d
\n     Miranda knew that Skye had visited friends in prison before. Even though Miranda knew people who had to do time, she had never gone to see any of them while they were in lock up.
\n     She started digging through her clothes. She knew she had regular civilian wear somewhere in her closet as she tossed aside band shirt after band shirt, but it had been such a long time since she had worn any of them that they had eventually migrated to the deeper recesses of her wardrobe.
\n      \u201cYou sure you wanna visit that guy?\u201d asked Skye. \u201cWe practically had to break his arm getting him off of you that time he attacked you outside a\u2019 Gilman.\u201d
\n     \u201cHe\u2019s not gonna attack me during a prison visit.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou sure?\u201d
\n     \u201cHey, that wasn\u2019t the first time he jumped me.\u201d
\n     \u201cDamn girl.\u201d
\n      \u201cWe had plenty a\u2019 fights. And you know, sometimes it was me kickin\u2019 his ass.\u201d
\n      Miranda managed to move enough clothes out of the way to find a few plain black turtlenecks. \u201cAre they gonna get bent outta shape about black clothes? Because I ain\u2019t got nothin\u2019 that\u2019s not black.\u201d
\n      \u201cShouldn’t be a problem.\u201d
\n      Miranda stood straight as she held up her plain black top. \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m not actually sure I want to go out there.\u201d
\n     \u201cOkay. But you\u2019re still gonna go?\u201d
\n     \u201cI think I kinda have to. It\u2019s a have to thing, rather than a want to thing.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou\u2019re not obligated. Especially with a creep like that.\u201d
\n     Miranda threw the black long sleeved shirt on her bed and took out a pair of black slacks. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to explain, but yeah, I owe him enough to visit him at least once. It\u2019s something I should do.\u201d<\/p>\n

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<\/p>\n

     Miranda was used to getting stared at\u2026
\n      But it felt different in the waiting room.
\n      The room was full of other women, some who were alone, and more than a few with children.
\n     She saw women with rough faces and scores of tattoos. Some of them had tattoos peeking out from the cuffs of their long sleeve shirts. She could tell that they had all dressed down, as she had. Her vision superimposed their true natures, as she could easily see the frayed jackets, skimpy Walmart clothes, and biker t-shirts that they no doubt normally wore.
\n     She was surprised when she went through security. She expected a lot more scrutiny, or at least some gawks, stares, or possibly snarky comments from the guards, who remained stoic and business-like during the entire check in routine.
\n     A thin woman with a swath of red hair and wearing a yellow dress sat down next to her as they waited for the meeting room to open. \u201cI ain\u2019t never seen you here before. Your man jus\u2019 get locked up?\u201d
\n     Miranda screwed up her face. \u201cWell, he\u2019s not really my man.\u201d
\n     \u201cOh. Family?\u201d
\n     \u201cMy ex.\u201d
\n     The woman\u2019s eyes became wide. \u201cNo shit? That\u2019s a new one.\u201d
\n     \u201cYeah, for me too!\u201d
\n     A guard called out to let them know they were opening the room. They checked people in one at a time. As they waited, only the chatter of children and the direction of the guards broke through the silence.
\n     When it was Miranda\u2019s turn, a guard led her into a wide, cafeteria-like room and led her to a table. Half of the visitors were already talking to prisoners while herself and the others sat at their tables, still waiting.
\n     Miranda looked to the door where prisoners periodically came through. She sat back and straight in her chair, both feet on the floor, bracing herself.
\n     Her heart skipped a beat when they brought in a tall man with dark hair. Her skin bristled when she realized it was not Hench.
\n     After what seemed like long moments, a short, bald-headed guard brought him out. She knew it was him when she saw his short and disheveled black hair.
\n     His face was thinner, giving him sunken cheeks. He looked as if he had done a poor job shaving.
\n     Miranda kept sitting, even though other visitors had stood up to hug their men.
\n      The guard stopped at the table as Hench stood, looking right at Miranda.
\n      \u201cHello Hench.\u201d
\n     \u201cMiranda.\u201d
\n     Hench sat down and nodded to the guard.
\n     Hench folded his hands on the table. \u201cThanks for coming out.\u201d
\n     \u201cSure.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou get hassled comin\u2019 in?\u201d
\n     \u201cNaw. Skye schooled me on proper visitation attire.\u201d
\n     \u201cRight. Your friend who almost broke my arm.\u201d
\n     \u201cThat\u2019s the one,\u201d stated Miranda matter-of-factly.
\n     Hench looked down at his hands. \u201cSo, how have you been?\u201d
\n     \u201cGood. Life is good. My band\u2019s really taking off.\u201d
\n     Hench looked up as if he was surprised. \u201cReally?\u201d
\n     \u201cYeah. Don\u2019t you read the papers? Or at least listen to music in this joint?\u201d
\n     \u201cI wasn\u2019t into that scene. Not like you were. Are, I mean.\u201d
\n     \u201cI also started up a country music act with my old partner Sweetheart.\u201d
\n     \u201cNo shit? Isn\u2019t that the one you hit on? The one who turned out not to be into girls?\u201d
\n     Miranda crossed her arms. \u201cYep. You know my friends.\u201d
\n     Hench unclenched his hands and leaned back. \u201cAre you still with that Preston dork?\u201d
\n     \u201cThat \u2018dork\u2019 is one of the best guitarists I\u2019ve ever met. And I know like, five thousand guitarists.\u201d
\n     \u201cSure. Does he know you\u2019re here?\u201d
\n     \u201cOf course he does,\u201d said Miranda as she did her best to maintain her composure.
\n      Hench looked slightly embarrassed. \u201cHe really doesn\u2019t mind you comin\u2019 out to visit me?\u201d
\n     \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure if he would or not. I just\u2026 I couldn\u2019t not tell him.\u201d Miranda lowered her eyes. \u201cI couldn\u2019t do that to him.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat? Not tell him you\u2019re visiting an ex in jail?\u201d
\n     Miranda looked up at Hench. \u201cIt\u2019s not the kind of relationship where I can just lie to him about what I\u2019m doing.\u201d
\n     \u201cAnd he really don\u2019t have a problem with it?\u201d
\n     \u201cHe said he wasn\u2019t crazy about the idea, but he understood.\u201d
\n     \u201cUnderstood what?\u201d
\n     \u201cThat exes are part of my life.\u201d
\n     \u201cDamn. Where did you find him anyways?\u201d
\n     Miranda leaned on the table. \u201cAt a little library.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     \u201cWe ran into each other in the middle of the night. We were going to the same little library.\u201d
\n     \u201cThat sounds hella gay.\u201d
\n     Miranda narrowed her eyes. \u201cOnly a goddamn rockhead like you would say something so stupid,\u201d she hissed.
\n      \u201cOkay, yeah,\u201d said Hench as he held up a hand.
\n     \u201cSeriously, do you even have an IQ above a hockey score?\u201d
\n     \u201cOkay, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\n     Miranda leaned back. \u201cSounds like you\u2019re just jealous.\u201d
\n     \u201cJealous? Why would I be jealous of someone who\u2019s on the outside and dating you?\u201d
\n     Miranda raised an eyebrow.
\n     \u201cI mean, c\u2019mon Miranda, is he really all that?\u201d
\n     \u201cHe used to be a drug dealer.\u201d
\n     Hench\u2019s eyes became wide. \u201cSeriously?\u201d
\n     Miranda nodded. \u201cMeth. Him and Skye used to supply half of San Francisco with gofast back in their day.\u201d
\n     \u201cSkye? Your guitar player?\u201d
\n     Miranda nodded again.
\n     \u201cDamn,\u201d said Hench. \u201cI thought he was just another goofy punk from the Gilman scene.\u201d
\n     Miranda winced. \u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019d go out with someone like that?\u201d
\n     Hench laid his hands flat on the table and dropped his head. \u201cYeah. My bad.\u201d
\n     Miranda held back an angry tremor. She glanced at the guards who were standing around the hall. They were not focused on anything in particular, but they also did not seem to be bored or blase.
\n      She could tell they were ready to move, if they had to.
\n      Miranda tried to remember her principles as she did her best to repress her seethe. \u201cSo how have you been doing in here?\u201d
\n     Hench\u2019s eyes darted around. \u201cTryin\u2019 to get used to this place. I gotta hang out with those Aryan Front guys.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou\u2019re no fascist. I mean, you\u2019re a violent prick, but you\u2019re not a fascist.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be a Nazi to hang out with those guys. Just a paleface.\u201d
\n     \u201cBut do you get along with those guys?\u201d
\n      \u201cThey\u2019re really into my martial arts training. They\u2019ve been asking me to show them some moves.\u201d
\n      \u201cNo doubt.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou know, this place has been\u2026 doin\u2019 things to me.\u201d
\n     \u201cThings?\u201d
\n     He leaned towards her and lowered his voice. \u201cI could probably snap your neck before you could react. I could do that, right now!\u201d
\n     Miranda narrowed her eyes at him. \u201cWhat the fuck is wrong with you? You asked me to come see you in this place, and I showed up. Now you\u2019re gonna talk to me like that? Do you even care that I\u2019m here?\u201d
\n     Hench sat back, putting his hands flat on the table. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\n     \u201cBesides, I\u2019d break your arm before you could touch me.\u201d
\n     Hench looked for a moment as if he was going to say something, but then his face relaxed.
\n     \u201cYou use your moves on anyone lately?\u201d asked Hench.
\n      Miranda shook her head. \u201cI\u2019ve broken up a few fights, but that\u2019s about it.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou should stay sharp. Try and find a good dojo and keep up.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou\u2019re probably right.\u201d Miranda narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. \u201cIs that why you asked me to come here? To see if I\u2019ve been keeping up with my martial arts?\u201d
\n     \u201cNaw. I wondered if you could help me out with my storage.\u201d
\n     \u201cStorage?\u201d
\n     \u201cI gotta lotta things in storage and I gotta move it. I can\u2019t afford to keep it up. Some of it\u2019s equipment you could use. Y\u2019know, some heavy bags and gloves, and a few weights.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhere the fuck am I gonna put that stuff? I live in an apartment.\u201d
\n      Hench bobbed his head around. \u201cSome of it\u2019s stuff you can get rid of, but there\u2019s a lot of things I wanna keep. I need someone to sort it out and find a smaller storage space.\u201d
\n      \u201cAnd you\u2019re asking me? Of all people?\u201d
\n      Hench slowly shook his head. \u201cI couldn\u2019t find anyone else who was willing to come out here.\u201d
\n      Miranda sat and looked at Hench as he looked down at the tabletop.
\n     Her mind roiled with mixed feelings.
\n     \u201cI think you really should try again, and get someone else to do it,\u201d said Miranda. \u201cI really don\u2019t have the time to deal with all of your junk. I mean, I\u2019m in two bands right now, and I\u2019m doing some work for Skye.\u201d
\n     \u201cHonestly, I didn\u2019t ask too many people.\u201d He fixed his eyes on her. \u201cOnly the people I can trust.\u201d
\n     Miranda let out a long sigh. \u201cOkay, maybe I can store your exercise stuff at my friend Lee\u2019s gym. And I can help you rent out another storage space. A smaller space, for whatever else you want to keep.\u201d
\n      Hench sat quietly. He looked as if he did not know what to say.
\n     \u201cAnyone else come out here to visit you?\u201d asked Miranda.
\n     Hench blinked and shook his head.
\n     \u201cReally? Not your ex Cindy? Not Housh? Not even Chuckle?\u201d
\n     \u201cNope.\u201d
\n     Miranda leaned on the table and gave Hench a hard stare. \u201cYou\u2019ve been using in here, haven\u2019t you?\u201d
\n     Hench\u2019s face dropped.
\n     He stayed silent.
\n     \u201cIs it just booze? Or is it something else? It is, isn\u2019t it?\u201d
\n     \u201cJust a little booze now and then,\u201d he replied quietly.
\n     \u201cBullshit. You\u2019ve been gettin\u2019 high.\u201d
\n     Hench leaned on the table. \u201cThere\u2019s a ton of meth in here. But I avoid that shit.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou found something else though, didn\u2019t you?\u201d
\n     \u201cThis place\u2026 I ain\u2019t a jailbird. I know I\u2026 I ain\u2019t used to this shit. I gotta do something to take the edge off.\u201d Hench dropped his head. \u201cYou\u2019re the only person who\u2019s come out to see me. That storage shit ain\u2019t no big deal. I just needed to see someone on the outside.\u201d
\n     Miranda sat back, trying to resist the empathy she was feeling.
\n     \u201cI should probably go,\u201d said Miranda.
\n     Hench looked surprised for a quick moment before he nodded. \u201cTell Preston I said hi.\u201d
\n     Miranda stood up. \u201cRemember what I said? When you asked me if Preston was gonna protect me from you?\u201d
\n     Hench\u2019s expression became serious. \u201cYeah. I do. You said\u2026 you told me you were gonna protect him. That if I touched him, or if I hurt him in any way, you were gonna kill me.\u201d
\n     Miranda steeled her eyes. \u201cYeah.\u201d
\n     \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna do anything. Trust me.\u201d
\n     \u201cTrusting you isn\u2019t something I\u2019m interested in.\u201d
\n     Miranda started to walk away.
\n     \u201cWait, jus\u2019 a sec.\u201d
\n     Miranda stopped and turned around.
\n     \u201cCan I get in touch with you again? I mean, about stuff other than the storage deal?\u201d
\n     Miranda glanced at the prison guard who was walking up behind Hench.
\n     \u201cYou can,\u201d said Miranda, \u201cbut only on certain conditions.\u201d
\n     \u201cOkay.\u201d
\n     Miranda fixed her eyes on him. \u201cYou have to clean up your act. No drugs, no alcohol. Start going to the meetings in here. And don\u2019t try tellin\u2019 me there ain\u2019t no meetings in here. I already checked!\u201d
\n     Miranda could have sworn that Hench looked surprised.
\n     \u201cI can try,\u201d said Hench.
\n      \u201cAnd you can\u2019t contact me directly. You have to talk to Preston first.\u201d
\n     Hench\u2019s face fell. \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     \u201cHe\u2019s gonna talk to you about your sobriety.\u201d
\n     \u201cReally? Your clean and sober boyfriend is gonna tell me about cleanin\u2019 up?\u201d
\n      \u201cYes. That\u2019s the deal.\u201d Miranda paused so Hench could let it all sink in. \u201cTake it or leave it.\u201d
\n     The guard walked up behind Hench and glanced at him, as if waiting for his response.
\n     \u201cOkay,\u201d said Hench finally. \u201cI\u2019ll take it.\u201d
\n     Miranda gave Hench Preston\u2019s number.
\n     The guard started leading Hench away.
\n     Miranda could have sworn he looked bewildered.
\n     As Miranda walked out of the meeting room, she could not help a smile. <\/p>\n


\nShort Songs is avaiable on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
Just click on the pic!<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n
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https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/book\/short-songs-tales-from-the-punk-side\/
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\nYou can find the entire Skye Wright series below.
Just click on the pic for the series!<\/strong><\/p>\n


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https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/book-series\/skye-wright-series\/<\/a>
\n<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Miranda goes to visit her ex-boyfriend Hench, who is also her former martial arts instructor, in Jail, even though she has her qualms about visiting her abusive and violent ex. This story is featured in my collection of short stories entitled Short Songs, featuring characters from The Rise and Fall of Skye Wright series.      …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nPrison - \u2013 A Short Story from my collection Short Songs - Terminal Berkeley Denizen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/2025\/01\/19\/prison\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Prison - \u2013 A Short Story from my collection Short Songs - Terminal Berkeley Denizen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Miranda goes to visit her ex-boyfriend Hench, who is also her former martial arts instructor, in Jail, even though she has her qualms about visiting her abusive and violent ex. 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