Today was anything but an ordinary day over in the maximum/medium compound. After breakfast, I headed over to another building for my beauty appointment. I was getting my nails done for $1.00. Eh, kills some time and makes me feel slightly prettier. But when I got there, the officer told me to return to my unit to go to the hospital. Now why on earth was I wanted in the hospital?
As I walked into the maximum compound hospital, an officer is waiting for me with handcuffs and shackles. I was scared shitless to say the least. What did I do? What's going on? They told me they were taking me to the crazy unit, C-cottage. Home for inmates with mental illnesses, stress disorders, suicidal tendencies, etc. But now, I was confused, worried and even more afraid.
The officer then told me it was for a job interview. Thank God for that! People are crazy enough over here!
So apparently, there were only two of us being considered for the position based on our files, education level, and obviously not having been in trouble before, and not receiving any charges during our stay here as of yet. The paraprofessional position there is the highest state pay in all the correctional institutions of the state. A whopping $6 a day - approximately $200 a month. Let me tell you, that's like gold in here. I live pretty well of for an inmate spending about $100 a month on commisary. Then again, I don't eat a bunch of junk food and I don't stock up on more pairs of shoes and shirts than necessary. Why waste the money? That extra money could go towards court fines or debts though. But I'd have to live over there, work 7 days a week 6am-9pm, and that doesn't include when they wake up you in the middle of the night for emergencies.
I'd love to have the experience of helping those in need though. It's quiet over there, more quiet than I've seen in all the months I've been incarcerated. I definitely would enjoy that peace, although I'd be rather lonely considering the paraprofessional is to maintain a fair distance from all the other inmates there in order to create a space for respect in addition to trust so they can come to you for just about anything.
When it comes down to it thought, I'm leaving for the halfway house in a little less than a year. The other candidate has a 25 year sentence. Inmates/patients over there supposedly grow attached to the paraprofessional and can quite easily lose it when they suddenly leave. So for that reason and the fact that I can't bring myself to leave Lo (I'd be quite lonely too not having a friend to go through this together), I'm not going to pursue the position. At least I know these women would be in great hands with the other candidate, as she seemed like a kind-hearted individual that has grown a lot of the years. I guess I'll have to stick with my crappy housekeeping job for now. I had quite a little trip today though, out of the compound, through grounds, and into an entirely different world for a few hours, all in shackles might I add. Maybe deep inside I wasn't ready mentally and emotionally for what would have come of this position even though I'd be up for the challenge. Then again, the drama and constant yelling over here is far from easy to deal with, too.
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