Cell Time

by David Pascucci

I’m working my first Saturday shift in six years. Yeah, the inmates sleep in till ten, but I hate being here for a second longer than my usual forty hours. Two more years and Tommy will be in college; twelve more years and I can retire. Everything is moving along just like we planned, Melissa. Sometimes when people ask me specifics about working in a prison they’re surprised and say, really, you don’t even have mace? Nope - gotta stay sharp though - no weapons allowed in the yard.

6S

David Pascucci is an English teacher at Littleton High School in Massachusetts.