The prompt this week was a particular scenario: “You’re in
prison and your partner is visiting for the first time. Write the conversation
you have.” In my story, the convict’s partner is his partner in crime. Please
enjoy.
Simple Raymond
“What the…”
“Hi, Gerald. I know you’re upset, but please try to
understand. What I did was…”
“When they told me I had a visitor, I thought my old ma was
finally able to raise bus fare. But you? What makes you think I’d ever want to
look at your lying, back-stabbing… Guard! Take me back to…”
“Ger, wait, please let me explain. That’s why I came to see
you today. It was hard too. You know how I get when I am in close spaces, and
this prison is made up of so many small and cramped rooms. I am feeling very
uncomfortable right now.”
“I’m sorry this isn’t fun for you, Raymond. I mean, the
purpose of a prison is to make its residents and their visitors feel all
snuggly buggly.”
“Thank you for your concern, Ger. I’ll be all right. I just
need to keep taking deep…”
“What the hell is wrong with you? You’re uncomfortable? I’m the one who got convicted and sentenced to
do a dime, not you. Did it ever occur to you that I might be a little
uncomfortable too? After all, a 6 by 9 room with bars and a metal bowl for a
toilet is my home for the next ten years. What explanation could there be for
you betraying me like that?”
‘Ger, I had to testify against you. You know I wouldn’t be
able to stand being locked up. When I told the cops you came in and forced me
to open the safe, they said I was lucky to be alive. They said robbers usually kill
witnesses and…”
“Raymond! Tune back in to reality. You weren’t a witness. We
both were in on it to rob the gas station. Remember the plan? You send the
other clerk out for dinner, open the safe, take out the payroll pack, we clean
out the registers, and drive away. Easy peasy. Once we cross the border, we’re
home free. The plan was perfect, but you screwed it up.”
“How many times do I have to say sorry? I was just as
startled as you were when the alarm went off. I thought I had turned it off,
but I was remembering when I turned it off last Friday morn…”
“Raymond, why are you here? I thought you were going to
explain why you betrayed me.”
“Ger, I wish you wouldn’t look at it that way. If it was a
real betrayal, I wouldn’t be here to console you.”
“Console me? I swear, you are out of your…”
“Listen. Please. There are two reasons why I’m here, and
they will both make you feel better about this whole situation. First of all, just
think about how it all turned out. I’m on the outside and I’m not cooped up. I
would be very unhappy if I was cooped up. You’re my friend, and I know how
important it is to you that I am happy.”
“That is one of my personal goals in life.”
“I know, Ger. You have always…”
“What horrible thing did I do in a past life that’s causing
me to be punished in this one?”
“What do you mean, Ger?”
“Nothing. What’s the other reason?”
“The money. Remember how when the cops surrounded the
building, and you were trying to figure a way out through the vents in the
ceiling the led to the roof?”
“Yeah, so?”
“I hid our bag of money behind some tiles in the corner. After
we reopened, I checked, and it was still there. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t
found when the cops went through everything.”
“They never did ask me about the money. I always wondered
why.”
“That’s because I told them there was another member of your
gang that drove up and you tossed them the bag and they drove away just as the
cops arrived.”
“Another member of my… What’s the point of talking to you?
What does it matter if you have the money? I’m locked up and you can’t spend
it. That would attract attention.”
“It’s a good thing, Ger. When I get paid, I take a couple of
twenties out of the bag and deposit them with my paycheck. I told the teller I
got a second job with a Mom and Pop store and they pay me in cash.”
“I know I’m going to regret asking, but how is that a good
thing?”
“I’m going to keep depositing that stolen money, and when
you get out, we’ll take it out and go someplace nice.”
“You really think that we… Never mind. Great plan, Raymond.
My time’s up and I have to go back. Do come again, okay? The next ten years
promises to be pretty dull, and you’ll be good for a laugh or two.”
“Of course, Ger. I’ll keep you posted on the interest we’re
earning too.”
“Lucky me. Guard? I am so ready to go back now.”
*****
“How’d it go, sweetie?”
“Perfection. Gerald bought it hook, line, and sinker. We’ll
be in a villa in Rio by the time it dawns on him it was all bull. If he snitches
to the law, they’ll think he’s making up a story to get out sooner. If he tries
to put a hit on me with one of his people, they’ll never find us. I’ve got passports
for us with new names. The haul from the Texaco, along with my other side
deals, will keep us in champagne for years to come.”
“It’s wild how he believed all this time that between the
two of you, he was the one with the brains.”
“Isn’t it? Every town’s the same, babe. Side deals are
always on, but I always need a sucker to clean out somebody’s payroll. The
first time Gerald pulled in for a fill-up, I knew I had found my fall guy for this
caper.”
“You used Simple Raymond this time, right, honey?”
“Simple Raymond it was, doll. One of my faves…”
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