Words with Friends

"Inmate Fletcher, you've served just over half of your twenty-five-year sentence. I am hereby ordering your transfer from this maximum-security prison to a minimum-security facility contingent on your continued good behavior and adherence to all rules. This transfer is to be executed within 24 hours. We wish you the best of luck and admonish you not to do anything to jeopardize your new status. You can and will be returned her immediately should you do so. With continued good behavior, you'll be eligible for parole in another three months. Do you have any questions for us?"

"No ma'am."

"Very well. The chairwoman hammered her gavel and directed the Corrections Officers, or CO for short,to escort the prisoner out and bring the next one on the docket inside.

"We're gonna miss you around here, Hallie," the CO told her quietly as she escorted her back to her cell.

"I might even miss you, too, Josephine. Of all the COs I seen over the last twelve-plus years, you're the only one who's ever treated me like a human being."

"That's because you are a human being. You made a mistake. A big one. And it cost you. But you're paying your debt to society and you've been a model prisoner since day one."

"Well, thanks for saying that. When I finally do get out, I'll look you up. I'd say the first drink's on me, but I'll be on parole and I may not be able to drink which is probably just as well."

"I'll look forward to the visit just the same. Stay out trouble, you hear me, girl? I do not want to ever see you back in here. I won't be on duty tomorrow when they transfer you so you take care of yourself, all right?"

"Will do," Hallie promised as Josephine called out for the cell door to be shut behind Hallie for the last time. She knew she couldn't even shake her hand let alone give her the hug she wanted to give her so as her cell door slammed shut she mouthed the words, "Thank you."

Josephine smiled and winked then mouthed, "You're welcome," back at Hallie.

"So?" her cellmate asked. "What's the verdict?"

"I'm outta here. Tomorrow."

Wanda stood up and said, "Are you serious? That's fantastic! Congratulations. I told you they'd let you go. At least one of us is gonna get her life back some day." She stood next to Hallie and said, "More than twelve years is a long time to spend in prison for one mistake, but it's a helluva lot better than spending the rest of your life in a cage like me."

Hallie Fletcher was driving the getaway car for her boyfriend when they'd robbed a bank almost 13 years ago. Had he not shot and killed a security guard, she'd have been out in 3-5 years. But because he had, the charge had been second-degree murder rather than armed robbery and the minimum sentence in Florida was 25 years.

Wanda had killed her husband and his mistress who was pregnant and had been charged with first-degree murder with 'special circumstances.' She was unlikely to ever see the light of day again but she avoided Florida's death penalty. Hallie however, had a very good shot of being out on parole within another three months and she had no intention of doing anything that might jeopardize her chances.

The next morning after breakfast, she'd been ordered to clear out her cell which meant putting the few things she owned into a canvas laundry bag after having them inspected by one of the guards. She was handcuffed and taken to a transport van and six hours later found herself in her new location—a minimum security prison in Pensacola, FL.

As soon as she arrived, the restraints were removed and she was taken to 'indoc' where the rules of the road were explained to her and three other arriving prisoners in detail. She was still in prison, but she would no longer be restrained during movement. She would also live in a room with three other inmates; a room that had television and a radio and a toilet with a door on it. She would also be able to check out an iPad—whatever that was—for an hour each day with additional time being granted depending on the number of credits she earned for work and good behavior.

In a word, she'd gone from a hellhole to what was essentially a military barracks with a very large, grassy courtyard where she could spend several hours a day outside in the fresh air and sunshine if she so desired. She would still have assigned duties, but she wouldn't be working under the same harsh, inhumane conditions she'd been living under at the Broward County Maximum-Security Correctional Institution.

That afternoon, she was introduced to her roommates and immediately felt comfortable with all three of them. Like her, they were very close to being paroled and just wanted to finish out their time and get the hell out. Miriam Waters had a husband a son who was now nine, waiting for her. Both them visited as often as they could and she couldn't wait to be reunited with them. Corrine Thomas's husband had divorced her after a year of being incarcerated some seven years ago. She just wanted to get out and start her life over. Helen Davis came in single but had been corresponding with some man who didn't seem to mind her being in prison. So much so, that he'd been visiting her every month since her arrival in Pensacola before proposing two months ago followed by a prison marriage. "And by visiting," Helen said with a smile, "I'm talkin' about the conjugal variety! We even got a full six hours together after our wedding," she bragged. She also said to Hallie, "Speaking of men, you won't have any problem finding yourself a man when you get out—assuming you're into men. Rumor is you used to a model. Is that true?"

Hallie had laughed. "Wow. Talk about the prison grapevine. Yeah, that's true. But that was before I met Fast Freddie McFarland." Helen just raised her eyebrow indicating she'd need an explanation. "My ex-boyfriend, Fred McFarland. I was young and tired of being under my parents' thumb. I wanted some excitement in my life and when I met Freddie...he was so...dangerous. He was 25 and he smoked and drank and rode a motorcycle and he was so...hot." All of the girls started listening in when she said 'hot' and wanted details.

"I was 19 and I'd just landed my first real modeling job. I'd done some local stuff and had been living at home and I couldn't take it any more. Strict rules. Home by midnight. No boys in my room. You know the drill. So when I started making money—good money, I immediately got my own place over the very strong objections of my father. I met Freddie a month later. He introduced me to life in the fast lane starting with beer and wine then weed and um...you know."

"You was still a virgin at 19, girl?" Corrine blurted out. "Lookin' like you do? I done lost mines long befo' dat. I ain't sayin' how young, but by 19 I'd had me a mess a boys...and men." Everyone laughed again and high-fived Corrine.

"Not long after that he brought home some coke for the first time. And I'm not talking about the soft drink. Less than a year later, he talked me into shoplifting some stuff and I loved the thrill, you know? It was so exciting to walk out with something I'd stolen even if I didn't need it."

"It always starts out small," Miriam said and everyone agreed. "So then what happened?"

"Freddie always wanted more. More sex..." Everyone hooted and hollered. "More coke. More money. So he came up with this great idea of robbing a bank. At first, I was scared shitless, you know? But he was such a smooth-talking SOB. He kept telling me all I had to do was drive the car. That's it. And we'd both be rich. Hell, I could that, right?"

"So why you git twenty-five years fo' a firs' offense, girl?" Corrine asked.

"Fast Freddie had a gun. And...he used it. He killed a security guard and since I was part of the heist...."

"Say no mo'" Corrine said holding up one hand. "You was as guilty as if you pul't da trigguh yo'self."

"Yep. Second-degree murder charge for driving the car. And that kinda put a damper on my modeling career."

Miriam told her, "Well, you still look good for someone who's been inside this long. Prison ages you, you know?"

Hallie said she agreed but made it clear she had no interest in a relationship. "It can also jade you."

"Can? It can jade you? Girl, prison do jade you. Whatchu mean—can?" Corrine said.

"I don't know. Maybe having a dream has kept me from becoming too jaded. I know it's kept me alive. You know what I mean, right? A dream can give you something to live for."

"What kind of dream?" Miriam asked.

"You know. Having a family. A decent husband and maybe even children. I don't need a fancy house or a fast car—or even a hot guy. I'd be happy just to have a really nice guy who loves me in spite of my past and if had a kid or two, that wouldn't be bad a thing at all. What I do know is I don't ever want to come back here—to prison—again."

"Oh, we feel you, girl," Corrine said. "Ain't nobody in they right mind wanna come back here. But I don' want no husband and no damn kids. I jes' wants me a damn fine black man to take care a' all my—needs. You know what I'm saying? Cuz a girl got needs and I ain't gettin' 'em met in this place. That's fo' damn sho'!"

The laughter died down and after a few moments of quiet, Hallie spoke up. "Okay, so what's an iPad?"

The other women spent the next few minutes trying to explain what it was by comparing it to a smart phone. "A smart phone?" Hallie asked. "Is that like a cell phone?"

"How long you been locked up, girl?" Corrine said shaking her head. "When I checks mines out tomorrow, you gon' check it out wid' me. I'll have you surfin' the net and settin' up a datin' profile in no time. You might even git yo'self laid fo' you gits outta here."

"Laid? I haven't even been touched by a man in what...just over 13 years. I'd settle for a nice long hug or just holding hands."

The other girls all looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Uh-huh. Sho' you would," Corrine said. "Girl, you' be spreading them fine legs o' yours so fast it'd make my head spin. Settle for a hug. My ass!"

Even the maximum-security prison in Broward County allowed female prisoners in good standing to have a dating profile, but Hallie wanted no part of that until she was free. There was just too many chances of being strung along by some guy who only wanted one thing—a conjugal visit. And as horny as she was all day, every day, it was the dream that had kept her alive. She was so close now she could almost taste it. No, dating by correspondence could wait until she could have the real thing. Sure, in her heart of hearts she worried what kind of man—if any—would ever date and marry, let alone have children with, a woman convicted of second-degree murder. But she had to believe he was out there or she may as well pull the plug and take an early checkout.

That night, Hallie slept with both eyes closed for the first time since she'd been arrested and taken to county lockup waiting trial. It was even quiet at P-Cola. No one was screaming or banging on the bars of their cell. No one had threatened her and no bull dyke had even propositioned her. Yes, there was plenty of time for that to happen, but by comparison, Day 1 had been a pretty damn good day for her.

After breakfast, Hallie was assigned to work a road detail picking up trash along a five-mile stretch of I-90 with eleven other inmates as part of a chain gain only without the chains. It was the first time she'd been out of prison without restraints since...well...lockup. She didn't care that it was July and hotter than hell outside. She didn't care that it was too loud to carry on a quiet conversation due to all the traffic or even that the ground was still soaking wet from a late-night thunderstorm. She was outside breathing free air. Hell, she even got whistled at once followed by a cat call. She knew better than to respond by waving or even acknowledging it. No way. She wasn't losing this cushy job. But it had felt nice to hear a wolf whistle and an off-color remark. "Not bad considering you're over 30 and wearing an ugly orange jumpsuit," she told herself with a smile. "Maybe there is hope, after all."

That evening, Corrine came in after dinner holding something that looked like a tiny, flat television. "That must be an iPad," Hallie said.

"Uh-oh. Einstein better be glad he be dead, 'cuz it look like he got hisself some competition in you, girl!" Corrine was just downright funny and she knew it. It was hard to imagine her doing the things she'd done that had landed her in prison, but every woman here had a story and that included Corrine.

"Okay, so this be how a iPad work." Corrine turned it on, swiped to unlock it then gave Hallie a quick tutorial on icons, clicking, double-clicking, browsing, Googling, cutting and pasting, and as much as she could cram in before her hour was up.

A week later, she'd earned her first hour and she couldn't wait to sit down with the iPad just to catch up things like the news over the last dozen years. She knew who the president was, but that was about it. She'd barely managed to scroll through some of the articles on just two news sites when her time was up, but if felt great just knowing she could reconnect with society. She also couldn't help but hope that society might actually be interested in re-connecting with her.

Miriam said, "You know you can play games on that too, Hallie."

"Games? Like what?"

"Solitaire, hearts, spades, checkers, chess, poker, Candy Crush...."

"Candy what?" she asked.

"Girl? Don't pay her no never mind. That game be the biggest waste a time they ever was."

"I just have so much to catch up on. I'm not sure I want to spend my time playing games," Hallie stated. She smiled then said, "If I did, I could just sign up for one of those dating sites, right?" Her comment about men who play games brought laughter, snorting, and a few nasty comments.

By the end of her first six weeks, Hallie was fully into the rhythm of her new routine. Reveille, breakfast, work, lunch out of a bag along the side of the road, more work, back to P-Cola, shower, dinner, free time, and lights out.

As much as she loved reading printed books, she found this new iPad thing to be a treasure trove. She could download any book not prohibited by the prison and read it without having to turn pages or get ink on her fingers. And the screen resolution was amazing. The same was true for any other authorized website. She could research whatever she wanted from black holes to cooking recipes and she understood why iPads were so popular.

One Friday evening, Hallie saw—or rather heard Miriam playing some kind of game. Every time she made a move, the game made a sound. It was both irritating and sort of pleasant-sounding. "Okay, what are you playing over there?" she finally asked.

"Who me?" Miriam said looking up.

"No, the other bitch what be drivin' us all crazy wid dat bloop, bloop sound every five seconds," Corrine said. Even when she was annoyed, Corrine coulld still make everyone laugh.

"It's called Words With Friends. It's like Scrabble only not as strict. It takes a tons of words Scrabble doesn't, and it's a lot of fun." She got up and set next to Hallie and showed her how to play. "Like Scrabble, you just build off the other person's word using the tiles in your tray down at the bottom. That's all there is to it. You enjoy reading so this might be something you'll like."

"How do I get that on my screen?" Hallie asked.

"Like this." Miriam went to the App Store, found the icon for it and clicked on it. Seconds later she hit 'open' and it asked her to create a profile. "Just think up a name for yourself then find someone to play with by looking over here." Unable to come up with anything catchy, she settled for typing in her first name and the first letter of her last name: Hallie F.

Miriam then showed her how to challenge her as well as other random players.

"So I could be playing anyone anywhere in America?" she asked.

"Anywhere in the world where they speak English," Miriam explained.

"Wow. That is so amazing. Okay, I'll challenge you." She clicked on Miriam's user name and a game opened up. "Hah! I love this," Hallie said. She started out spelling C-A-T and hit 'send now.' Seconds later Miriam played T-A-N-K building off Hallie's T.

"This is really fun!" she said as she played a 25-letter word using three letters of Miriam's word.

Corrine cut her eyes at her and said, "That's fun? Girl, you bin inside way too long. You needs yo'sef' some hep' in a bad way." She paused then said, "Did I tell you you needs to git yo'sef' laid?" More laughter.

Seconds later Miriam said, "Shit!" She looked over at Hallie and told her, "I knew you'd be good at this. I should have never showed you how to play."

By the end of her allotted time, Hallie had the maximum number of games going with people all over the country as well as someone in the UK. She'd played Scrabble as a kid, but it was just so slow moving, it could never hold her interest. In WWF, she could play a word, go immediately the next game and do the same thing, then move on to another. By the time she picked up her iPad the next day, all 30 opponents had made their move and she could then again do the same. When she was lucky, other players were on-line playing at the same time and she could play several turns with them during her hour with the iPad while looking at whatever else interested her in between.

She had no idea there was also a chat function until she saw a little number 1 in the upper right-hand corner a couple of days later. She clicked on it and someone had sent her a message, "Wow. Z-I-N-G-E-R for 56 points? Ouch!" Hallie smiled and typed in, "Thank you!" and hit 'send.' "How cool is this?" she thought as she played her next word. She couldn't help but wondering just how many other new innovations she'd missed since she was incarcerated. Within another week she was chatting with every different player and found herself looking forward to it as the highlight of her day.

Whenever an opponent didn't re-challenge her after a game, she'd go to the 'Community Profile' area and find someone new. That particular evening, she only had two minutes left and she knew it took half a minute to walk down to admin to turn in the iPad. She quickly flipped through a bunch of profiles dismissing them all until she saw one with a photo. She stared at his pic when she noticed he was a very good-looking guy with thick, short, dark hair and a great smile. His user name was 'Hornet Driver' which made no sense whatsoever to her. With just a minute left she clicked on 'challenge Hornet Driver', played a three-letter word then headed for admin.

She'd seen several cute guys with profiles on WWF, but all of them were way too young for her. She'd been in prison so long she'd never heard the term 'MILF' but she knew she had no interest in any guy under 25 although 30 was closer to her target age. This guy looked to be about her age or maybe a little older, and he was really hot. Hallie'd remembered watching a TV show called Jag when she still lived at home. As a teenager, she'd had a huge crush on the main character who played a Navy lawyer. Hornet Driver looked a lot like him and she found herself aching to be um...held...more than she could remember in a very long time and she was always aching for something.

There was no real privacy in her room, but that night Hallie managed to roll over on her side and slowly and gently massage her clit as she imagined him being single, available, interested—and...in...her. She tried to remain perfectly still and not gasp as her body tensed and shuddered in much-needed release. "He's probably married," was the last thing she remembered thinking before falling into a sound, deep sleep.

She sweat through her jumpsuit before noon the next day and drank several quarts of water before beginning to feel sick. Shortly thereafter, she felt the unpleasant need to puke and found herself bent over throwing up her lunch. Unlike Broward, where she'd be forced to work through anything not determined to be life threatening, P-Cola's COs had orders to err on the side of caution.