Currency

Pam White was an opportunist. If she wasn’t before prison, it made her one. Most inmates regarded Pam as harmless. She was 55 and afforded a level of respect because of it. Nobody knew her scruples or lack thereof. If Pam could see an angle, she worked it. Tobacco was her vice and she was all over any situation she thought would result in its consumption.

During the week Pam worked on the Hygiene team – cleaning office areas used for rehabilitative programs. She observed happenings on the prison compound like a hawk, always aware of who was in favour and who was out. The jail’s biggest tobacco supplier was even older than Pam and also worked in Hygiene. Cathy Munro had a direct connection to the head warden and received White Ox on a weekly basis. She sold race horse cigarettes for the equivalent of ten dollars each. She also had an outside bank account where generous friends of inmates could deposit large amounts of cash for pouches.

Weekends interested Pam the most. Visitors came from all over to see incarcerated loved ones. They brought gifts: photos, underwear, drugs. Pam didn’t do drugs but in terms of bartering, illicit substances were at the top of the list, far more desirable than confectionery which was the usual currency in this unique economic system. Pam’s devout sister visited every Sunday. Pam used this opportunity to scan the girls with visits and their visitors. She had a knack of knowing when someone received a drop. It was no different today.

Tamara Cubby was a known dealer. She always had a visit but was too smart to receive gear herself. Cubby’s sidekick Letitia Jones also had a visit, which was unusual. Pam watched Tamara watch Letitia and knew it was on.

When visits were over, Pam positioned herself behind Letitia in the queue to be searched. Letitia spent an inordinate amount of time prepping her hair for inspection. Dressing hurriedly after being cleared, Pam watched Letitia leave the building and join Tamara. She spotted a red ball fly from Letitia’s weave when they hand clapped, and marked the spot on the ground where it landed. When the duo were a safe distance away, Pam pounced on the tight wad water balloon. She tucked it in her bra and wandered slowly towards the medium security compound.

In a few minutes Tamara and Letitia, a posse of minions in tow, were headed noisily back toward visits. Tamara called out to Pam, asking her if she’d seen Letitia’s drop, and kept searching when Pam told her that no she hadn’t.

Skilled at deception, Pam meandered until she was on the verandah of the building her cell was in. Her mate Carla was waiting and Pam beckoned her inside.

How was your visit?

Jackpot.

Whaddya got?

I dunno yet but there’s gonna be Ox tonight. Go get Nanna and we’ll do a deal.

 

(c) Kelly Chapman 2020