Juvenile Detention

By: Rick Masters
(© 2015-2016 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 36
The First Release

The day Josh had been anxiously awaiting and also dreading finally came. His six months were up and he was to be released. At breakfast the new leader of Charlie block stood up once everyone was seated and had started eating. "Ladies and Gentlemen, today sees something that we are not likely to see in our lifetime again. We will see a space at Bravo's table after this meal that none of us want to see. Whether we want to admit it or not, each one of us has been touched in one way or another by our friend Josh, who is going out today. Josh, we are happy for you, but we will all miss you. We know you are setting out to clear your name. We believe you can do it and wish you all the best as you work for it. Good luck, mate."

There was an immediate response of clapping and as that died down a lone voice called out, "Three cheers for Josh. Hip, hip ..." and his own voice was drowned out by a tremendous "Hooray".

Josh sat there somewhat stunned, and embarrassed.

From a few spaces down the table Desmond said, "You still don't believe how popular you are, do you?"

Josh sat with his mouth hanging open, unable to speak. In response to Desmond he just shook his head. Sam put his hand on Josh's leg and whispered in his ear. "You better say something or they will think you are rude."

At the same time a quiet voice said one word that was picked up and turned into a chant by nearly every inmate there. "Speech, speech, speech ..."

Josh blushed scarlet but managed to stand up. "Thank you. I don't really know what to say, because I don't deserve this. Other guys have left us and most of them hardly got a mention, let alone an announcement to everybody. But thank you to you all for making my stay with you as nice as it has been. We don't want to be here, but we have made the best of it and that was not just me. It was all of us. So stay good, get out sooner and make it right this time round. But for my mates in Bravo especially, thank you. You supported me through a tough time. You taught me things I had never contemplated in my life before. Chris and Andy, thank you. You prepared me for when Sam here joined us. I was ready for him and you gave him to me and I am never going to let him go. Thank you. Sam, my love, don't give up. The time will go and then we can be together again; somehow, somewhere. Don't doubt it. Not good bye, but till we meet outside. Cheers." Josh sat down. Sam had tears running down his face, and as Josh looked at him his own tears started. "I love you, Sam. Keep a hold of that while we wait," he said softly, pulling Sam into a hug.

Looking across the table he saw that they were not the only ones with wet eyes. Jas too had some streaks as the tiny droplets made their way down her cheeks. Stretching across the table Jas reached out a hand towards Josh. He stretched too and their hands joined. "I'm going to miss you too, Jas. And all of you. You guys have been more friends to me than anyone out there ever has."

"Josh, we love you and will miss you. Just make sure you get those bastards who put you here."

"We won't see you again when you walk out of this dining hall, Josh. Take care, and if you have time write us a general letter and let us know how you are getting on," Carole said, adding her hand to Josh and Jas's hands. Then each of the girls who could reach put their hands on top of the pile with a word of farewell or encouragement to Josh.

The last girl to put her hand on the pile was Brenda, who had been brought in when Josh was working on Alpha block's computer. "Josh, thank you. You are some guy and you are going to break a lot of girls' hearts and even some guys'. You take care and we love you."

"Thank you all. It has been an education here and I hope someday that we will meet again and be able to sit down and talk about how this has helped us or harmed us." Josh pulled his hand out from underneath the pile.

Josh was thankful for the rule of silence as they all got up to leave the dining hall and go to their classes, except for Josh, who was to report to the desk instead of the school. As they left the dining hall Mister Succum was waiting in the corridor, and he told Josh's three cell mates to escort Josh to the desk. The rule of silence meant that they could not argue the order, not that they would have anyway. The little quartet moved in the opposite direction to the rest of the inmates and when they were a few meters down the passage Josh turned to see that most of the other inmates were just standing there looking at them. Josh raised a hand and waved. The others waved back, and he turned and walked the rest of the way without looking back.

Mr. Succum had not walked with the boys but caught them up just before they got to the office. Stepping in front of them he unlocked the door and preceded them inside, indicating for them to follow. "I know this is an unusual thing to do. But then Josh is not the usual kind of person we get here, as you well know. By the time you finish classes today Josh will be on the road home and you won't see him again. At least for a while anyways. So I am giving you three an opportunity for a more private good bye. I think in the circumstances, despite being the block leaders, Mr. Seymour and Mr. Jones, you go first and then get back to your classes. Your tutors know you will be late and you will not be penalised for it. Then Josh and Mr. Carruthers can have a bit of time alone before I take Josh for processing out."

"Thank you Mr. Succum. We really appreciate this privilege," Andy said on behalf of all three of the teens who would remain behind.

"I just can't believe this. So much fuss over me."

"It is not fuss. It's thanks. It's appreciation. Josh, you have turned Bravo block upside down and for the better. You've shown these guys how to be friends instead of enemies. How to support each other instead of competing against each other, and that's why the block is a team that has not needed the punishment of solitary for nearly five months now, nearly all of your time with us. You are the first inmate in this Academy to serve his full sentence without being sent to solitary once, and your special friend here might well be the second. But even the other cell blocks are sending fewer people because of your influence. This is why we're making exceptions in your case. Now, Seymour and Jones, say your farewells before we run out of time."

"Josh, we are never going to forget you. When I move from this place to finish my time in an adult place, I hope I am able to take some of your influence with me and maybe make a small difference there. We love you, mate, and will miss you like hell." Andy stepped forward and pulled Josh into a hug. Then he looked at Sam and said, "Forgive me, please." Turning back he kissed Josh on the lips and stepped back.

Chris stepped forward then and pulled Josh into a hug. "I can't say anything more than what Andy has just said. We love you, man, and it is going to seem very strange not having you with us. All the best for the outside." He too kissed Josh on the lips and then stepped away.

"I owe you guys big time for helping me to see that I am gay and leaving me open to be ready for my Sam here. Look after him for me, please." Josh could not say anything more because he cracked up as the emotion got the better of him.

"We will look after him better than we looked after you. Believe that, mate," Andy said, and he pulled on Chris's hand to get the two of them out of the office before they all started to choke up.

Sam looked at Josh. Their vision blurred as tears began to fill their eyes once more. "Wait for me, Josh, please," Sam pleaded as he moved forward and the two boys embraced.

"I can't do anything but wait, my love. There is no one who could take your place. Take care of the others and let the time pass as quickly as it can. I will write to you to let you know where I am." Josh stopped any reply as he put his lips to Sam's, and they soon were sharing each other's saliva as their tongues did a merry dance. Normally this would have caused some tenting in their overalls, but their emotions were at such a level that it did not evoke any sexual stimulation.

"Right, boys, I am sorry to break this up, but we need to get you through to processing, Josh. Mr. Carruthers, you can stay here for a while longer to get to grips with yourself. I would suggest washing your face before you get to your lesson. Your tutor knows you are coming late and will not punish you in any way." Mr. Succum broke up the two boys, and with lingering hands and longing looks Josh told Sam he would be counting the days till they could meet again. Succum then left Sam with the officer on duty and took Josh off with him, leading him back to the room where he had first begun his processing in with a shave and cold shower.

Standing on the table was basket number 269 with his clothes. Standing next to the basket with a broad grin on his face was Officer Steven. "Josh, please check that this is the list you signed when you arrived here and that it has not been tampered with. Then I would like you to take each item out of the basket and check it is the right item, then tick against it on the list. You may then dress in your own clothes and leave the overall on the table beside the basket."
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Josh stepped up to the table and checked off every item, including the watch he had thought he would never see again, against the list. Signing at the designated space he handed the list back to Steven and then began to remove his overalls. Getting naked did not bother him now, and he thought back to when he first was in that room and marveled at how different it now felt. Once naked the first thing he did was to pick up his watch and wind it. Then he asked Steven for the correct time, reset his watch, and strapped it to his wrist. His shirt was next and then his socks which he noticed were clean. This made him look a bit closer at his other clothes and he realised they were all freshly laundered. He held his trousers to his face and smelled them. Looking at Steven he indicated his clothes and then pointed at Steven asking a question without using a single word. Steven replied in the same way by nodding his head. Josh pulled his underpants on and stood for a bit and then shaking his head he slipped them off and pulled his trousers on commando. Finally he put his trainers on and stepped back from the table to fold his overalls before placing them down on the table next to the basket. He picked up his underwear, walked over to a dustbin, and dropped his pants in. Looking at Steven and Succum he smiled and received a smile back.

"Most of the guys keep their underwear on, and by the time they get to the car they're twisting and pulling, trying to make them comfortable and wishing they had done just what you did," Steven said. "And now, even though you are still behind locked doors, you are officially free, but there are a few people who have asked for something that is not normally done, so I am afraid we're going to keep you a bit longer." Steven walked over to the door that Jake had used to enter the room when Josh still had hair on his body. Opening the door he stood back, and in walked several of the other officers that Josh had had some dealings with. Officer Gladys came through first with an envelope in her hand and was followed by George and Edward from the school and the two medics, Albert and Simon.

"An inmate doesn't usually get a farewell send off from the Academy, but your time with us has had such a profound effect on each of our rolls that we wanted to have a final opportunity to say good bye and wish you well for your future and especially for getting justice. If anyone deserves it, you do," Mister Succum said.

There was a round of handshakes and hugs, with whispered good wishes from each of the officers who had come along to say good bye.

"Josh, can you remember when Officer Steven and I came to interview you in the infirmary when you were attacked? You asked Officer Steven for his answer to a question you had asked him in the hospital. Do you remember what that question was and what his answer was?" Officer Gladys asked.

"Yes I do remember it very well, but I don't believe I have the right to reveal what the question was or the answer."

"That's okay. When we left you I told Steven that I was going to write down what I thought the question was and what I believed his answer was going to be. I did that and sealed it in this envelope. I have asked Steven if I can get you to open the envelope and read what I have written there and then tell me if I was right with the question and also if my answer was right. Don't read it out loud, just simply say 'yes, yes' or 'no, yes' or whatever the answer is. Steven has agreed to that."

Josh looked over at Steven who nodded his head looking a bit embarrassed. "I think you should give this to Steven privately and let him tell you if you are correct or not. I don't think I want to risk hurting my relationship with either of you by coming in between like this."

"It will only hurt our relationship if you read the question and answer out loud. You can look at it and see if Gladys is as good a detective as she claims to be," Steven assured Josh.

Josh opened the envelope and lifted out the piece of paper which he immediately moved in front of the envelope to shield the paper from the others who were standing in front of him. He read the short notes on the paper and quietly folded the paper again and put it back in the envelope. He walked over to Steven and placed the envelope in his hand and turning to Gladys he said, "Yes, no."

Steven smiled and put his arm around Josh's shoulders. "Come on young man, your chariot awaits." He began to guide Josh towards the door.

"Thank you all for helping during this time and for believing in me when others who should have didn't. You made it easier for me to accept my situation, and believe it or not, I am going to miss you all." Josh had stopped at the door and turned back.

"You can always come as a free man and visit us," Succum told him, "and then you will be free to laugh at my name as much as you like."

"Thank you." Josh waved a hand as he turned back and walked through the door with Steven.

"That invitation to visit was not just being polite. We genuinely mean it, and if you want to come back for a visit and need a place to stay overnight my wife and I will be very happy to give you a bed and a roof over your head. But you had better come hungry too, because knowing my Abigail she will feed you with enough for three people," Steven told Josh as they walked along the corridor to the inmate reception point.

"Thank you, Officer Steven ..."

"Steven, just Steven now. You are a free person and don't need to call me Officer anymore."

"Well, before I was so rudely interrupted, I was going to say that I will miss you the most out of all the officers and that I love you. Not the same as I love Sam but something close to how I love my real father."

Steven stopped and pulled Josh into a tight hug. "If I could be your real father I would be that at the drop of a hat. I love you too, as a father loves his own child. Believe me, if I am able to raise my children to be half as good as you I will be a very happy and very proud father. I mean it, there will always be a room in my home for you. Just ask Abi and she will tell you the same, even though she has not yet met you in person."

The two continued their last walk together the rest of the way in silence. As they got to the door to the reception office Josh turned and pulled Steven into another hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Keep that bed made up. I will be back as soon as I can arrange it."

With a final hug the two parted at the last door and Josh stepped through into the welcoming arms of Karl Silvey. This time he got into the front of the car and there was no pole fixed between the floor and the roof of the car, because Karl was in his own private car. Josh did his seat belt up and the big doors opened behind him as Karl expertly reversed the car out and turned it to go out through the double gates and begin the journey home.

To be continued...

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Posted: 06/17/16