Once again, another volleyball game had ended in a fight. It seemed to Meg and Vera that the women couldn’t do anything at the moment without there being some sort of trouble. Tensions were high. Something was simmering under the surface and sooner or later things were going to blow.

Karen Travers was walking back to the rec room, wanting to be away from the various groups of women that were always plotting together. She was getting bored of all this nonsense. As an educated woman with a teaching background, she’d seen better behaviour from her students who were years younger than this lot. These silly schemes and distractions only got them into more trouble. It was all so stupid and pointless.

She wasn’t alone for long. Franky Doyle sidled up to her and Karen readied herself for a obscene remark or a grope from the inmate that had taken a liking to her right from the start. Today however there was none of the leering butch bravado she had come to expect. Franky just wanted to ask how she was. Karen was taken aback (and disappointed?). They hadn’t spoken since the reading lesson a week or so ago. This too had ended badly. She had slapped Franky when she had tried to kiss her. Since then, they had not so much as even looked at each other. Now, here she was trying to make amends as if nothing had happened.

“I’m fine thanks” Karen responded guardedly but she winced as she walked toward the prison building.

“Whatsa matter with your arm?” asked Franky

“Oh It’s just my shoulder” Karen said, “I hurt it playing just now and it was stiff anyway. I’m not used to these hard beds and chairs yet. There’s just no comfort here”.

Doyle came closer and quietly said ‘Look, I know I went too far before, but I reckon I owe ya for the help ya gave me. Let me give ya’a shoulder rub, I’m real good, ask anyone, strong hands see” and smiling, she held her hands up, surrender like, to Karen who couldn’t help but notice the bitten nails and tobacco-stained fingertips.

Once again Karen caught a glimpse of a vulnerable side to this woman. The one she had seen when they were reading. On that day, for the first time, she had noticed Franky’s brown eyes, same as hers. Although Franky’s were more amber than Karen’s and they flashed with with sadness and fire. Karen agreed to a shoulder rub from Franky who promised to behave herself and they went to into the building together.