A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

Braids

The rivalry between Carl and Areum had evolved into a strange, silent truce. After the awkward encounter in the storage room, neither of them seemed eager to reignite the feud. Instead, an uneasy silence settled between them, leaving the other inmates puzzled and curious.

Carl and Areum no longer exchanged insults or pranks. Instead, they avoided each other as much as possible, and when they did cross paths, it was accompanied by awkward eye contact and tense silence. The other inmates noticed the change, whispering among themselves and speculating about what had happened to cause the sudden shift.

One afternoon, Carl decided to change things up. He was tired of the same old look and figured a new hairstyle might help him feel better. He convinced one of the girls in the common area, who had a reputation for doing great braids, to give him a new style.

As he sat in a chair, the girl started working on his hair, expertly weaving the braids. Carl could feel the stares of the other inmates, but he didn't care. He needed a change, something to take his mind off the weird tension with Areum.

As the girl braided his hair, Carl's eyes wandered around the room. He caught sight of Areum sitting alone, sketching as usual. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Areum quickly looked away, focusing on her drawing. Carl's heart skipped a beat, but he pushed the feeling aside. He didn't need this kind of distraction right now.

"Looking good, Carl," the girl said, finishing the last braid and tying it off.

"Thanks," Carl replied, running his hand over his newly braided hair. He stood up and stretched, feeling a bit lighter. He hoped the new look would give him a fresh start, even if it was just a small change.

The silence between Carl and Areum continued throughout the week. They didn't speak, didn't prank each other, and barely acknowledged each other's presence. The awkward eye contact persisted, but neither of them made a move to break the silence.

One evening, during recreation, Carl found himself sitting under the tree where Areum usually sketched. He had hoped for some peace and quiet, but Areum arrived shortly after, clutching her sketchbook. She hesitated when she saw Carl, but then sat down a few feet away, keeping her distance.

For a while, they both sat in silence, the tension between them palpable. Carl glanced at Areum out of the corner of his eye, noting how absorbed she was in her drawing. He wondered what she was sketching but didn't dare to ask.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the yard, Carl finally stood up. He hesitated for a moment, then walked away without a word, leaving Areum to her sketches. He felt a strange mix of relief and frustration. The silence was easier than the constant fighting, but it left a void he didn't know how to fill.

That night, as Carl lay in his bunk, he ran his fingers through his braids, thinking about the day. He had hoped the new hairstyle would give him a sense of renewal, but the awkward tension with Areum still hung over him like a dark cloud.

In the quiet of his cell, Carl's mind drifted back to the storage room incident. He replayed the moment over and over, trying to figure out how things had gotten so complicated. The silence between them was driving him crazy, but he couldn't bring himself to break it.

Carl sighed, turning over in his bunk. He knew he had to find a way to deal with Areum, but for now, all he could do was navigate the uneasy truce they had fallen into. The detention center was a place of constant noise and chaos, but the silence between Carl and Areum was the loudest thing of all.