A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

Outdoor time

The following days after the storm brought a strange shift in the air. The atmosphere in the detention center felt charged, and the tension between Carl and Areum lingered like an uninvited guest. They both avoided direct interactions, but their eyes occasionally met, filled with an unspoken understanding neither was willing to address.

As the weather warmed and the skies cleared, the detention center staff decided to allow outdoor time again. The inmates flooded the yard, eager to stretch their legs and soak in some sun. Carl leaned against a wall, watching the other kids play basketball. A few of his friends waved him over, but his gaze wandered to Areum, who sat on a bench, sketching quietly.

"Yo, Carl!" one of his buddies called out, breaking his trance. "C'mon, man! Join us!"

Carl forced a smile but kept his eyes on Areum. "In a minute," he said. He needed to confront the weird vibe between them. Something told him now was the time.

"Areum," he called out, trying to sound casual, even though he felt a knot in his stomach. "What's up with the drawing?"

Areum looked up, her face a mix of surprise and irritation. "None of your business, Gallagher," she retorted, though her tone was less biting than usual.

"Just curious," Carl said, stepping closer. "I mean, you never let anyone see your stuff. It can't be that bad, right?"

Areum hesitated, then turned her sketchbook around. "Fine. Here," she said, showing him a detailed drawing of a stormy sea, waves crashing against the rocks.

Carl's eyes widened in genuine admiration. "Damn, Areum. That's sick. You're pretty talented."

"Thanks, I guess," Areum said, her defensive stance softening just a bit. "But what's it matter here? I'm stuck in this hellhole."

"Hey, just 'cause you're in here doesn't mean you're stuck with just surviving," Carl replied. "You've got skills. Maybe you could do something with that, you know?"

"Whatever," Areum muttered, crossing her arms. "It's not like anyone cares about art in here. It's all just survival of the fittest."

Carl frowned, feeling the sting of her words. "Look, Areum, I'm not saying you gotta impress anyone. Just that you don't have to settle for less. We both screwed up, but we don't gotta keep screwing up."

For a moment, they were silent, the air thick with tension. Areum's gaze shifted away, her frustration evident. "Easy for you to say. You think you're some big shot around here. I'm just trying to get by."

"Yo, I'm not saying I'm a king or anything," Carl said, his voice rising with frustration. "I'm saying we both have the chance to be more than just the dumb mistakes that got us here."

"Yeah, well, I don't need a lecture from you," Areum shot back. "I'm not interested in your little pep talks."

As if on cue, a group of rowdy boys from another part of the yard started causing a ruckus. One of them, a tall kid with an attitude, began shouting at Carl. "Hey, Gallagher! Why don't you go back to your little corner and jerk off, huh?"

Carl's fists clenched, the taunt hitting him hard. "Shut your mouth, man," he growled, ready to confront the kid. But Areum's unexpected intervention caught him off guard.

"Why don't you go back to the storage room and jerk off yourself?" Areum shot back, her voice full of fire. "You're just mad because you'll never be as tough as you pretend to be!"

The crowd erupted in laughter, and Carl felt a mix of pride and shock. The tall kid's face flushed with anger as he took a step toward Areum. "What did you say to me?"

"Yeah, back off!" Carl stepped between them, his anger simmering. "You wanna try me too? I'm not scared of you."

"Enough!" a guard's voice cut through the commotion, loud and commanding. "Everyone back to their areas, now!"

The interruption broke the tension, but Carl still felt a surge of adrenaline. He glanced at Areum, who was watching him with a strange mixture of respect and annoyance.

As the inmates were herded away, Carl and Areum exchanged a brief, loaded look. There was something different in her eyes—a flicker of understanding that hadn't been there before.