The Time Giver

October 7th: Visit

The warden came into the lounge, scanning the room's occupants. A few of the boys were playing at the beat-up foosball table; six were watching the football game on tv; then she found the card table, where two of the boys were doodling.

She walked over just as one of them leaned over to look at the other's paper. "That's it," he said. "Now, the ears are long and slender, and the forelock comes down between them."

The smaller boy glanced away from his sketch. "Mine doesn't look anything like yours, Zach," he commented. "My ears look too tiny."

Zach smiled. "That's because your horse is an adult," he replied. "Mine is a yearling."

"What's a yearling?"

"Zach." Both boys looked up when the warden spoke. "You have a visitor."

He beamed, then stood up. "Keep working on it, Tony, and I'll be back after a bit." He followed the warden as she left the lounge room to weave through a maze of corridors. Finally, they made it to the visiting room, with a row of nooks facing a glass pane. Each had a chair in front of their window, and a hole in the middle to speak to the person on the other side. There was also a bin to slide things under the glass, but the guards had to check it before anything was passed to the inmate.

The warden led Zach to a nook near the end of the row, where Kelly was sitting on the other side. "You have half an hour," she stated before leaving him with the posted guards.

Kelly smiled as he sat down. "How have you been?"

"Oh..." he shrugged. "I've been okay."

"Made any friends since I was here last?"

"Tony." He gave a half smile. "He moved in about a month ago. I heard his crime was assaulting a boy with a crowbar. He's quiet, and just wanted someone to talk to. A few of the other guys have come around, too."

She gazed at him. "Any more bullying?"

He shook his head. "Nah. A few tried to beat on me last week, but I made sure they did it in front of the warden. Then when they really came after me, I let them have it." He chuckled. "Crazy what a little work can do for you."

Kelly laughed. "Yeah. It's surprising."

Zach gave her a once over. "What's the bruise from?" He pointed to her arm, where her wrist bore a black and blue smudge.

She laughed. "Miss Vodka is back. When I was unloading her from her trailer, she slammed my arm into the corner of the door." She rubbed the bruise gently. "She has a bit of an attitude this time. Not as bad as Cadillac, but she's close. At least she hasn't kicked at me."

"Just sassy?"

"Yeah." She pulled out her phone, flicking through it before holding the screen up to the glass. "Mr. Hanks sent this to me the other day."

Zach smiled as little Sarah appeared on the screen. "Daddy, Daddy, watch!" She jumped up and down before running through a field. The camera followed her, panning around until it landed on Turner. Zach's breath caught. Turner tossed her head as Sarah approached, but didn't move. The little girl stopped just in front of the filly, then held out her hand. Turner sniffed it, ears pricked, but didn't do anything else, keeping her eyes on her owner. Sarah giggled, then took off at a run, waving after her and calling Turner. The grulla filly snorted, then followed, picking up a slow jog. When Sarah continued to gain ground on her, she stepped up to a trot, then a lope, slowly closing on Sarah. Mr. Hanks laughed behind the camera, but didn't say anything.

Suddenly, Sarah stopped in her tracks, spinning around and flinging her arms up. "Whoa!" She squealed, laughing. In response, Turner slowed to a walk, then stopped about ten feet away. She didn't move until Sarah held out her hand and rubbed her fingers, beaming from ear to ear.