A Hustler's Wife Page 13

  "Hold up, Key-Key," Yarni said as she went back into her cell.

  She returned with a honey bun and a Milky Way. "Here you can have this. Don't worry about giving it back to me when your money slip comes. Just get stocked up on your personals. O.K.?"

  "Thank you, Yarni." Key-Key was more grateful than her stoic face would show.

  Yarni went to the card table with three bags of potato chips in her hand. She had to use the chips to put up to bet in the spade game. She played spades for the next two hours. When the game was over, she ran up to her cell to get her a Baby Ruth she looked in her box where all her snacks were, but there were no chocolate bars left. She knew she should have had at least seven or eight left because she never gave them away, as they were her favorite. Yarni flipped out. She ran out of the cell.

  "Who been in my cell?" Nobody said anything. "Well, if anybody saw anything, oh, I got a $10 reward out to know who been in my cell." Yarni knew money talked, even in "da clinker". She went back in her cell and took off her gym shorts and her tank top she'd been walking around in. She replaced it with her sweat suit and her tennis shoes, and went back to play cards.

  A girl approached Yarni. The girl didn't want to get caught up in the hype, so she just passed Yarni a note. Yarni put the note in her pocket. Later that night, she read it. "Look in Key-Key's cell." Yarni waited until Key-Key went to take a shower. Yarni snuck into her cell, and there it was. Seven Baby Ruth's, dry Roman noodles, two Secret deodorant sticks and the Victoria Secret's underwear that Yarni had on the day before, that she had washed out by hand and had hanging up in her cell to dry. A Dirty Bitch. She had the nerve to steal my drawers! How trifling can you be? I gave to this broke down ho and she gonna steal from me. I can't believe this!

  Yarni walked fast with her hands swinging by her side. She had a one-track mind and was in a trance trying to get over to the shower. She opened up that shower door and pulled Key-Key out, buck-naked. "Oh, you wanna steal from me?" Big, bad, bully Key-Key who had so much mouth, didn't try to fight back while slipping and sliding all around the dayroom. It only made Yarni madder, because she had to chase her around the dayroom. The deputies came in and broke up the fight, but they only locked the both of them in their cells for the rest of the night.

  After the fight, Yarni didn't have anybody else trying her.

  Thirty-eight days of her jail term was spent in the hole, in solitary confinement. Most people would have gone crazy having to be locked away twenty-four hours, seven days a week, but Yarni handled solitary well, better than the average inmate.

  In the dungeon, the lights were very dim, and the female isolation was located over one of the male pods. Yarni kept hearing vague voices carrying on conversations. At first, she thought the solitary confinement was getting to her, but then she realized that wasn't the case. She wasn't losing it after all. While she laid on her cot, writing a letter to her father, she heard a voice that sounded like it was somewhere near.

  "Hello, Hello, Hello. I'm talking to you down there in cell block two or three."

  Yarni jumped up and ran to the door to respond through the slot in the door that the guards used to hand her mail or meal trays through. "Hello, back. Where are you? And who are you?" Yarni replied

  "This is Zurri and I am down here in cell six. What's yo name?"

  "Yarni," She was as happy as a kid in a candy shop to finally hear a friendly voice.

  "What you doing in here? And didn't they just let you out a few days ago?"

  "Yep. How you know?"

  "Because I was back here then too."

  "For real, well why you didn't say nothing then?" She asked suspiciously.

  "I don't be fuckin wit these broke down chics in here. I don't be trying to make friends wit none of them. They all fake as hell.

  These bitches in here is just like the hoes on the street: backstab-bing, throat cutting, larceny-jealous hearted, snitching bitches, who don't mean themselves no good, so how could they possibly mean me some good?"

  "I feel you gurll! You ain't never lied!" Yarni felt a little comfort to finally be talking to someone who could actually feel her struggle.

  "Too bad it caused me to come in here to figure that shit out." Zurri said.

  "What are you in here for?"

  "In jail period or back here in the dungeon?"

  "Both? If you don't mind telling me, I know it's kind of personal." Yarni didn't mean to pry. She knew how she felt when people tried to inquire about her situation.

  "I don't usually tell anybody, but for some reason, you seem cool. I am in for worthless checks. And back here in the dungeon for a variety of things, except for dyking, you name it. Cussing out a few deputies, arguing with these broke down chics, not following direct orders, blah, blah, blah, and the list goes on."

  "Oh, O.K." Yarni smiled to herself because she could tell that Zurri was a bit ghetto, but cool.

  "You got kids?" Zurri asked.

  "Nope, thank God for that. You?"

  "I got three."

  "Oh, my God, who got them while you're in here?"

  "My family."

  "Well, that's good."

  Zurri and Yarni talked all day and night. Zurri was impressed with Yarni, as Yarni was intrigued with Zurri. She learned all about Zurri's struggle as a single mother. When Zurri started thinking about her children, she got depressed and Yarni comforted her. She felt it was God who put them together because time really flew by. When she was released from isolation to go back into jail population, she was sad because she realized she wouldn't be able to talk to Zurri anymore. Zurri had to be in the dungeon for the rest of her time in the jail. She promised Zurri she would write her through the mail and they would always keep in touch, no matter what the storm in each other's life was.

  Another issue that annoyed Yarni was the women guards.

  They were so disrespectful. They thought that all females in jail either got high or were tricking when they were on the streets.

  They tried their best to humiliate the women inmates as much as they could.

  There was one female correctional officer who processed her the first day she'd turned herself in. Her name was Officer Rita Plenty. She recognized that Yarni was different from the other girls who'd came through the jail. She was certain that Yarni had been "caught up". Yarni's mannerisms, the clothes she wore in and the way she spoke, was confirmation. Once Yarni was removed from work release, Deputy Plenty would observe her actions. One day she accompanied Yarni to the nurse and they spoke briefly.

  "Why were you removed from work release?" She interrogated Yarni.

  "Before I was arrested, I was in the process of finishing my last year in undergrad school. I wanted to finish, so when I left the jail in the mornings I'd attend my classes." Yarni shrugged her shoulders and said in a nonchalant manner. "Somehow they found out."

  "I am not mad at you. I would've done the same thing." Deputy Plenty said in a sincere tone.

  Later that day, Deputy Plenty was escorting a male inmate, who was Castro's homeboy, to the nurse.

  "Could you give a kite, (a note folded up real small, inmates usually throw them to the recipient) to Yarnise Pitman for me?"

  "How you know Ms. Pitman?" She reached out her hand to get the kite from him.

  "Yo, she's good peoples. She goes all out for the people she loves that's why she's in here now." He explained the lifestyle Yarni lived on the street and that Yarni was "real". He had only good things to say about Yarni. Deputy Plenty felt compassion for her plight and they became friends. She made Yarni's stay at the Henpeck County Jail a little more comfortable. She was concerned that Yarni had lost too much weight. She'd bring in food from home to Yarni. She'd pass messages between Yarni and Castro. Yarni never asked Deputy Plenty to do any favors for her.

  She respected the fact that, that was her job and her livelihood.

  Although the circumstances they met under was odd, they turned out to be genuine friends. Deputy Plenty would tell Yarni of problems
she was dealing with in her own life. Yarni was a good listener, and she offered the officer some good advice.

  When Castro heard that she was being housed on the other side of the jail, from where he was, he got one of the trustees to pass her some food, toiletries and some cigarettes. Yarni didn't smoke, but she could sell them. The facility she was being housed at was smoke-free. Cigarettes were sold for $4 per cigarette. Everybody wanted cigarettes. They were hard to come by.

  Whenever a female acquired cigarettes, the smokes were treated if it was dope on the streets.

  She hung as tough as she could, but jail eventually corrupt-ed Yarni. Her attitude was so bitter. She wasn't afraid of anything.

  There was no fear in her heart. She developed a jail house mentality, and learned to master the ins and outs of jail. She realized if she socialized with one of the guys who worked in the kitchen she could get extra helpings of the food she liked. She also flirt-ed with some of the male deputies. Yarni learned to manipulate while she was in jail. She once stopped up her commode, so the deputy on duty had no choice but to call the plummer, who was a trustee. When the trustee came into her cell, he passed her a package full of cigarettes and marijuana, which she, of course, sold. She would have never touched marijuana, tried to sell it, or experiment with it on the streets.

  Jail introduced Yarni to a world she'd never known and if she had never experienced confinement, she would never be able to relate to anyone else who'd been there and done that, to the extent as her being locked up had. Maybe her incarceration made it just that much harder to walk out and turn her back on Des. Her imprisonment may have been a factor as to why she never stopped fighting for Des' release upon her discharge. Or maybe her own incarceration was the reason that she always dropped a card in the mail to other inmates she knew, and never seem to forget anybody dear to her in prison, as the average person may have.

  "MAAIIIILLLLL CALLLL," yelled the high pitch voiced deputy. She called out Yarni's name.

  My Dearest Yarni,

  What have you let that nigga get you into? Why didn't you let me know what was going on with you? I am crazy worried about you. Please don't shut me out. I know you need me right now. I am here for you, baby. I love you unconditionally. That will never change. This wasn't in my plan for you. I know that you are definitely a warrior. You'll be O.K. and no storm lasts forever.

  You have got to cool down. You can't allow them broke down hos to run up your time. You only have to be there for a few more months. Don't put yourself in a situation that could get you a street charge and add more time to your sentence. I know you ain't accustomed to this jail shit, so focus on what you going to do when you get out of there. Them hoes going to be there when you leave.

  One thing to think on, if somebody controls your emotions, they can control your attitude. If they can control your attitude, then they control your actions. If someone can control your actions, then they control your destiny. You do the time, Baby, don't let the time do you.

  Let me know what the hell is going on with your case!!!

  Much Love, Des

  It took her two weeks to get up the nerve to write Des. Let the truth be told, she knew Des was the only one, besides God, who could carry her through this whole ordeal.

  Once Yarni got Des' letter, she turned her focus elsewhere.

  She started doing the time, not allowing the time do her. She signed up for every recreational activity the jail offered. Every opportunity to get out of the dayroom she participated in. She wrote the sheriff, the judge, as well as the governor, one letter a week, asking for a sentence reduction or to be placed on home incarceration. They wouldn't respond, but she diligently wrote them.

  Whenever Bengee knew that Yarni was going to call, he would be at Gloria's house to talk to her. He'd send cards, letters and money, even though he knew that she had money already.

  He never visited her. He claimed "visitors made prisoners." That was just an excuse.

  Yarni had mixed feelings about Bengee. She never totally grasped the concept of exactly why "she" was sitting in jail. Was it because of the fact that she was loyal to Bengee and the principles she'd been taught about the people she loved? Was it that she knew her mother was very submissive to the man she loved?

  Or, was it because she loved Bengee?

  She sat Indian style on her 3-inch thick mattress trying to make since of the trial.

  Yarni sobbed. This was the first time in her life she'd regret-ted not consulting her mother. My mother would have never let me get myself into this mess.

  Even though Yarni felt like she was at her lowest point in her life, she never thought for one minute that God had left her or forsaken her. She never knew why going to jail had to be her destiny. She never asked God "Why me, Lord." She only asked God to make her stronger and asked what was it that He wanted her to learn from this experience? Every night before Yarni would go to sleep she would pull out her Bible and read Psalm 23, or Matthew 11:25-30. She'd also pray that God remove her from that situation. Yarni thanked God in advance for removing her from jail. She didn't know how exactly God was going to pull it off, but she knew and believed, with all her heart, that she wasn't going to do the full ten months.

  One day, a girl named Cyn came in the dayroom. She knew Cyn from the street.

  "Girl, not trying to piss in your cheerios, but Bengee has gotten Bucckkk wild since you left the streets. He is always in the clubs balling out of control, buying three and four buckets of Moet at a time. And to top it off, my man told me that Bengee be having strip parties on a regular. Yarni, Bengee is out of control."

  "Oh, for real," Yarni said in a calm tone showing no emotion.

  Then Yarni continued to carry on the conversation. "How's your daughter, Cyn? I bet she's gotten big, huh?" Anything to dilute a conversation about Bengee.

  "Girl, she has! She weighs one-hundred and four pounds, and is only nine years old." Cyn answered Yarni while searching her face for some kind of sentiment. Cyn couldn't believe Yarni wasn't upset about the news she'd just given about her man. She just had to let her know that her man was out of control. Cyn knew it was bothering Yarni. She thought Yarni would go to her cell and cry, or at the very least call Bengee and cuss him out.

  Yarni's feelings were hurt. She didn't know if she should take what Cyn said into consideration or not. Chics were always trying to kick a sister when she was down, this she did know. And Cyn wanted to see her break. She was yearning for her to crumble, but Yarni continued the conversation like the news that Cyn had just given, didn't mean anything. They sat and talked for the next hour, and Yarni didn't return to her cell until the bell rung at 11p.m. for lockdown.

  The next day, she tried calling Melanie's house collect, for the first time since she'd been locked up. She heard Melanie's voice when she picked up the phone and said "Hello." Melanie didn't take the call. She thought that maybe Melanie hit the wrong button or something. She knew that there had to have been some mistake. She tried two more times and Melanie still rejected the call. She couldn't believe it. Melanie had been her ace since sixth grade and now she wouldn't even take a $1

  phone call. That just intensified the whole situation.

  THE NERVE of Melanie, I never knew just how petty she was. She doesn't know if it's an emergency or what. Dag, I thought we were better than that! The sound of the dial tone in her ear from Melanie hurt Yarni's feelings. Was she concerned that Yarni was going to run up her bill? That couldn't have been the circumstances because Bengee or Gloria would've taken care of the bill. Why would the bill even been an issue?

  Yarni remembered something Gloria once told her a few years ago. "You'll always find out who your true friends are when you're down and out." The whole time Melanie and Yarni had been friends, this was the one time she ever needed Melanie for anything at all. Melanie had forfeited her friendship with Yarni at that very moment. To comfort herself, she simply looked at it as it only cost out $536 to find her that my so-called friend wasn't worthy of my fri
endship.

  She didn't want to call Gloria to involve her in what was going on. Gloria couldn't find out any of these things about Bengee because she knew if she let Gloria know anything bad about Bengee, Gloria would always harbor ill feelings towards Bengee. When mothers and family members get involved in a couple's relationship, they'll still hold a grudge, even if the couple gets back together. She knew that she couldn't let Gloria know anything until she was sure it was completely over between them.

  After a lengthy deliberation, Yarni decided that she wouldn't mention to Bengee any of the rumors she'd heard. She'd keep them to herself for now, but prepare herself in case the rumors were true.

  After being in jail for exactly five months, a total of seven months counting the two that she was on work release, Yarni's lawyer came to visit her. He told her that she had a court date scheduled for the next day. The judge agreed to hear argument for her alternative sentencing. He told her not to get her hopes up too high because he was going to take into consideration that she had gotten removed from the work release program. Not one ounce of doubt set in, for she was certain that she was being released. This was only God working on her behalf. She knew the judge didn't have any jurisdiction over God. That night was the first night that she had actually slept for the entire seven months.

  When they called Yarni, she only had fifteen minutes to get ready for court. While she waited in the holding cell she wasn't a bit nervous. She had a sense of peace and security that she was about to be released.

  She overheard the judge having very little sympathy for the defendants before her, but when she was called to go in front of the judge, she could feel that she was walking on still waters.

  The judge had a sense of compassion for her, she could sense. It was almost as if he wasn't the same person who had sentenced all the people in front of her to harsh sentences.

  He reviewed her letters of character from her minister, a U

  of R professor, and her mother. He allowed her to explain why she was taken off of work release. Yarni explained to the judge that she simply wanted to get the degree that she had worked so hard for. She made it clear that what she did was wrong, but that she felt it was what she had to do, as she knew now, she was a convicted felon. She may never be allowed to make her dream come true, so she thought at least she could finish out her classes. But she was unable to because she was removed from work release.