Ballad Inmates
Ballad Inmates (Part 2)

By Dalem Tehang 

ALONG the hallway to the holding cell, I looked at each room. Crowded. The prisoners, compactly standing. Lying behind bars. The majority are bare-chested. Stare at. 

Someone throws a smile. Sympathizes. Not infrequently he set his eyes sharply. As if they had a new victim.

Until then, my steps stopped at the very end of the cell. Prison room number 10. The officer opened the door.

“Edi, this is a new prisoner,” said the officer.

A middle-aged, flat-bodied man, black with a rogue face, said: “Siap, Dan!”

Get me into the holding cell. There were 12 people in the 8 x 4 meter room. 

With a gesture, the man who had been called Edi, told me to put my small bag in the left corner. Endmost. Alongside the bathroom.  

I greet one prisoner after another in room 10. While introducing yourself. 

Some welcomed my hand in a friendly manner, mostly just pleasantries. There was even one before receiving my hand, inserting a finger into his nose. Put the bulbs in his fingers.

Edi told all the occupants of the room to sit in their respective places. He introduced himself as the head of the room.

“There are habits here that must be lived for new ones to enter. First, recognize yourself. Second, give a sign of friendship in the form of three packs of cigarettes. If this mall has not been brought, tomorrow is also okay. If you do not want to give a cigarette, you must sing three songs. Third, pay money for room needs for a month Rp 600,000,” said Edi introduced tatakrama in a holding cell.

I listened to his instructions carefully. As I watched one by one the inhabitants of these 10 cells. Majority age. Some are under 40 years old. 

“Now, please recognize yourself,” continued Edi while gesturing for me to stand.

I also stood up. Right next to the cell door. Until everyone looks in one direction. To my standing position.

“Thank you. Let me introduce myself,” I said in a soft voice, trying to stay relaxed.

“You're Islam, aren't you? If Islam, assalamualaikum first. If other religions, quite good night,” ketus Edi with a high tone.

Choked my throat. No doubt, even in the detention cell, there is still the ethics of maintaining religious peculiarities. 

“Assalamaicum. Thank you for receiving all of your friends. My name is Mario. 50 Years old. I was arrested for alleged fraud and embezzlement,” I started introducing myself. 

“If you have been detained gini, don't talk about allegations anymore. Say you have a case of 378 and 372,” said a burly man without clothes, who leaned his body against the wall. His eyes are looking at me. I'm nodding.

“Don't cut the crap first, Doni. Come on,” said Edi while turning his face to the man who had interrupted my conversation.

“Iya, sorry if there is my language that is not fitting. About the sign of friendship with a three-pack cigarette, maybe tomorrow I can meet it,” I said again.

“Emang you do not smoke yes,” said handsome young man sitting next to Edi.

Suddenly all the occupants of room 10, laughing loosely. I'm silent. I don't know what they're laughing at.   

“Not to be surprised if friends laugh, Mario. They really ngetawain themselves again,” said Edi. I'm still quiet. The more you don't understand.

After a moment of silence, I asked: “What do you mean, sir Edi?”

“This smoking is not prohibited, Mario. Only buy it must pass the officer who is guarding. If not through them, they are confiscated. We've all experienced first what you've experienced this malem. That's why I laughed earlier. Consider reminiscing about the experience of the first time you entered here,” explained Edi. And also laughing. I also laughed.

“How about funds room needs, Mario?” edi asked my attitude.

“I'm ready to follow the rules here. Only if you can know, what is the amount of funds for each month?” my many.

Edi looked at the handsome-looking man with clean skin sitting next to him.

“This is called Iyos. He's the treasurer in this room. Let him be clear,” said Edi.

“So the funds Rp 600,000 per month is fully for our needs here. In a day, at least twice the room door is opened for several hours. Well, that once open, must pay Rp 50,000. The term money. Not to mention if asked to support buying cigarettes that guard or who harass prisoners. That is a minimum of Rp 100,000 per room. Or if there are our friends who besukan, it must give big money, the term kopelan Rp 20,000. Yes, if you are interested in giving money, if not, then this cash is what we use. Also make buy breakfast or eat malem if there is no delivery,” said Iyos. Length width.

I'm mangosteen. Trying to understand the uniqueness of life in a holding cell. 

“And all the incoming funds are also out, there is a note. Everyone uses codes. Only we are fellow room dwellers who understand the codes,” continued Iyos. He took out a small book from under the folds of his clothes.

“Why is that?” ask again. Wonderingly.

“If written as is, keep this book taken provos, we can all get into trouble. For example, dicet, A guard we give money Rp 50,000. If he gets examined by provost and gets punished, then it's his turn to be free, he punishes us too. It's hard for us to make. A lot of that stuff happened. We here would like to be comfortable to, even though there are in custody whose name is comfort,” continued Iyos. This time with a grin.

“You understand, Mario. Don't go into the details. Later also understand itself. If you have entered here, at most 2.5 months you have just come out. So prepare for anything you need while here. Importantly, keep the togetherness of the occupants of the room,” said Edi. End Iyos' explanation.

I'm nodding. The introduction is over. I'm back at my place. Cornest. I put my little bag full of clothes for my pillow. 

“Wear this under your bag. Let it be higher like a real pillow,” said the middle-aged man sleeping next to me. Name's Joko. 

He presented two bottles of mineral water size 1 liter filled with tap water from the bathroom that has been combined with rubber.

“Thank you,” I said. Joko smiled. 

“Seat. Later you will know how much fun it is to live in a cell,” he said while putting his head in a bottle of mineral water as he gave me. 

“What wisdom did you find?” my many. On the sidelines arrange a small bag on top of a bottle of mineral water that it gives, for me to make a pillow.

“Meet new friends who are actually kind-hearted and whose loyalty is extraordinary. And lost people we used to think were good friends. Enjoy ajalah. Someone comes and someone goes,” Joko said with a smile. 

I nod my head. Simple words, but very deep in meaning. (connected)