Ballad Inmates
Ballad Inmates (Part 7)

By Dalem Tehang

“PAK, this was his wife's luggage. Sorry, two packs of cigarettes are allowed in. Two more were given to us. Thank you for understanding yes, sir,” said the officer as he handed me a plastic bag containing my wife's luggage.

“Sama-sama, sir. Thanks too,” I said. Bending body. Respecting. 

A young man approached me. He stuck out his hand.

“My name is Adit, om. I'm tamping here. Want to go back to the cell?” he said politely.

“Iya, back to cell only,” I said. Trying to blend in using the words he said when calling me. 

Rushing Adit picked up a clap of cell lock locks on the mapolres detention complex from the guard room.   

He escorted my steps towards the very end of the cell. As it passed through the room of other cells, many greeted. Although only a nod and a smile.

“This prisoner is compact, om. No one is a jagger. Pinter-pinter just bring yourself,” said Adit as we walked. Adjoining. 

I'm nodding. I noticed his figure. Still very young. Age under 30 years old. 

“I am young, om. Only 26 years. Just two days ago birthday,” Adit said. It's like I understand what I'm thinking.

“You are still in college, are you working?” my many.

“Lecture is done, om. It's working too. In leasing company,” sahut him.

“What case did you get?” ask again.

“Drugs, um. Sticking with friends. We have four people. Here too, one cell,” clear. Runaway.

We were in front of my cell. With a trained movement, Adit opened the large padlock that had been rusted. 

“Thanks yes, Adit,” I said while patting his shoulder. He nodded and smiled. 

“Who comes?” joko asked as soon as I sat down at my place.

“My wife. He brought breakfast and cigarettes. Only two packs can enter. How do you usually have breakfast here?” my many.

“Later in the 10s ushered rice cadong. Usually we add instant noodles. But the routine, buy your own breakfast. Someone trading came here. Nasi uduk telor Rp 20,000. If fried rice Rp 25,000. There is also yellow rice, Rp 25,000,” said Joko.

“Mahal too huh?” i, interject.

“This is prison, Mario. All expensive. Nothing is cheap. In a moment will change the guard officer, you must be asked for Rp 20,000 co-pair money with tamping,” he continued.

“O that, because my wife came that yes? How yes. I don't hold money?” my answer. Perplexities. 

“Use room cash only first. If you have money, change it. That's the rule here. No need to bother thinking about it,” said Joko again. I'm nodding. Understand the rules of the game in the room. 

“Mario, we have breakfast together. In this room there is no term to eat alone,” said Edi, the head of the room.

“Ready!” sahutku short. 

“Jal, take that rice ladongnya,” said Edi, when he saw tamping carrying a large plastic containing dozens of food wrappers.

Ijal moves fast. Cadong food packages are inserted through the sidelines of iron bars.

All the roommates sit down. Ijal was busy opening one by one packet of rice cadong. 

My eyes wide. Each pack contains three times the bribe of rice. Lauk was only a pinch of vermicelli and three pieces of small fried tempeh. There's nothing else.

“It's called rice cadong, Mario. This is the meal of prisoners here and a day only once a night,” said Edi. I hurriedly nodded. Covering my surprise. 

“Don't talk about how much the budget for the actual prisoner meal costs, Mario. Because I will not find the logic. Thank you, we are still being given this kind of love. Even if not loved, we also can not protest,” said a man my age who since last night never said anything.

I looked at the man. Face's clean. His skin is also well-groomed. Perlente. It seems that he is educated and experienced.

“That's his name Mr. Aris. Honorable former Council member. Previously a big contractor. Even he built this prisoner complex. Fate brought him life here,” Edi said.        

I nodded my head at the perlente man. His name was Aris. He smiles. Also nods his head. 

“Where do you work?” ask Aris to me.

“I work in a savings and loan cooperative, sir,”.

“No need to wear sir. Call our names here. Let more fused, especially age does not vary much,” said Aris with a smile. I'm nodding.               

“You don't make fried noodles huh, Jal?” ask Edi suddenly to Ijal. The young man shook his head.

“Create first, three packs of all,” Edi command. 

In a hurry Ijal opened a bucket where to store food. Carefully open the end of the instant noodle wrap. 

Put hot water in it. He tied the end of the wrapper with rubber. So that the water does not sprinkle. Replayed repeatedly. Until the noodles are ripe. Or half-baked.

Fried noodles placed on the plate. We sat facing. In front of each was a packet of rice. We're ready for breakfast. Suddenly Ijal whispered. 

“Om, rice for Edi sir yes. Usually, if there is the best food, yes given to the hood of the room,” he said. Slowly. I'm nodding.

Ijal took the rice sitting in front of my seat and placed it in Edi's place. A packet of cadong rice in front of Edi, placed in front of me.

“This icon, Mario?” edi said while looking at me. I'm nodding.

Just now I opened the rice ladong wrap, a tamping man standing from behind an iron trellis.

“Which is Mario where is it? There is a dateng. Asked by the guard, spout,” he said. 

I'm standing. I left the rice that I was going to eat. Edi hinted for me to quickly exit the cell room. Tamping it open the door padlock. I also headed for the guard post.

I saw four men sitting in long chairs in the guard room. As it turns out, friends work in the cooperative office save the loan. (connect)