Katie was taken to the county jail. she was booked as processed. she changed into an orange jumpsuit. she was put into a private room. She spent the night in the county jail. The next day after breakfast she was moved to a juvenile detention facility. She was changed into a green t-shirt, black pants, and flip-flops. She never wore pants before her detention. she only wore dresses or skirts. she went with it.
A young woman escorted her to a cell. she told her to take off her sandals. The lady entered a key code and slid it into her card. The door opened. She was told to. get inside. She cringed when the door closed.
She saw she had a roommate. Katie was scared. "you going to hurt me?"Katie asked. the other girl was on her mattress. She wore the same green t-shirt and black. pants and was barefoot. She was reading a graphic novel.
"I had not planned on it. Maybe later. I am kidding. I am not violent. I am just a nuisance. At least there is what judge Perkins says. I ally. "she said. "I am Katie. Why are you here?" she asked. "shoplifting. I am a recidivist. I have been in and out of juvie for a few years now. Shoplifting, trespassing, I stole a car once. Went for a joy ride. I egged a house. I guess I probably am a nuisance. Why are you here?" she asked.
"I shot an intruder. My dad and my older brothers were at a church men's retreat two hours away. My younger siblings and my pregnant mom were all asleep. It was my dad's gun. I have been through hunter and gun safety courses. I was not authorized to use the gun. "she said.
"Today is a holiday week. You will be here till Tuesday. "she said. "that's ok. I spent last night in county jail. I could not leave my cell. If I did, I had to be escorted. "she said
"This is a safe place. Worse that could happen is that you could get stomped on on the ice cream social night. "the ally said. "good to know. "she said.
"so, do you think these charges will stick?" ally asked. "I have no idea. I hope not. I just wanted to protect my family. He was right outside the door of my two-year brother Caleb. "she said. "are you close with your family?" she asked. "yes I am. I am the third child of 9 kids with one of the ways. My two older brothers are on their own now. I am a day's girl. I love my mom. "she said.
"my mom is in jail. She is a drug addict. She has been in and out of jail for years. I was removed by d.h.s when I was four. Never knew my dad. I have bounced from foster care to foster care. I have been in juvie multiple times. I figure I might do a mouth maybe two in detention this time. I know I am trouble." she said.
"I am hardly in a position to judge. "Katie said. She laughed. "I do know better. I let myself get carried away. "she admitted."it can't be easy not having a family. Going from one foster family to another. "Katie said. "no it is not. I push them away. I don't trust anyone anymore. "she said. "Understandable, "she said.
"Are you scared?" Alison asked. "a little I guess. I could be tried as an adult. I could get life in an adult jail. My lawyer does not think that that will happen. There is a possibility of ten to twenty years in an adult prison. I could be sent to a juvenile facility until I am 18 or 21. "she said.
"I would hate for you to go to any jail for a processed crime. "she said. "me too. I miss my family. I want to be there when my little sister is born. "Katie said.
"don't lose heart. The police may have overreacted. Perhaps cooler heads in the district attorney's office will prevail" the ally said.
A girl came by in a cart. "I am Janey. I am a library assistant. Would you like a book to read?" she asked. "do you have a Bible?/king James ?" she asked. "I do. The Gideons make sure we are stocked with bibles. "she said. a female officer tells them to go to the wall and stand at attention. They did so. The guard opened the meal slot. Janey put the Bible through the slot. The slot was closed..the slot was relocked.
They were told to return to how they were. she got the Bible."do you ever get used to that? Being locked up?" she asked. "not really. "she said.
She read in Ephesians. She asked ally if she could borrow a pen and paper. She had an extra pen. She gave her a piece of paper. "if you need more just ask. I have plenty. "she told him. "thanks ally."Katie responded. She wrote some notes.
She was glad to be in her room. She was nervous to be outside her cell. She was glad to have time to read the Bible and reflect on it. She lived to write. She had time in her head. She liked Allison. On the outside, she would be a bad influence on her. In here she was fine.