Chapter seventy two
When I hesitated long enough, Noah volunteered. "Well, independence day is coming and a few inmates on life sentence will be granted bail because of it. We're planning a protest to urge he be released in the process."
Dad had an element of hope in his eyes when he looked at me. "How feasible is this plan? Have you got people? Because you need people, like, a lot!"
"Oh, we have people," I said. "So much it's surprising."
Still, his stare remained on the both of us, slightly astonished, more impressed and certainly a lot of happiness behind it all. "When is the protest happening?"
"In a week's time," Noah declared outrightly. I was happy he was coming through, sending him an encouraging smile to show for it.
In the end, Dad tapped my cheeks lightly and squatted so he could reach Noah. "I'm really really proud of you two, boys. Chips off the old block. And I'm sorry I left you, I truly am."
His eyes a bit teary, my brother grinned." We forgive you, Dad."
Just then, I saw a glow in my father's eyes I hadn't seen before.
***
"As the day came closer and closer, I'd started to become more anxious," I confessed genuinely. "I think it was because my entire life was going to be determined by that one day."
Justine nodded from where he sat, heaving a deep sigh afterwards. "I understand how that feels, Jeff. The fear it wasn't going to work out, huh? Anyways, I've been wondering about Jayden. Did you forgive him?"
It took me a moment to piece up an answer in my head, probably because it was never my plan to touch that part in the first place.
"Oh, I did," I said matter of-factly. "I mean, he came up to me one day during labour and kicked up a vain conversation about the weird shapes the rakes now had. It was obvious he regretted his actions and was sorry about it; his efforts to apologize proved it. And so, the next day during breakfast, I sat next to him and we kinda sorted things out. We're cool."
Just like everybody else, Justin seemed pleased enough. What use is there giving mercy to someone who couldn't do same for others?"
I straightened my spine, suddenly excited as I began the tale of the protest like it had never been told.
***
As planned, the protest was to take place on the day prior to independence, coincidentally a Saturday with our two hour recreation session. The wait was not something I enjoyed in the least. It left my heart racing, my thoughts spiraling and pushed me from one mood swing into the other.
"Everything is gonna be chill, bro," Jayden had said.
"You're freaking out. Even if it doesn't work out, there are other ways to try," Dad had said.
"Ask the universe, Jeff. Ask the universe." These were my roommate's words obviously. As though the universe he spoke to all day did not know he was in prison!
Anyways, with my nervous breathing controlled, I'd shut my eyes, calmed my nerves and prayed that God's will be done. Whether or not I was going to be happy about it, I'd come to learn it was always for the greater good of everybody in the end.
Gathered once again on the tarmac ground, all inmates were focused on one activity or the other, making the best of the sunlight that rarely came nowadays. Although I was lost in training a couple of people on the basics of boxing, my mind was concentrated on several directions. Noah and the mob of supporters were going to be here any minute; the thought made my blood boil. Several times, I'd trail off in my speech when my anxiety became too disturbing and just spare myself a few seconds to breathe; and the sun wasn't helping matters either.
When an hour into recreation had gone and there still wasn't a sign of a protest, I wasn't sure whether to love the fact or get worried. It seemed Dad had been watching me for a pretty long time now and easily perceived something was wrong. Parents were a wonder.
Taking a break from the rugby pitch, he strolled over to my side. Having excused me to a couple feet away, he stared right into my face. "Take your mind off it. You worry too much. By the time you put your attention into something more exciting, the protest becomes nothing but a dream."
Strangely, I'd obediently adhered to his words.
"The primary goal is to let your opponent weaken himself while you stage defense," I stated, elbows joined protectively before my face in demonstration. Although my restlessness remained, I was doing a great job at sealing it in and and focusing on things that made me happy instead. A dozen or more inmates were truly focused, imitating my moves now and then and having loads of mirth by just doing that. A few others hung around, chuckled a bit and were replaced by even more curious passersby.
It reminded me of my regular days at the gym with the people, as the general fitness coach as well as a boxer. And just like back then, I was happy once again about everything.
Watching the smiles on the faces of others because of me was the most beautiful thing I'd felt in a while. Even though they turned clinches to hugs and jabs to punches, the fun we all had was what mattered.
Several minutes later, the long awaited moment was about to be here.
Caught in the middle of supervising a fight between Jay and Myers, a distant sound reached my ear. Infact, it seemed every single one of us heard it.
Very slowly, I could see the prisoners pause their respective sports and face the tall barbed gate. From their own respective stations too, the police guards did same…so did I.
They were coming, and it was getting even more obvious with each ticking second. The sound _a distant blend of loud voices of people from somewhere outside the prison premises_ grew more audible and soon became the prevailing noise. The words being yelled were not all too distinct to make out; but for now, all we did was listen carefully and watch.
Meanwhile, my father looked towards me, an action I caught with the corner of my eye. I bet he could sense my anxiety return. The guards made their way forward, squeezing amongst us with their guns held ready incase what we were all hearing was a threat of some sort.
We remained on our spots anyway, probably too curious to obey the order we were being given to head back inside. Every one of us was gasping by now, doing nothing but gawking.
Soon, the mob of people came into view through the barred gate.