It’s winter, so bundle up – take a walk with me.
At my cell door, we have to stop. Two guards are on the other side, and I need to hand them all my clothes. I stand in my boxers as one searches through my thermal top, thermal bottom, two pairs of socks, shorts, t-shirt, jump suit and jacket. Once finished, the male guard hands all those items to the female guard standing next to him.
I then hand the man the last of my clothing, my boxer shorts and tennis shoes. Once he searches those, I’m made to do the strip search drill, lifting my testicles and turning around, before I’m allowed to put my boxers and tennis shoes back on. Turning my back to the door, I squat a bit to place my hands through the feeding slot so hand restraints can be placed on my wrists. Once locked in place, I stand up, and the guard motions for the cell to be opened.
“Back out the cell,” the guard states. You’re not supposed to turn around and walk out, but back out. Now we are escorted by the two guards to the recreation yard outside. Once through the door to the outside, the bitter cold instantly bites my flesh, sending goose bumps along my skin. As one guard holds me, the other walks the recreation yard, searching it – and holding my clothes.
Once she returns, I step in the yard and the door is closed behind me. I stoop once again to place my hands through the slot so the handcuffs can be removed. My clothes are then passed to me through the slot. I quickly begin putting them on and trying to get warm.
That was the easy part. After my time outside is up, the guards return to get me. Once again, I walk back to the gate door and begin to strip out in order to hand my clothes to the guard. Layer by layer, I hand them in as they are searched, piece by piece, until I am once again naked and outside. The last thing I hand in is my shoes, as I stand on the cold concrete, waiting. But, before they can be returned, I first have to raise my testicles, raise my arms, and turn around.
My body is shivering by the time I get my shoes and boxers back and turn around to once again put my shaking hands through the slot to get handcuffed. I then stand up before backing out the door and walking back into the building.
Thank you for walking with me. If you enjoyed this, we can do it again tomorrow. This is what every one of us does that wants to get outside our cell for two hours in the winter.
ABOUT THE WRITER. Travis Runnels, is a published author, and is currently working on his second novel. He lives on Death Row.
Travis Runnels #999505
3872 FM 350
Livingston, TX 77351
