I've told my stories. Rather boring to be in jail. I was never roughed up much. I was the guy carrying the "Buddhist bible." I never called it that, but I had a book of Tibetan scripture. I soon found it had a powerful, protective superstitious effect, to be that guy.
The screws caught me trading food....a big no no.
I thought I was in trouble with my good time days. I was trading the meat for cheese or desert. Apparently, there was a bit of friction going on, about who I would trade with....first come, first serve, not the hierarchy
I was vaguely aware there were a few incidents about it, but I always looked away from fighting, to not be part of it.
IAC, me, back handcuffed in the, turned around chair, the watch Captain told me, I had to knock that off. But since I was just trying to be a Veggy, and didn't know they were required to give me a Veggy meal, I was off the hook about the GTDs.
From then on, if they got 6 oz of meat I got 12 oz of cheese. For their serving of veggies I got a double serving. If they got an apple, I got 2. Now that is a great deal in jail!
2 other guys decided the food was better and they would be Veggies, also.
The only time I was attacked was at the volleyball net. An opposing team, very large dark fellow, spiked the ball against the mid-net, right into my nose, quite purposely. His face was very aggressive. So, I just said, <blink, blink> "thanks, gotta guard the face, right? Good one."
Damn, I thought, even that came out too snarky. Sure enough right after yard, he jumped in line in front of me, and turned around, collar bone to my nose. Not a kind face.
I looked up, and said, "here bro, check this out." I read him a short Buddha quote, at random, to seize the moment. He growls, "give me that!" After a brief hesitation to check his eyes, I did. (that is very tough decision right there, in jail. Am I now his bitch?) I was sure he was gonna bust me in the head with it, IAC.
He quickly thumbed thru the double columns of text on each page, and I am aware, now, of 2 other large black men aside and behind me. <gulp>
"holy man, you can't play volleyball for shit."
"I know"
"you are so damn scrawny"
"I know that"
"why don't you lift weight?"
"I don't know"
"hey, he says, let's show this scrawny holy man!"
(yeah, mutter mutter, stupid scrawny cracker, mutter, don' know shit about, do he?"
"here's yor book back, bring it tomorrow" (slams into my scrawny chest)
By bring it, he meant to the weight pile. But they had to come get me. I was pretty nervous. But, they got me on the road to strength training, and sort of made me the scrawny, holy man of the yard.
The rest was nothing but nothing.