Monson Academy - Pharetra Yearbook (Monson, ME)

Page 33 text:

The Solitary Rat It was dark in the long corridor as guard Ivan Peters led the convict down, down, down He was taking him to solitary, solitary confinement that would be a living hell Few men could stand the dingy, vermin infested cells of Blackgate Prison or the beatings of the guards A large rat with bright eyes scurried across their way As he trudged downward, Peters thought, nThat new warden a fool No solitary confinement in the prison anymorein says he to me 'What are we to do with these jerks when they get out hand? I'll show him I'll take this stooge of his down to soli tary, no matter what he says Oh well, here's the door, only two flights of stairs left to go, then I can beat this guy to a pulp I'l1 show that warden that I can put anybody I want into solitary Humphll Look at that big rat ' The pair of men, one guard, one prisoner, came to the soli tary cell The stench was terrible, water dripped from the cracks in the moss covered granite walls, light came from a small grating sev eral stories up, the bed was a bunch of vermin infested rags, a short length of rubber hose hung on the wall and a large rat sat in the corner, looking at the two men with small bright eyes Peters threw a rock at the rat but it wouldn't move This made him all the angrier, so he turned and knocked the prisoner The rat in the corner just sat and watched with his little beady eyes The prisoner remained motionless where he had fallen, and the guard advanced upon him with the hose in his hand 'You slimy crook, I'll show that warden that he can't stop me from knockin' your teeth out,' Peter screamed, as he lashed the convict with the hose n'No solitary or beatings for the prisoners Ha' that milksop' That's what he thinks W Peters struck the prisoner again and again, screaming as he hit him The prisoner's screams were drowned out by his own The rat with bright eyes watched quietly There was the sound of rubber hitting flesh, then the sick ening crunch of bone, then silence Peters turned and walked out Peters felt good as he walked up the stairs toward the big iron door He reached for the knob There was a smell of burn ing flesh and a scream as Peters touched it It was red hot The door was red hot all the way around at the edges, for it had been welded shut The bright eyed rat sat on the still convict and watched him 'The warden! The warden has had it welded shut as he prom isedl I didn't hear them and they d1dn't hear me when they welded it, for no one can hear a sound from in here,n thought Peters He grasped the small peep hole and slid it open A small piece of cement came through The warden had made doubly sure, he had had the door cemen ted over A O is .. of to the floor. . 0' 0