The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[Swirl-Girl]

I noticed something. Must. Hold. My. Tongue.
Also, why do they have a kitty clock?

[Schipperke]

Also, why do they have a kitty clock?

Are you telling me all prisons don't have kitty clocks?  Oops. 

I noticed something. Must. Hold. My. Tongue.

And I know how hard it is to do that!  But you're doing so well, I think you've just gained a level in your top-hush, button-lip security classification.  Congratulations!

[Blayzen]

Blayzen, I hope you'll understand that I'd rather not confirm or deny your theories at this point.  You'll be getting more information as the story progresses, and I think new possibilities will open up.  I'll say no more than that!

Of course I understand! You can't give away all of your secrets at one time! Needless to say, I'll be hanging around waiting patiently to see what happens next and how Ben gets out of his current predicament...

[Swirl-Girl]

Yay! Do I get a special ID card, or something? Perhaps a pin? Or a button to attach to my lip?

[Schipperke]

Yay! Do I get a special ID card, or something? Perhaps a pin? Or a button to attach to my lip?

Well, if I was a talented pattern designer, which I definitely am not, I'd design a pattern saying "Top-Hush, Button-Lip Team."  Maybe a t-shirt pattern, how cool would that be?

Or if I was a talented banner designer, which I also am not, I'd design an impressive banner.

But sadly I have neither of those talents, so I have nothing to offer except congratulations. 

[Swirl-Girl]

Well, I'm mildly, half-way talented at making patterns. Let's see what I can't do.

[Schipperke]

Well, I'm mildly, half-way talented at making patterns. Let's see what I can't do.

I've seen your patterns, and you're much too modest- your patterns are beautiful!  I can't wait to see what you might come up with! 

[quinti.sims]

Love your stories .You are so creative

[Schipperke]

Love your stories .You are so creative

Thank you very much!  I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. 

[Schipperke]

Blood Island, Part V

Diary Entry

The showers were busy, with inmates coming and going.  They looked at me curiously but none of them spoke.



I followed the prisoners leaving the showers and found myself in a large room that I hadn't seen before.



This must be the dining room.  One of the inmates started preparing food while the others clustered around me, saying nothing.

Their intent stares were unnerving me and I decided it might help to introduce myself.  "My name's Oliver - Ben Oliver," I said.



For a while nobody said anything.  Then an old man with a grey beard spoke:  "We know who you are.  And now you're waiting for us to introduce ourselves like they do in polite society, eh?  What say, boys, shall we put on our company manners and tell Bennie our names?" 



They all laughed, and I knew they were laughing at me.  Then the old man took pity on me.  "Eh, all right.  Our accomplished chef over there," pointing at the blond fellow making breakfast, "that's Arnie.  Chief cook and salmonella expert.  Brian," he nodded at the dark-haired guy, who actually nodded back at me.  "Conrad you've already met." - my cellmate.  "And you can call me Darren, 'cause that's my name.  And now you can get to the back of the line, new boy, 'cause I like my waffles hot and that's how I aim to have 'em."

We lined up for breakfast with me at the back as instructed.  Breakfast was a silent meal, every man busy shovelling in the food.



As soon as the meal was finished, the men quickly dispersed.  Brian saw me standing there looking lost and took pity on me, saying, "Work time.  You'll find your work assignment on the board over there."  I went over to look at the board he pointed out.



The work assignments were listed by prisoner number, not name.  What was the number they had called me when I hammered on the cell door last night?  306, that was it.  I read, "Prisoner 306 - garden duty."

I followed the other inmates going out the back door and saw a small garden plot.  Conrad was already there, harvesting a tree, and Brian was pulling up weeds that were breaking through the asphalt.



I walked over to an onion plant and bent over to start harvesting it when suddenly Conrad yelled, "Stop!"



I stopped.  What, was it his plant or something?  He strode over, got in my face and yelled, "You don't harvest the onions, Stupid!  Don't you know anything?"



"But why?!" I exclaimed.



"Because anyone who isn't a gormless idiot knows onions are a member of the allium family, of course," he said.  Which explained precisely nothing.



But I apologized and said I'd leave the onion alone.  He went back to his apple tree, muttering "gormless idiot."

The sun was coming up and it was becoming rather pleasant in the garden.  Well, it would have been pleasant if I had been able to forget the high walls imprisoning me and the guard overhead making his rounds.

[RaiaDraconis]

Allium family...hmmm... <gears turning in head>

Very interesting. I'm starting to get ideas...but again, not going to say anything. There is far, far more to this than meets the eye. Way to keep us all on our toes.

[RainBeau]

This is so frustrating. Every time I get really absorbed in the story, it ends! Why?
Talking of 'why', I've noticed something about the prisoners and the staff of the prison that it just occurred to me I might not mention because it might be something that's a bit of a clue 

[ladybug53]

That's the second cat clock I've noticed .... hmmm.....cat clocks and Allium family . I wonder if these are connected somehow . I think I'm on to something and then get all confused again . Great job on those inmates and kitchen . Great chapter ! 

[Schipperke]

This is so frustrating. Every time I get really absorbed in the story, it ends! Why?
Talking of 'why', I've noticed something about the prisoners and the staff of the prison that it just occurred to me I might not mention because it might be something that's a bit of a clue 

Well, there are several clues out there at this point, although I think it would probably be hard to put them together because there are a number of things you just don't know yet.  But I appreciate you not mentioning whatever you've noticed!

I appreciate everyone's cooperation in not sharing all your suspicions and theories here.  Maybe it's just me, but when I read a story I like to work things out for myself, and I enjoy any suspense a story has to offer.  But someone reading a story in this format has no choice but to see the comments posted. 

I know it's frustrating when a chapter ends just as you're getting into it.  But chapters have to end somewhere, and I just try to find a point where it seems logical to stop.   For some reason, I like to do an update every day when I can manage it, and that means the updates tend to be short.  I hope it's not too frustrating for you!

Thanks for the comments. 

[Strategy Thinker]

I am loving your story.  After you said that there are clues, I carefully re-looked at the story and noticed  . Thus I now I have a theory that he got locked up because  and he is going to escape by doing .  They both fairly far fetched but I cannot see anything else as possibly being a clue.