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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Don't Cut off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (without using the actual phrase or litera (02/14/08)
Thomas mocked the prison guard as he walked past. "Here's a piece of warm bread," he sang sarcastically. "Who does he think he is, anyway? He thinks he's better than us because he has warm bread."

His cellmate turned to him. "At least he shares it with us."

Thomas let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, only so he can proselytize. I'm tired of it. He's always talking about how God has a plan for us. Some plan this is, you and me stuck in a prison cell. I've had it. I'm going to file a complaint against him. Let him see how getting fired works into God's plan for him."

His cellmate chuckled. "What are you going to accuse him of? Feeding us?"

"Oh, come on. Don't act so ignorant. We're being held in a federal prison, which makes him a federal worker. He's imposing his religious views on us while on duty."

By now the other prisoners in the cellblock had heard Thomas' rant. "You don't have to listen to him, you know. At least he treats us with respect."

"Yeah. Let it go. We like him. Who knows what the next guard will be like if he looses his job?"

"Can you honestly say you don't like the warm bread he gives us everyday?"

Thomas banged his fist on the small metal toilet that also served as a table. "It's not about the bread. It's about what comes with the bread.

His cellmate laid a hand on Thomas' shoulder. "Calm down, my friend. Don't do anything you'll regret later."

Thomas let out a scoffing laugh. "The only thing I regret is that I didn't think of this earlier when he first started spouting off about this God who loves us."

A few weeks later, the prison guard came to work for his last shift. "Apparently someone sent in a complaint about me sharing my faith," he explained, casting a pained look in Thomas' direction, as Thomas smirked at him from the corner of his cell. "They told me since I'm a federal worker that I'm allowed to share my faith. It would violate the separation of church and state, they said. Seems to me the state religion is Atheism."

The next day, the new guard came for his first shift. He paced the cellblock, his club tapping the floor, always at the ready. "Prisoners, I am your master for the next twelve hours. You shall call me 'Sir' and nothing else. You don't need to know my name as you do not deserve to use it; and don't bother telling me your names because I won't use them. Your prison ID number is all I need to know about you."

"Way to go, Thomas," a fellow prisoner retorted.

"You!" The guard's voice penetrated the air "...will not speak unless I give you permission. I run a tight ship, and loose lips sink ships," he said, chuckling at the pun. "And I wouldn't suggest filing a complaint against me," he stressed, staring at Thomas, "...considering they go to me."

Dinner time approached, and the guard rolled the cart with the cold bread around the cell block. He kicked at the cart, knocking all the bread to the floor. "Whoops. Clumsy me," the guard said with a grin. "I guess I'd better pick this up. He walked on top of the bread. "Whoops. There I go again." He scooped up the remaining bread in his arms, and made a dramatic lunge for the trashcan, as the bread fell in. "I just can't seem to get my act together tonight, can I?" he jeered. "Oh, and that just happened to be the last of the bread too. Better luck tomorrow, I guess."

The rest of the guard's shift was filled with the sound of his club echoing off the concrete floor and the prisoner's sniffles and coughs, as well as the occasional random laugh from the guard. A few minutes before lights out, as his shift was about to end, he stopped by Thomas' cell. "I heard you enjoy reading," he said with a smirk, as he slipped a piece of paper between the bars and walked off.

Thomas took the piece of paper in his hands, hanging his head in shame as he read. I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Luke 19:26 (NASB)
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This article has been read 1621 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sally Hanan
02/22/08
Good story. The end was a bit improbable, but you managed to make me loathe the new guard. :)
Sara Harricharan
02/23/08
Ahh, the title was good. I was expecting a humor piece though-lol. Good job with the guard change, I really wanted to get rid of him and let the original guy come back. Grrr that Thomas! What was he thinking?! Oh..wait, he wasn't thinking. ^_^ Nice writing. ^_^
Seema Bagai 
02/23/08
Great job in this piece.
Patty Wysong
02/23/08
That new gaurd has got to go! Great job making him odious.
Debbie Wistrom
02/24/08
Great title, and so on topic, loved this engaging piece. I too want the old guard back, wiched the cell mates have won him over in the beginning, great job.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
02/25/08
You made the new guard very real and the situation very sad. Good writing
Beth LaBuff 
02/25/08
Very clever...I had to wince at the combination toilet/table. :) I enjoyed the tight ship/loose lips sink ships comment.
LaNaye Perkins
02/25/08
Good example of cutting your nose off to spite your face. Well done.
Lyn Churchyard
02/25/08
That'll larn him! What a nasty man that Thomas. He should have kept his mouth shut. Well written. Ready... Aim... Fire... on target Missy :)
Joy Faire Stewart
02/25/08
Oh, very interesting read and right on target. Excellent message too, NO complaining!
Laury Hubrich 
02/25/08
This was a most interesting story. Nasty old guard!
Laury
Patrick Whalen
02/25/08
Good story and not far from things I have personally experienced. My only comment:

"They told me since I'm a federal worker that I'm /not/ allowed to share my faith...."
Jan Ackerson
02/25/08
Very clever story. Never having been in a prison, I'm not sure how likely it is that guards would be distributing warm bread--but it fits in great with both the topic and your clever title. A fun read.
Dee Yoder
02/26/08
I really like your title. The characterizations of the guards (good and bad) are very good. What a difference the Lord makes in the life of guard-Thomas never thought of that!
Joanne Sher 
02/26/08
Good job especially with characterization. Enjoyed the read - and a great fit for the topic.
Holly Westefeld
02/27/08
I liked your twist at the end, which left me wondering what the understanding was between the two guards. Did the new one agree to deliver the message for some reason of his own, or, and I realize this is reaching, is he a believer in league with the previous guard to present a vivid contrast?