“It’s like painting,” Alex said. Three looked at him curiously. “I studied art in my spare time at university – I enjoy painting. It relaxes me,” Alex explained. “Polishing shoes makes me feel the same.”
“If you could find some value in the act of service itself, beyond what gives you pleasure or displeasure, maybe it would help you adapt to your situation,” Two said pointedly. Alex rolled his eyes affectionately and walked away.
“Thank God it’s lunchtime. I’m starving,” Five said, as they walked into the dining room. They’d all missed breakfast so lunch smelled particularly good.
“Not you.” F brought his stick down to block the doorway when Two tried to walk through. “You don’t have time for lunch. The dorm was a mess when I inspected it – go and clean it up.”
“We left it perfectly clean,” Alex protested.
“Well, I say it’s dirty.”
“Why does Two have to tidy it?”
“Doesn’t Two do all the dirty work in your group?” F asked with a malicious smile. “Like offering up his bed to people who should sleep on the floor? Two is clearly the martyr of the group, so he should enjoy tidying the dorm instead of eating lunch. Now,” he barked at Two.
“This is—” Alex began hotly, but Two shook his head warningly.
“It’s fine. F makes a good point,” he said, with his usual wry good humour. He turned to go, and F helped him on his way with a shove that almost sent him flying, before following him menacingly back to the dorm.
E oversaw lunch instead, patrolling the room to ensure there was no talking. Alex sat down at the table fuming, and when E’s back was turned, he wrapped a couple of rolls in a napkin and shoved them in his pocket. D appeared at the end of the meal to clear away the dishes, but she was like a frightened rabbit and refused to make eye contact. He tried to mouth “I’m sorry” at her, but she turned her back and hurried away. She didn’t offer him any furtive special treats either, and he felt a pang of guilt.
Two joined them in the workroom for the afternoon session, having missed lunch entirely.
“You okay?” Alex asked as they waited for B to arrive.
“I’m fine.” Two sighed. “The lovely F had turned the dorm upside down. It took me an hour to make all the beds again and tidy up.”
“You must be starving. Here – sorry it’s not much – it’s the best I could do.” Alex shoved the rolls at Two, just as B and F entered the room. Two took them gratefully and shoved them into his pocket before they were seen. He made an excuse to use the bathroom half an hour later and shot Alex a little wink on his way out, and a surreptitious thumbs-up sign on his way back in.
For the first time, Alex clearly came top in the day’s task, closely followed by Two. Five performed the worst again. They returned to the dorm for the usual half-hour break before dinner… and stopped in the doorway in dismay. The room was completely trashed; bedding was strewn around, beds turned upside down, mattresses were on the floor, and the contents of their wardrobes mixed up in a huge pile inside the cage.
“What the hell?” Alex exclaimed, looking around. The men stared at each other in shock – and Alex saw realisation dawning in Two’s eyes.
“I think dear F is playing games with us,” he said. “Or rather – with me.”
F came sauntering into the room and took a look around, an expression of mock surprise on his face.
“I thought I told you to clear up this mess, Two,” he said, striding over to Two and standing intimidatingly close.
“You did, F. I’m sorry,” Two replied meekly. “Clearly, I didn’t do a very good job.”
“When I tell you to do something, I expect it to be done.”
Two bowed his head. “You have every right to expect that, F. I’ve failed in the task you set me.”
F grinned maliciously, and Alex felt his hackles rising. “You can put the room straight instead of having any dinner tonight,” F instructed.
“That’s not fair,” Alex blurted. “He missed breakfast, and you already made him go without lunch.”
F turned, very slowly, clearly trying to exude maximum menace.
“Shh, Alex! Leave it,” Two hissed, before freezing.
F whirled back to glare at him. “Didn’t I make it clear what your names are while you’re here?”
“Yes, F, you did,” Two said in a placatory tone. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re either deaf, senile, or wilfully disobedient – which is it, old man?”
