scarletwanda (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} scarletwanda) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} athinblackline,@ 2009-05-23 15:51:00 |
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Who: Wanda, OTA
When: May 23rd, Saturday morning, then Saturday evening
Where: Hallway in Blue, then cafeteria in Blue
What: Wanda is rewarded for a little helpful advice to a guard.
Wanda stepped into the hallway just after ten in the morning, trying to decide whether to eat breakfast or do a little wandering. She paused outside her door to mull it over and, as she usually did, caught snippets of a conversation between the two guards standing a few feet away. On this morning’s shift was a mean-looking guard she recognized as one who had handled her when she first arrived on Revolve and the guard who always nodded to her- whose name, she had recently learned, was Garret. They were talking about some sort of big horse race somewhere and the hateful one kept rattling off the odds he’d heard for different horses.
Almost unconsciously Wanda began going over the numbers in her head, doing calculations and figuring out the probability that the different horses named might win. Despite her better judgment and aversion to strangers, Wanda felt that she had to intervene when the guard with the malicious look began advising Garret to bet on a particular horse called over another. She stepped close enough to the men to be heard but far enough away that she was out of reach.
“Actually, it’s more likely that Itxaro will beat out the others, especially Admiral,” she said softly in an attempt to remain unobtrusive.
Malignant guard glared over at her while Garret stared curiously. “What’s that?” Garret finally asked as the other guard sneered.
“Based on the odds he was just giving,” Wanda explained and nodded in the spiteful guard’s direction, “It’s not likely that Admiral will actually beat out Itxaro. You’re really better off betting on Itxaro if you want to win anything.”
“What the hell do you know? Get out of here,” the other guard barked derisively and Wanda turned and left. Garret watched her go with contemplative interest.
Later that evening, while Wanda ate dinner alone at a table in the cafeteria, she was surprised when Garret strolled through the doors making a bee line towards her. “You were right,” he announced as he neared her seat. He seemed in good spirits and Wanda couldn’t help but find his smile infectious.
She gave a very small smile in return. “I was? About what?
“The horses,” he answered jubilantly, “I placed a bet on Itxaro and won.”
“Oh, well, congratulations,” she responded, uncertain of what else to say.
“So, I don’t really get what you, er, do… but it has something to do with probability, yeah?” He asked and Wanda nodded in reply. “Did you do this, then?”
“No,” Wanda denied, shaking her head vigorously, “I’m just good with numbers.”
Garret grinned and leaned against her table. “Well listen,” he began awkwardly and pulled something from a pocket. “I’m not really supposed to do this, but since you seem to be such good luck, this is for you.” He placed thirty dollars onto the table top and continued to smile. Either the other guards in the cafeteria did not notice or were purposely ignoring Garret’s interaction with Wanda. Some other prisoners, however, were watching the exchange with interest.
Wanda stared uncertainly at the money for a moment before pushing it back towards him. “No thank you. I don’t want to get in trouble for this,” she said politely. Garret pushed the bills back to her and laughed.
“If anything I would get into trouble. Once you’ve got a little money, no one really cares how you got it. Honestly, it’s only thirty dollars. You won’t get far around here with just that little bit of cash.” Before she could object any further he gave a little wave and walked away, out of the cafeteria.
Wanda glanced around without meeting anyone’s gaze before pocketing the cash. They probably think I’m some kind of prostitute she thought resentfully. Still, if she was thrifty, perhaps thirty dollars could get her some clothes online. Wearing something other than the inmates’ garb would certainly make her feel at least a semblance of normalcy.