by Anne Pleydon
“Miss Hooper,” Dr. Mull calls. She has lagged behind. Dr. Mull now stands at the centre of the Rotunda by the reception chairs. She notes it is the same weighted furniture she sat in before. She glances at the staff behind the counter who are staring at Dr. Mull. For some reason, she wishes Dr. Mull had not said her name so loud. She stands next to him as he motions toward the commotion. “Someone’s not having a good day.” He tries to make eye contact with the men who have gathered near a long counter but they have already looked away and they do not acknowledge him. Dr. Mull looks back at Laura and then points at the field.
“You see there. The boys go there for outdoor rec.”
Laura nods. She sees large classrooms on the sides of the Rotunda. There are also two short corridors on each side of the Rotunda; one to her left and one to her right where the unhappy boy disappeared. Each corridor ends with a double set of black doors with a small black patch to the right.
Dr. Mull points at the large control area. There are two staff behind the desk and a couple more leaning against it. “This is called School Control. They used to have school in these classrooms. That’s how it got its name. But they have school on the empty units now.”
“What do they use the classrooms for?”
“Egh.” He waves a hand. “Training. I think groups. You see on this side, this classroom has been converted to interview rooms. There are cameras in there. It’s for lawyers and such. And family visits sometimes. And you see there is the entrance to the gym and the kitchen area. They used to have a cafeteria. But it’s a staff lounge now. The kids eat on the units. The food goes on carts. It’s foolishness.” Laura nods.
“You see those doors,” Dr. Mull continues and points to the double doors with black patches on either side of the Rotunda. “If you saw us from above, I mean if you saw this building from a bird’s eye view, you would see a figure eight or perhaps, rather, a dumbbell. We are standing in the middle right now and there is a ring of units on either side of us. Through those doors are the units which were laid out in circle. There is a hallway that connects them. Inside that circle of units is another courtyard. One of the courtyards has rabbits. Why they have rabbits I do not know. Sometimes the units use the courtyards for outdoor rec instead of the yard.”
“On this side,” Dr. Mull points to the corridor on the left side of the Rotunda, “This hallway takes you to the Admin, Management, and the Superintendent’s Unit. They share a unit. As well as the Health and Mental Health Units where we’ll go later. Much smaller units. Just three of them.” He seems to be considering something and Laura worries if she is supposed to be asking a question. Dr. Mull continues, “These are units converted into office space on this side. It used to be the girls’ side. Do you get this?” He sighs and scratches his head again. Laura nods wanting to encourage him to go on as he appears to be fatiguing. A thin layer of sweat is beading on his forehead.
“And to your right are more units than on the left. Those are the boys’ units. We don’t have girls anymore. Also down there are the Admissions and Discipline types of units.” He pauses. “So, in fact, Merivale is a lopsided dumbbell, but you get my drift. On your right, if you go down there and go right it’ll take you to Discipline. Basically that’s segregation for violence or the very unwell. That boy. Well, an unhappy soul is probably down there right now. And then past that unit is Admissions and Front Control. But you don’t need to go down there. You can go between our Mental Health Unit and the boys’ units by cutting across the field. The Mental Health Unit looks directly on to a couple of the boys’ units. Well, in direct line of sight. It can be nice to walk outside. It’s very closed in. I need to get outside sometimes.”
Dr. Mull sweeps his hand over the Rotunda. “I believe both Controls can see everything and control every door. But Kenny knows more about that I guess. School Control runs the Rotunda and units. Front Control runs the main entrance and Admissions and sometimes Discipline. I think. When you were there in the Man Trap did you see through the Front Control windows to Admissions on the other side?”
Laura’s eyes widen. “Man Trap? Is that what it’s called. That holding area?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dr. Mull smiles for the first time but it then fades. “Like cattle being led to the slaughter. They hold you there for quite awhile.”
“I think I’m gonna get lost here,” Laura muses aloud.
“No. You don’t need to go very many places. You can see patients here in the Rotunda in these interview rooms. Or on the Mental Health Unit. You won’t need to go to the units. I don’t go to the units.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t mind seeing…” she starts.
“There’s not much to look at,” he interjects. “Very closed in. Once you’ve seen a unit, they’re all the same. Come, let’s sit.”
They sit across from each other in the padded blue chairs. Laura notices that Dr. Mull’s eye contact is fleeting, as though he is looking for someone else to arrive. She waits for him to speak first. He says, “You’re from the university. Doctoral student?”
“Yes, first year. Mostly I’ve worked with –”
“Is this a practicum? This is for therapy, yes?”
“Uh yes, but I would be interested in assessment opportunities.”
“Uh.” He looks at the ceiling, then back at her. “Late in the term, isn’t it? Didn’t it start last month? We don’t usually get a student from the university so I don’t know how it works. Psychiatry is practically year round. But what quarter, what semester is this for psychology students?”
“First semester. Everyone was placed quite quickly, but my placement fell through because of a mat leave. So, I really had to find a place last minute. I mean, it will be a good placement. It’s just that I feel behind.” Her smile is awkward as she seeks reassurance.
“You enjoy this work?” Dr. Mull asks.
“I’ve never been in a jail before.”
“I much prefer my community clinic.” Dr. Mull smiles again. “Well, it will be an experience for you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Hmm.” His smile is gone and looks at his hands briefly and then back at the grad student’s face. “Your supervisor will be Kenny Halpin. Of course I am at your disposal, but you will be working under Dr. Halpin. We had a long talk about it. Kenny doesn’t like students. But it looks good for us. We need to get our numbers up.”
Laura feels as though the floor as fallen out beneath her. Her stomach is so tight she can hardly breathe. She feels her grip tighten on the armrests. “Oh, I don’t want …”
“No, it’s settled.” Dr. Mull leans forward and it looks as though he is going to pat Laura’s hand and then decides against it. “It’s fine. It’s never a good time. With budget and political climate changes looming on the horizon. I think there are going to be some big changes here soon, and I’m too involved in that process for a student. But you are welcome. We want you to feel welcome! If you have any problems, you let me know. I won’t tolerate it. Oh, there’s Dr. Halpin now.” Dr. Mull looks over Laura’s shoulder at the School Control desk and struggles to free himself from the chair.
Laura follows his gaze and flushes when she sees a slender woman dressed in black with a red lanyard join the staff at School Control. Dr. Halpin is in her mid-40s, shiny dark hair, and pale. She and the staff engage in some banter but Laura cannot quite make out the words. The grad student picks up her bag again and follows Dr. Mull to School Control. The two staff that were leaning against the desk see them approach and they leave. Two men in dark denim remain seated behind the desk. One reads a document and the other faces a computer.
“Dr. Halpin,” Dr. Mull says, with a sweeping gesture toward Laura. “Our new practicum student, Laura Hooper.” Kenny gives a tight smile that does not reach her eyes and quickly gives Laura the once over. She extends her hand and they shake. Laura notes that Kenny’s hands are dry.
“Hey,” Kenny greets. Her voice is casual. U
p close, Laura sees how thin Kenny is and finds her dark eyes a bit unnerving. Laura does not know where to look so she stares at Dr. Mull for guidance.
Dr. Mull says, “Well, I’ll leave you to it then. Yes?” And he walks away from them.
“Hmm,” responds Kenny as Dr. Mull heads off toward the wing that houses the Mental Health Unit. Her jaw tightens and her eyes linger on him until he disappears.
Once Dr. Mull leaves it is as though the side of Kenny’s body melts against the School Control desk. She fingers her lanyard and eyes Laura. “So did he give you the grand tour?”
“Uh, no. I mean, he explained the layout but we didn’t go anywhere.”
Dr. Halpin nods. “Okay, well, let’s see.” She places her hands on the desk. The rings on her fingers bang on the surface. “You’re standing in the single most important part of the facility.” Laura’s eyes widen. Kenny gives a wry smile at the staff behind the desk. The staff reading the document looks to be the same age as Laura. He has a baseball cap on. The staff behind the computer is older than Dr. Mull. He has a round face and full head of white hair. Dr. Halpin looks at the staff in the baseball cap and says, “This is Rodney.” And then she gestures toward the older man, “This is Frank. He’s never usually up here but what happened? That kid flipped out? So he’s doing School Control a solid and holding down the fort until Pigats gets back.” Laura says hi but they only nod.
Dr. Halpin says to Frank, “Do you even know how to use a computer?”
“Sshh. I can check sports on this thing.”
Dr. Halpin says, “These guys basically run the place. So don’t piss them off.”
Frank says, without lifting his eyes from the computer. “Oh no. I just do what I’m told,” he says.
Dr. Halpin says, “Don’t let them fool you. They get high from the work.”
“Right, that’s it,” Rodney says.
Dr. Halpin leans over the counter. “That sort of looks like a crossword there.”
“I’m reviewing policies,” Rodney returns.
Dr. Halpin says, “Is there a policy for your face?”
“Ugh, yeah,” Rodney uses a slow voice indicating he is of low intelligence.
Dr. Halpin says to Laura, “These guys are modern day heroes. You could not pull them away from the job. It’s, like, in their blood.”
Frank’s laugh is a rumble. But then he says, straight-faced, “No, ma’am. When I retire from this place -”
“Don’t worry. They’ll let you volunteer. They know they wouldn’t be able to stop you,” Dr. Halpin teases.
“I won’t even step foot in this building. I won’t even drive by it,” Frank says. Laura smiles and Kenny’s laugh fills the Rotunda.
Dr. Halpin says, “Don’t let him fool you. I’ve seen him risk his life to stop an escapee.”
“Nope. I would say, ‘There’s the door.’ Once they’re out of this facility, they’re no concern of mine. One less for me at Count.”
Kenny Halpin shakes her head. “It’s all lies.” She starts to pull away from the desk but stops when another large staff approaches. He has dark hair and grey eyes. He is easily over 6 feet tall and walks with authority. He has an ear piece and radio. He ignores Laura and leans against the desk, staring intently at Kenny. She saddles up alongside him.
“Laura,” she says, without looking at the grad student. “This is Mr. Baird. The most experienced and skilled frontline staff in the facility. It’s criminal how good he is. I stand in awe of him.” Mr. Baird restrains a smile. “And Mr. Baird, this is Laura Hooper. She’ll be with us for a couple months. She’s a student.”
“They let you teach?” He responds as he shakes hands with Laura. He looks up and down at the student and then his eyes rest on Kenny again.
“They need to learn from the best, don’t they?” Kenny returns.
“Who would that be?” He keeps a straight face but his eyes are piercing and never leave her face. Laura looks at Kenny and then Mr. Baird and back at Kenny again. She feels as though she should step away from them.
“Look at my track record. One hundred percent success rate,” Kenny chirps.
“You better check your stats,” he says and, without another word, he walks off.
Kenny says after him, “Humans say good-bye.” But he does not turn. She is still smiling as she pushes away from the desk. Her eyes are lit up from the exchange and her face is somewhat flushed. Kenny turns and Laura follows her toward the left wing. Kenny touches her lanyard and glances at Laura. “You have one of these?”
“No, Dr. Mull said I’d get one?”
Kenny’s eyebrows rise and she sighs. “Just magically, right? He’s so old school. Things just get taken care of by themselves. He’s got admin doing everything for him. Psychiatrists. Oh hey, I can’t type! I don’t know how to use a computer!” Kenny pantomimes someone who does not know how to type. Laura feels that Kenny is practically vibrating. The grad student is not sure how to respond to her new supervisor making fun of Dr. Mull but she laughs in spite of herself.
“Did you meet Mac? Mr. McDonough? He was up front. He’s the OIC. That’s Officer-In-Charge. He runs the day to day operations of the facility. So that’s not his usual post there. He must’ve been covering for someone. We’ll chat with him later.”
“Okay.”
“So, the doors,” Kenny begins as they stand by the entrance to the left wing. “Front and School Control control the doors but so do we. There’s also a button next to every fob patch if you don’t have your fob. When you press it, Control will answer and ask where you’re going and buzz you through. This is why some kids are allowed to move through the building without escorts. If Control knows the hall is clear and there aren’t any conflicts between who’s passing who. But mostly we use the fob without contacting Control unless we have a kid with us.” Kenny swipes her fob over the red light and it turns green. There is a click and they pass through the door.
Kenny continues as they pause on the other side of the door. “Always make sure a door closes behind you and don’t walk away from it until it does. If there’s a problem with it catching, then use the button. You see, there is a button and fob patch on this side too. Use the button and tell Control that the door is messed up. Never let a kid go through with you even if you’re escorting them without telling Control. Use the button and Control will let you know when it’s okay for you to go because only they know if there’s a kid with a conflict coming the other way. Tell them who you have with you, although they will already know.” Kenny points at the camera in the ceiling. “They can see who you have with you already and they know every kid here.”
Kenny and Laura start down the hallway and come to a fork. Kenny explains, “To the left is Admin and Management and the Super’s office. And to the right are the Health and the Mental Health Units. You see you can just go down this hall and up to the Health and Mental Health Unit doors. But you need a fob to get down the hall to the Admin and Management Unit. Donna is the admin there and she is crazy but super nice. A total control freak but a total sweetheart. She knows everything and has been here forever so say hi to her and treat her very well.”
Kenny pauses. “Hmm, what else? So, the kids come down here for their Admissions assessments, and for meds and therapy and stuff. We can’t have them turning up in the Super’s office. Although, that has happened once.” Kenny laughs. “If the kid is drug sick, or if there is something else going on, we have to do our initial Look-See on the Admissions side. Or they dry out there and then are escorted to us for a fuller assessment in the morning. They have talked forever about moving Health to that side, especially when the numbers go down. But then the numbers go up again. For now, we’re over here. Obviously it is always easier to just go to the kid. Staff prefers that actually. We have space in Admissions to interview and you can interview in the Rotunda. They always feel they can control movements better when the kids are not over here with us. Also they do not want to respond t
o codes on this side. Although they will. It’s political. You have to work around it.”
Kenny leads Laura down the right side of the hallway. “Always walk to the right. If you hear the code for Code Red, that’s a fight, almost always, and you need to move to the right and stand against the wall. Get out of the way or you will be run over. And if you got in a staff’s way during a Code Red, well, fuck. Just please don’t. You’d be known as that dumb ass student for life. For life! And they’d never get over it. So, there’s the Health Unit. We’ll go there later. So there are only cameras in the interview rooms on our unit, no where else on our unit. There are cameras all over the facility and in the offices on all the units, because the kids go in there with staff. You are always on camera, except in the washroom. There is practically no where in this jail you can stand without someone else being able to have eyes on you. And here we are. This is the Mental Health Unit.” She swipes the door open.
They enter onto the unit. Laura sees that half of the unit has been renovated into office space. The other half is empty with several individual rooms along the outside. Laura and Kenny are greeted by a young, thin woman with wispy brown hair, who is dressed casually, and sitting cross-legged at her desk. Kenny says, “This is Mara. She makes us all look good. This place would fall apart without her. Mara, Laura, our new student.” Mara smiles and offers her hand. Laura shakes it and hopes she can remember all the names she has learned so far today. Behind them is a large file room and then offices. They pass by an office where Dr. Mull is at his desk and eating a sandwich. There is a mug of coffee beside him. He raises his head for only a moment as they walk by. Kenny continues, “You see this was a unit but it was converted to office space. All the admin and management used to be up front around Admissions, but we needed more space.”