Authors note: Thank you for everyone who has been patient up to this point waiting for the new chapter. Up until recently, I've had to wait for my editor (also my wife and Domme) to do her magic before submitting the chapters for publication. This meant having to wait weeks before her schedule allowed her to do so. (This chapter was originally written in may 2024 and only being published now). As a result, I've now taken on the role of editor too with her guidance in order to publish more frequently so there still may be the odd grammatical error but Hopefully will improve through her training me 😉
Casper lay reading the Irish history book on his bunk. He was meant to hand the book back the day before but forgot. He thought since he'd already lost 10 points being late with it, it didn't matter what time he handed it back, as long as it was still today. Louise came to the door of his cell and saw him.
"There you are. We were wondering why you weren't with us." he looked up from the book back at her.
"Oh, hey. I'm just reading the Irish book; I need to hand it in tonight so I want to read as much of it as I can."
"What bit are you on now?" she asked curiously.
"The potato famine in the 19
th
century." her demeanour changed to a more serious one.
"Just so you know, that wasn't a famine Casper. It was a genocide."
"Yeah, I can see that." Casper took a moment before he continued, he looked sad. "It was horrible. While the Irish people were starving, they kept exporting the grain. How could Britan be so cruel? it makes me ashamed."
Louise walked over and sat on the bunk next to him. "Because they regarded us less than human. Some still do. Even today the population of Ireland is still lower than before it happened." Casper looked into her eyes earnestly.
"But I don't see you less than me Louise. I never saw anyone like that."
"I know you don't Casper. But it's the truth. Britan and many other western countries and empires had to dehumanise a people to justify their subjugation and conquest of them. The French did it to the Algerians, the Germans with the Slavs, the Americans with the natives and the Israelis with the Palestinians."
"I don't get it. They never taught me any of this in school." said Casper.
"Of course they didn't. Knowledge is power, and lack of knowledge is a way the ruling class maintains control. They need to keep the populus dumb and lazy with their propaganda and entertainment to protect themselves. If we all knew the truth and stood up against them, they wouldn't have a chance. We stood up against Britan and their imperialism and they called us terrorists and criminals! They are the bloody criminals!" Casper put down his book and curled his knees to his chest.
"My dad told me that the IRA were scum. But they just wanted freedom. I feel ashamed to be British." Louise put her hand on his knee.
"I can't speak for every one of my comrades, but our plight and anger has never been towards the common British people. Just it's establishment and foot soldiers still maintaining control over us. You, Holly and Erin are Scottish, yet are my closest friends. We'd love nothing more than for Britan to withdraw fully from Ireland and we can start building a proper friendship together as neighbours should."
"It's foot soldiers..." Casper continued. He turned to look at her with disappointment in his eyes. "Like my dad?" Louise cast her gaze ahead, vexed.
"Yes. Like your dad. Anyone who voluntarily joins the British armed forces should know what they're representing and the consequences of that. Your dad is no different. If I saw him in my country in uniform through the scope of my Armalite I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger."
Casper looked downwards. They both sat in silence. "Is...is there no other way? One that doesn't involve killing?" he asked shyly. Louise sighed.
"We never wanted to kill anyone Casper, but they put us against a wall. Brits came to our island for eight-hundred years, plundering, murdering and wreaking havoc. We couldn't just ask them politely to leave, we had to fight back!" She turned to look at Casper with indignation.
"Take Grace for example. She's a cold-hearted brute who wouldn't listen to reason and will stop at nothing to manipulate and dominate someone. When she tried to take you for herself the only way you could escape was through the combined physical force of me you and Holly. We fought and we won! Ireland is the exact same! While Britian still has control over us, we can never be at peace!"
"My Dad." Casper said after a pause. "Was not a good guy. When my Mum died, he started drinking again. There would always be fights between us. He started spending a good sum of his wage at the bookies and we even had to move out of the flat because he missed too many mortgage payments. He showed me nothing but contempt and resentment in those years." Casper looked up at Louise earnestly.
"But I still love him. And I always will. In the beginning he was a great dad to me, and I'll never forget that. I don't think I can ever fully comprehend the plight and struggle of your people but from doing the research I have I can only imagine where you're coming from, and I don't hold that against you. You're an amazing friend Louise and I want you to stay as one. But I'll always love my dad no matter what and I don't know how that sits with you." she smiled back at him.
"Of course you love him." she replied in a comforting tone.
"As you said, not what he did wrong but what he did right. He's your daddy after all and I have no issue with that. Now, if you told me you loved him because he kicked Irish arse then that'd be a different story. But I'll always be your friend in here Casper no matter what." Casper smiled back at her.
"That's a relief. Cause I don't want to lose you." he said. Louise opened her arms for a hug with a smile and Casper drew forward and they embraced.
The next day, Casper headed to breakfast after his shower as usual. In the mess hall he saw Mark sitting alone again. He was excited to see him but Mark looked sad. Unbeknownst to Casper he had been self-harming again. Casper sat down next to him with his tray.
"Hey." said Casper
"Hey." replied Mark. There was sadness in his voice.
"What's the matter?"
Mark reluctantly began to talk. He explained to Casper that he sometimes had a lot of down days, where he found it really difficult to have any energy or motivation to do anything. He told him he felt like this when the guilt of killing his father came over him intensely. Casper tried to assure him that it wasn't his fault but he couldn't seem to make him feel better.
"I hate myself Casper. I really wish it didn't end this way." He told him with a tremble in his voice. Casper put his hand on his shoulder and spoke to him with care.
"It's done Mark. There's nothing you can do to change it. It was an accident and you should forgive yourself."
"How can I ever do that!" exclaimed Mark slamming his face into the table and bursting into tears. Casper hugged him tightly as he wept. He started to feel teary eyed too, seeing him this sad but thought it was probably not appropriate to cry as well while consoling someone and held back his tears. For the first time someone was using Caspers shoulder to cry on and not the other way around. He hoped he was helping him as much as possible in that moment.
"It's okay man, I've got you. You're a great friend. You shouldn't hate yourself Mark, you didn't mean to do what you did. It could have happened to anyone." Mark hugged him tightly still crying. Some others in the mess hall started to notice them and looked over but Casper didn't care. He only cared that his friend was okay. After work announcements Mark began to calm down. He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked up at Casper.
"Casper. On Saturday my mum and wee brother are coming to visit. It's their first time coming to see me here. Do you think you'd want to come with me when I see them? I'm scared how upset mum will be to see me in this uniform, but I think I'll feel better if you're there with me, so she can see I have a friend." Casper was taken back.
"I mean sure, I can come along. But will your folks be okay with that? Surely yous want some privacy and not a stranger there."
"You're not a stranger!" exclaimed Mark, "you're my friend!" I've already mentioned you on the phone to mum. She's happy I've a friend. She'd understand if you came too, my mum is really nice, it'd be nice if you all got to meet." Casper looked him in the eyes and smiled.
"I think that'd be nice. Just give her a phone and let her know that I'll be there and that if she's okay with it first."
"I will." Mark smiled back at him.
Caspers group worked in the factory today. The daily quota was high so another group from Cell block A had to work with them. Even in this combined group of 20 he still interacted with Tom from time to time but only for work purposes. Casper was no longer at the expense of his banter, jokes or him violating his personal space. Holly was right, he proved a point. That right hook did wonders. Jane was the overseeing guard today. When he saw her his heart leaped. Would she play with him today? He could only hope. Every time their eyes met, she smiled at him sweetly and he smiled back.
After lunch a new guard entered the factory via the barred door. then Jane called to him. "Casper! C'mere!," He almost danced to the front door with excitement. He knew he needed to act natural but it was hard. Jane looked at him with a blank expression as a prison officer should, she cuffed him accordingly with his hands behind his back and then his ankles together. When she was done, she gripped his arm then turned to the other guard. "Thanks for coming. I don't know how long I'll be but hopefully not ages. I'll radio when we're on our way back."
"No bother." replied the other guard.
