The complex psychology of managing men in long term confinement requires intuition, intelligence and sensitivity. Rarely brute force. The institution, the walls, the doors, the gates, are as important an influence on behaviour as the security staff and, by and large, long term prisoners learn to go with the flow and in amazingly creative ways, make the best of their situation. No-one's saying it's easy but for some the security, the routines, the restriction give a stability lacking in the outside world where drink, drugs, financial pressures, relationships can all conspire to tip a man over the edge. The order, the apparent, relative safety, the predictability of life inside have an influence on staff and prisoner alike. That's not to say that there were no surprises.
Older city centre Jails are still common and though many have modernised, thanks to a lack of financial commitment from governing bodies many more are slow to implement recent developments in technology such as the use of CCTV which can now, and in theory relatively cheaply, turn a prison environment to something akin to Big Brother.
This lack was of some relief to Harry Bantock as he lay in his bed and ran over the events of that lunchtime in the prison gym. His jaw clenched, his familiar self image in tatters and a cold dew of perspiration on his clean shaven upper lip. What was wrong with him?
Gregory had not missed a beat, not given the situation a second thought and Harry was correct in assuming that, having sat up and wiped himself clean of both portions of man juice, then bench and the floor with his now cum soaked shirt, Gregory had showered and left behind any sense of guilt or shame about what had transpired between them, without losing the feeling of excitement and relief. Bantock's colleague was already in the land of dreams, snuggled against his wife, his children sleeping soundly in an adjacent room in their family accommodation a few doors away, the matter almost insignificant and not the least guilt or regret.
There had been no tenderness between the two men, no discussion, no thanks exchanged nor awkward apologies. To Gregory, it had been a function of his sex, nothing more. Bantock had been too stunned to say much and was not given to explaining his feelings anyway. Gregory had simply showered dressed and left unperturbed.