New Arrivals
People living in Sophi City use resources equally. Whether we call them inhabitants or inmates, they are residents of an island where they will eventually be buried. Streets, shops, and places don’t have names. There is an untold and unwritten code of conduct that everyone, or almost everyone, obeys; and since there is no contact with outside, necessity of a government body has not been envisioned. The more optimist citizens of the island philosophize that up to the recent times, people have been bound to the land where they were born, for the remaining of their lives. They think of the same circumstance, exasperated by the fact that they are denied of the modern technology, and their life style mimics those of their forefathers. At least, optimists reason, their living conditions are much better than those living in the US prisons or clinics; especially those who lose their lives to capital punishment. On The other side, there are pessimists who do not appreciate their life sentence in the island, and they condone their conditions. Some miss their former family members, relatives, and friends. However, it does not take long for the pessimists to join the optimists’ camp, due to the positive attitudes spread out among the islanders. There are people with talents and professions of diverse sorts, and they are free to express themselves. The large room or salon where new arrivals are led to, comprises of two doors; one near the waterfront wharf, and one at the other end leading to the longest street in the island. Above this door, there is a wooden arch-shaped tableau covered with various figures designed by straws and rocks, and a statement made of seashells that reads: “It is not my decision to start life here. It is not my decision to leave this life. It is my decision to enjoy the best life while I am here.” The population of the island is constantly increasing, as there is a new shipment almost every month. When they arrive in the island, they look confused as they are not given much information about their destination after they are sentenced to life to Sophi City. New arrivals enter a large room and stand by the wall looking at the people in the room, whom are dispersed around the room. Some are sitting by themselves, indifferent of the new faces. Some are talking to each other and some are just staring at the new condemned. For the new arrivals, the large room seems small and stifling.
A group of new arrivals are offloading the US Coast Guard boat. They are ordered to walk in a single file, with seven men in the front, followed by two women. Each is carrying something like a bag or a bundle in his hand or on her shoulder. Fifteen marines carrying their rifles on their back guide them out of the boat. As soon as the last person walks on land, the boat departs. They were instructed by the marines to walk straight to the large room, about 25 feet from the shore. A woman is standing close to the door staring at them. She looks joyful and pleasant, with straight light hair, soft skin and medium height. Her slender body is covered by a loose dress. A ray of sun pours in from the window near the ceiling, on her arm, and continues down to her bare toe. The curvature of her body is visible through the sunlight, showing a profile that is much thinner than the dress she is wearing. She approaches the two women who just arrived: “you must be tired of the long trip?” The younger woman with lighter hair color and contorted complexion keeps staring at the floor, as if she did not see and hear the woman. The brunette is taller and her face is made up with eye-shadows, face powder and red lip-gloss. She is wearing a designer jean and a tank-top, along with a pair of high heeled shoes. She looks at the resident woman, forces a smile, and nods. Without a word, the resident woman takes her suitcase from her, picks up the suitcase of the other woman, who had put it down as soon as she arrived, and walks towards a door on the back. Two other women, as if they are spellbound, follow her.
- I have been here for about five years now. I know my way around the island pretty well. We notify each other of arriving boats, and upon hearing it, I leave whatever I am doing and rush here to meet fresh arriving women. We are going to walk to that small house down this road, which is the closest house to the shore. It is more convenient to stay there temporarily until one gets familiarized with the rest of the island.
There is no response. She keeps talking until they arrive at the destination. The building looks like a flat bungalow. The paint is peeling on the walls facing the island side, and it is completely gone on the side facing the waterfront, due to moisture. The roof is patched up in various places.
- Here we are! There are four rooms in this house. It is one of the oldest houses built in this island. No one is residing here presently. You can choose any one of the rooms that you would like, and share that room, or each select a different room to stay in. You may go ahead and take a look at all the rooms and then come back and take your belongings.
The younger deportee looks at her for the first time. The brunet stretches her hand: “High. My name is Julie. Are you going to stay with us, or you will leave after we select a room?” The islander looks at her with bright smiling eyes: “I will stay if you want me too. I will stay with you as long as you want me too. I can even share a room with you for the night, if you prefer. Go ahead and check which room you like, first.” The younger woman is looking at the floor while the other one is talking: “What is your name?”
- My name is Eve. You will be meeting many people and it would take you a while to learn all names. I did not introduce myself at the beginning waiting to be asked for it. I do not want to force others to give out their names if they do not want to. I have experienced that if I introduce myself when I meet new arrivals, those who do not wish to volunteer their names could be put in a precarious situation.
She turns to the other woman and looks at her with a friendly and unpretentious smile. The other woman feels Eve’s look. Without making any eye contact she just walks off towards the rooms. In a few minutes they both come back and announce which room they have decided to stay in. Every room has two single bed separated by an end-table. The younger woman has locked both hands’ fingers into each other and stareg at her toes, while the other one is talking.
- We decided on a room with no windows. We will both stay in that room. Will you stay here tonight?
- If you want me to. I pledge to see into all your needs until you are ready to be on your own, together or separately.
- I cannot be on my own. I was diagnosed with…
Eve interrupts her: “It doesn’t matter what they diagnosed you with out there. Here, you are diagnosed with health and happiness! We are all here together, like a big family. Each one of us is different from the other, in attitudes, in gestures, in actions, in intelligence, and in any way you may perceive, before we arrive to this land. But we forget who we were and what we did out there, and start a new life here. We all enjoy what we do in this place. My chosen task is to help everyone’s immediate needs, especially those of the same gender. I will help you get oriented with this place, no matter how long it takes. One thing we have plenty of, is time. I will bring food and clothing to you, for as long as you cannot provide them by yourself. When no one needs my help, I go to my studio and engage on my art works.” Julie’s face turns more cheerful as she speaks to Eve:
- So, you are an artist?
- We try not to use categories, or as we refer to, boxes we were put into out there. We believe everyone has a talent and interest.
- I would appreciate your closeness and help. I am happy that a woman is helping me because I have scarred memories of men. I have survived many traumas from my early childhood…
- As I said, we only think about the moment, and what we need to do in the near future, such as food and other necessities. You may try to erase all your memories of the past and concentrate on orienting with this new place, and eventually adopt a goal or set of goals to work on. We will talk about those later. Your expeditious orientation with this place is probably the most important task at hand.
- Where do you get all the stuff, like food and clothing and other material?
- All materials are donated to us and we receive a shipment almost each week. We utilize majority of them as raw materials, and shape them in any way that suites us. This dress I am wearing looked very different when it came in. I liked the material but not the design. I liked it loose, as it is now, and therefore I tailor-made it for myself.
- Oh, you have a tailor here?
- We have more than one. We have people of almost any profession you can think of. We have farmers who grow our own food and livestock. We do not have industry involving factories to fabricate materials. That is why we accept donations for some materials. Otherwise, we are pretty much self-sufficient.
Julie starts yawning:
- I am sorry! Can we take a nap and talk more when we wake up.
- Yes, sleep well. I will be in the backyard helping the gardener. We grow some fruit and vegetables behind this house.
Back in the large orientation room, the seven men are standing and waiting for their destination. The person on the lead is a grey haired of about 55 years of age, followed by a 35 years old tall and groomed person with neat clothes of bright colors. Third in the line is a young man in his early 20s who faces away from others. Someone in his 40s with long beard, dark complexion, and shabby clothes tries to keep distance from others. Next one is a short and stocky person with scars on his face and tattoos on his neck, followed by a forty plus tall and bulky person with a few days old short and prickly beards and permanent mustache. The last person in the line is in his 30s. He is short and skinny and tries to hide his face between his baseball caps and pulled up collars of his army fatigue jacket. Most of them have a general idea of the place, as some have heard of this place through others, or have known someone who has been deported to this island before. However, no one has ever told them what they were supposed to be expecting upon landing. Most were, however, expecting some sort of official or governmental authority, such as prison guards, to lead them to some cells or some kind of confinement. As they entered the room, they followed to the right wall of the room and stood with their back on the wall, except the one who was facing the wall. After a few minutes, some of them sat on the floor with gloomy faces. After about fifteen minutes, an older man of mid-fifties approaches them and asks them to follow him to a bench about five feet away. They all follow him, including the one facing the wall, and sit on the bench, with the old man standing and scrutinizing each person: “A few of us including myself, have been residents here for the longest, as the first group of deportees to this island. When we came here, this long hall was the only building erected. Almost all the furniture and equipment in this building are original. We ate, slept on cots, played games and talked for hours each day. When we got sick of eating from cans, we decided to farm our own food. We made excursions around the island and found various fruits and vegetables which were consumable. Then, we asked for any kind of seeds the outsiders could give us, which we received plenty of. Since then, we have been growing our own fruit and vegetables. We have limited livestock as well. From day one, everyone decided to keep peace as the first priority. It is important to know, we all live here according to our wishes, but in peace. As you see, there is no luxury or any sign of modern technology here. All we care about is to maintain peace and tranquility of the place we inhabit. You are new here and it will take you a while to feel as a part of this community. However, it is up to you to decide to stay with the rest or by yourself. There are people who have decided to live solitary, and they do, as this is a big island and there is space for everyone with any lifestyle. There are different communities, each populated by like-minded people. When you decide what you expect or how you would like to live here, I will introduce you to a group that recognizes such views. Of course, you are not bound to stay in any community that you do not wish to. You can even create your own community in the future. To start with, we are going to take you to a temporary lodging. You do not have to give me your name or any other personal information. We do not care about who you have been. Who you are and how you interact with us are your personal choices as well. Peace and tranquility, respecting everyone’s space, and organizing a living plan, are the only requirements… Well, any questions?” All the eyes are investigating his facial expressions, in order to be able to read what is in his mind. After a few minutes of silence, a grey haired man with a stocky figure starts:
- I have been in prison for the past fifteen years. I was on death row for a murder that I did not commit. I have had court cases going back and forth until a DNA sample proved my innocence. However, the judge could not make a decision since there were other acquisitions against me. They decided to spare my life and send me here. It is probably a life sentence in this island.
- As I mentioned what you have been or you have done is not our concern here. When you share your past, you create certain characteristics which carry a baggage in the world outside of this island. Please do not share your past with us until we know each other perfectly. Perhaps you should take a rest first. What we are going to do now is to walk to a building about 50 feet away from here. That building with four rooms will be your temporary living quarters. If you wish to, you can tell me about your professional, social, or artistic affiliations later. Knowing that, I will be able to introduce you to a group you may feel comfortable with. Any question so far?
- Are you in charge in this island?
- No! No one is in charge here. Everyone is responsible for his own, although some decisions are made cooperatively and in groups. We don’t have children to take care of, although there are a few folks with some disabilities who need more help that they can manage themselves. But in general, you will learn how to collaborate with others, and cooperate on certain programs if you wish to. If you are not comfortable in a group, then you will learn how to take care, by yourself. I have volunteered to welcome new arrivals and show them around. That is the job I chose to have, and you can always come to me with any problem or request. I may not be able to assist you with your issues, but I can always introduce you to someone who can, because of my long experience and my familiarity with the island and its inhabitants. There are certain commonsense rules that we have, which I will discuss with you later. Any other questions?
A young man of about 35, with shaved face and bright eyes, about six feet tall and clean clothes has been staring at him suspiciously. He pointed his finger at the guide and asked: “What is your name?”
- You may call me Ed, as it is the name I was given at birth. You can call me “lad” or “chap” or “pal” or “hey you” or anything else you are comfortable with, as long as I know you are talking to me.
- Why did you separate women from men?
- Each person comes from a background, some very different from others. We experienced that women feel more at ease when they are in separate living quarters, until they are accustomed to our way of life. Any other questions? … Well then, follow me to the place you are going to live temporarily.
He leads the seven men to a building and shows them around. The one who was facing the wall trails them, walking sideways. No one says anything to him, as if it is quite common.
To be continued...
To be continued...
