William A Gardner
W
April
1965
Chronicles
Occasional Blog
Reads: 2904
JOIN MY READER GROUP
 |
OTHER BLOG POSTS
Culture and Societies
Modeling for Control
Environment
Climate Change and Rising Seas
Culture and Societies
Trust and Betrayal
Health & Wellness
Breathing Free and Having Fun
Culture and Societies
Brave Frightened New World
Culture and Societies
The Emotional Media Deluge
Glasgow Hospitality
The Glasgow prison cell was sparse, a seven by ten foot concrete space with only the low plywood platform for a bed and a metal toilet. There was a single light in the center of the ceiling. I didn't care. I had hitchhiked down from northern Scotland and arrived at Glasgow too late to get into the youth hostel. Standing in a rundown street on a cold night, need called out memory: a conversation with a compatriot who had said the police in Scotland would occasionally allow a young traveller without shelter to sleep in an empty cell if one was available. Perhaps?
The local Bobby Shop was a nondescript older grey building off the main street. The on-duty sergeant, a friendly officer with a strong accent, examined this bedraggled wayward youth with a keen eye, and listening politely to my story. He then escorted me through a locked door into the prison area. In the poorly lit corridor outside an empty cell he pointed to a cardboard box full of bits of foam rubber, explaining apologetically that a rather upset young lady who had occupied the cell the night before had torn the foam mattress into little pieces and then peed on the floor. I would have to sleep on the bare wood of the pallet and ignore any smell as the room had not yet been properly restored. "I must lock ya in and canna' turn out the light," he had said, explaining the rules before turning the key in the cell door and leaving, heavy boots echoing on the grey concrete floor. The heavy steel door clanged behind him. Compared to many places where I had slept, this was a clean, well-lighted place. I lay on my back and was asleep in seconds.
In the morning they brought a hot cup of tea before sending me on my way. They were very kind. It was the safest rest I'd had in some time.
© William A. Gardner 2025 All Rights Reserved
