Food for Thought…
A finalist from our second Writing Challenge!
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Creative
It was November 2025. I had zero dollars in my jail account. Mum sent me some Christmas dollars. I’d just started working and was earning $47.00 per week, plus $9.95 hygiene allowance.
Buy-up in secure just went to $60.00 per fortnight, instead of $80.00 per week. All secure units were furious. Blue letters were written. Personal hygiene was the argument.
The list goes on. Meanwhile, I thought, sweet as: I took the opportunity to save my money, ultimately to pay my mum back. Now I know to see if minimum wage could sustain a single parent upon release, besides 30% of my wages for rent and $60 per week for food. I saved $300 over six months. It’s my mum’s birthday the day after I get out. I bought her magazines and a card, etc, to pay the debt back. It’s important to me not to be in debt to anybody. It’s Christmas and we decide to create something that is tradition: green vanilla cake, Old Gold dark chocolate, apples, Biscoff and cream. Glorious CREAM. So I cook up the apples in two trays and leave them to sweat in plastic bags, mix up the cake mix with chocolate, cream and Biscoff, pour it over the apples, seven mins in the microwave. Make the frosting the same as the cake mix, add milk and butter, tender. I’m divine. Russian Fudge. Melt-in-the-mouth decadence. I will never forget the taste on my tongue. Thank you.
It was November 2025. I had zero dollars in my jail account. Mum sent me some Christmas dollars. I’d just started working and was earning $47.00 per week, plus $9.95 hygiene allowance.
Buy-up in secure just went to $60.00 per fortnight, instead of $80.00 per week. All secure units were furious. Blue letters were written. Personal hygiene was the argument.
The list goes on. Meanwhile, I thought, sweet as: I took the opportunity to save my money, ultimately to pay my mum back. Now I know to see if minimum wage could sustain a single parent upon release, besides 30% of my wages for rent and $60 per week for food. I saved $300 over six months. It’s my mum’s birthday the day after I get out. I bought her magazines and a card, etc, to pay the debt back. It’s important to me not to be in debt to anybody. It’s Christmas and we decide to create something that is tradition: green vanilla cake, Old Gold dark chocolate, apples, Biscoff and cream. Glorious CREAM. So I cook up the apples in two trays and leave them to sweat in plastic bags, mix up the cake mix with chocolate, cream and Biscoff, pour it over the apples, seven mins in the microwave. Make the frosting the same as the cake mix, add milk and butter, tender. I’m divine. Russian Fudge. Melt-in-the-mouth decadence. I will never forget the taste on my tongue. Thank you.
Falling Like Angels
By Daniel
The pain that I feel, this place that I’m in, these four walls closing in…
Creative
ISSUE NO. 23
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2 MIN READ
As This Time Comes to an End
By Punkin
As this time comes to an end, I wonder which way the next will bend. The earth and moon will do their thing, I’ll embrace everything.
Creative
ISSUE NO. 23
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2 MIN READ
‘God, I Am Deeply Sorry’: A Poem for the Prisoners We’ve Lost
By Triste
To all the prisoners who have ever spent time away from the ones they love.
Creative
ISSUE NO. 23
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1 MIN READ
‘Tingers’ and the Squirrel Box
By Sara
In Creative Learning we get to see some amazing stuff made by talented people. The best part is hearing the stories behind how creative projects have come to life.
Creative