From Dragonfly: Making Bracelets

I'm a hustler. I've never been a hustler, but it appears I am one. The other day I was making some "friendship style" bracelets out of embroidery string. It is a "talent" I've had due to my camp days. I make them in two styles. I decided to make some for Star's daughters. I was bored. Other people saw me doing it and asked, "how much do you charge?" Ummm, nothing. That makes a bad hustler, but it's against the rules to sell items for commissary here. It doesn't stop anyone, though. It's how many people here get goods from commissary. For example, a painted mug may cost a jar of peanut butter, a package of cookies, some tuna, and a ranch dressing. A Christmas stocking (more expensive) may cost a 6-pack of soda, chips, taco meat, mozzarella style cheese, and a raine of yarn. All these exchanges for goods are against the rules, but people do them to survive. My bracelets are popular, and I need to purchase embroidery string to make them, so they cost me money to make. It takes about 45 minutes to make a decent one, so time is involved as well. My roommate told me to charge $3 for 1 or 2 for $5. I sat on it for a day, but couldn't do it. I currently have 3 orders for bracelets, totalling 7 bracelets. They want different colors. One wants a different tying technique I've not used, but must learn. I put my crochet down to start making these (it hurts my hand way less), but I want to finish the project I've been working on there. So, I'm not sure I'll be in the business of making bracelets very long. Plus, anyone can learn to do them the same way, so competition will come (which is more than fine with me). They will likely charge the $3 per bracelet and be paid in a lot of commissary goods. That's surviving in prison.

I never thought I would have ever been part of the underground market. As you know, I've said that I will not engage in that market at all. Within weeks here, though, one realizes that they must, unfortunately, engage in activities (like food trades) they never imagined they'd do. People sneak butter out of the dining hall because they need it for their recipe, and there's no way to purchase it. People ask others to make cards for them to send to loved ones, because the lined paper and basic envelopes lack fun. People ask others to do their hair, to do their homework (unfortunately), and to do their laundry. There are even people here who get goods for making other people's beds. They bring in no money, or such little money, that they must hustle to survive. How else could they afford their deodorant or shampoo? The stuff the prison gives us is horrible. Everyone needs something and people are willing to make it or do it, to survive here as comfortably as possible. I can't say that I've never engaged on this market. There have been moments when I've needed something, or someone else has, and a choice is made. I hate that it is not possible to just get butter or not to have to choose between a meal and doing one's own laundry. But, such is reality in prison. Sometimes, the hustlers win out. It just is what it is.