Johnny E. Mahaffey
May 2, 2013

The Novelist Portent

PRISON PATHOPHOBIA

The biggest, or one of the biggest, fears of prisoners is to
catch something (like a staph infection), or get bitten by one
the monster spiders that dwell in these places.

I'm not exactly phobic of disease; but here, I think a
little worry is normal, given the circumstances. And this past
week I got worried when I found a red spot on the back of my
right leg, in the center of the muscle forming the calf, or
gastrocnemius muscle to be exact. The spot was of dying flesh,
and was about the size of a pencil erasure. I've never had an
actual spider bite before, so I really had not personal point
of reference to compare. What scared me about it was that it
looked like some form of skin cancer, particularly basal cell
cacinoma; and I only knew that from a photo I'd seen in one
of my college text books. Now, of course, I don't really get
much sun, and I know skin cancer is more commonly found on more
sun-exposed areas like the face, shoulders, arms, etc.

I did kill aspider that I'd found on my pany leg, and
was even suspicious of it biting me--but I wasn't sure. And
the red spot did look ulcer-like. It was a bite though, as it
was confirmed by my visit to Medical the next morning.

The nurses remedy? Triple antibiotic ointment and some
adhesive bandages. Then after putting it on twice-a-day for
three days it was pretty much gone. I didn't lose my let, or
my life, as I'd originally feared when I first spotted the mark.

I felt pretty stupid, because I couldn't even sleep the
night I found it--I was up all night just waiting for the "sick
call" to go report to Medical. There I was, seriously thinking
I had cancer or something. Thinking, I want to see my kids again.
I need to publish my books. I've gotta finish my work so the
kids can have money from me at some point of their life. I'd
like to pay for their college, or a house later.

And a freaking' spider bite had me thinking I'd lose my
chance at any of that. I was even thinking, "NO don't go to
Medical, just ignore it." But then, the thought of my leg rotting
off just wasn't very appealing.