Boots

1K 23 10
                                    

I shifted from foot to foot as Dean unlocked Arlen Bitterbuck's cell, feeling nervous and clammy. When the door rattled open Dean stepped to the side so I could step into the dark cell.

I felt a chill go down my spine and I clutched my notepad a little tighter. The Chief watched me all the while it's his dull eyes. Dean stood at attention in the doorway, guarding me. Paul had wanted to put cuffs on Arlen, but I'd asked him not to. I was trying not to regret it.

With a deep breath I sat on the stool so I was facing the inmate while he sat on his bunk. "Good morning Arlen, how are you?"

"You seem a bit nervous, Miss Argonne." Arlen's voice was deep and monotone, hardly interested.

I brushed some hair out of my face, trying out a twitchy smile. "That obvious, huh?"

He nodded slowly. "In answer to your question, I'm good under the circumstances."

"Glad to hear it." I looked down at the questions I'd written, and felt a pang of complete idiocy.

What do think of the mile?

How do you feel about the guards?

Do you remember your first thought when you stepped onto the mile?

I bit my lip, feeling foolish.

"Everything alright, Miss Argonne?" Dean asked from the doorway.

I nodded and turned back to Arlen, but the question died in my throat. Instead I said "Arlen, I just realized my own stupidity. And I don't want to make a mockery of you."

He seemed to consider this before asking. "Would it be better to this at a later date?"

We locked eyes and for a moment the reality sunk in, that for Arlen, at least, there was no date later than tomorrow night. I swallowed. "Would you be alright if I just freestyle it?"

Arlen looked at me and it felt like he was really actually look At me, instead of through me. "Ask what you will."

I ripped the prewritten question sheet off my pad and shoved the crumpled page into my pocket. "Why are you here?"

He answered without hesitation. "I was down at a bar late one night. I'd had a few too many. There was a many looking to sell a fine pair of boots. I don't remember how the fight started. Fact is, I don't remember much at all. But we were fighting over the boots and he ended up dead."

When I finished writing, I tapped my pen against my leg. "This may seem like a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway. Would you go back and do things differently?"

His voice was devoid of anger when he said. "That is a stupid question. If I could go back, I never would have left the house and my family to go to that bar in the first place."

The air around him was heavy, trying to drag me down into an abyss of self loathing and self pity. I allowed myself to join him in wallowing in it for a long moment. Sighing, I pulled myself together. "Aren't your family coming to visit you today?"

Arlen nodded. "I'm not sure how I'll face them."

I thought about Joey and little Emma. "They're gonna be here, because they're your family and they love you. Otherwise they wouldn't come at all."

Gratitude warmed his face and I marveled at the difference it made to his features. I smiled. "Are you at least excited to see them?"

"More so, now that you've put it in perspective."

"I only have one more question for you." I bit my lip, hesitant to ask.

Arlen must have picked up on it. He leaned over, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Dean tense up, spine straightening. But all he did was tap the top of my notepad. "Ask what you need to, Miss Argonne."

I pressed my pencil against the page and sat a little taller, reminding myself that above all else I was a reporter. "Are you afraid of what's gonna happen tomorrow?"

His voice was solemn. "Terrified."

A/N- Sorry if any of this seemed out of character for Arlen. I tried.

The Green Mile and The ReporterWhere stories live. Discover now