The Green Mile and The Reporter

The Rehearsal

"Miss Argonne?" Dean whispered in my ear.

It took me a second to realize he had crept up behind me, while Arlen Bitterbuck was being escorted from his cell to see his family.

I startled and turned to look up at him. Off my look he stepped back with a sheepish smile. "I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you."

I smiled. "It's alright. Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

His voice was low when he nodded. "All I wanted to say was that... it was real kind, what you did earlier, in the cell."

I felt my face heat a bit. "Oh, it was nothing. Just doing my job."

"With all due respect, Miss Argonne, no it wasn't. A reporters job is to report facts, and most of them are ruthless at doing so, but you... you did your job and still comforted a convicted man. You didn't have to do that."

I shrugged. "I felt like it was the right thing to do."

Dean looked down the mile and shook his head slightly. I cocked my head. "What?"

"It always amazes me. Kindness and humility pop up in the most unlikely of places."

Before I could answer, Paul's commanding voice boomed out. "Let's move! I want at least two rehearsals before he gets back."

An older, crusty man stepped out from the office. "Rehearsing now. Gotta move our asses, ain't got much time."

I couldn't help but stare at the toothless, little man. The second Toot-Toot had stepped onto the mile, I'd known he was obnoxious. I watched as Toot plopped down on the bunk in Arlen's cell. "Sittin' down, sittin' down, rehearsing now! Everybody settle!"

Harry patted me on the shoulder and muttered. "Toot's a bit of a goat. Just heads up on that."

Paul stood in front of the cell with Dean. "Arlen Bitterbuck, step forward."

Toot pushed himself off the bunk. "Steppin' forward. I'm steppin' forward."

"Is his head properly shaved?"

Dean peered at the top of Toot's head. "Nope. It's all dandruffy and smells."

"I'll take that as a yes." Paul took Toot's arm. "All right, Arlen, let's go."

I followed them from a distance and Toot's voice floated back to me. "Walkin' the mile. I'm walkin' the mile...."

I stepped into Paul's office and stood next to Dean, as Toot dropped to his knees. "I'm prayin'. I'm prayin'. I'm prayin'. Lord is my Shepherd and so forth. I'm sorry for all the bad shit I've done and all the people I've tramped on. I'll never do it again, that's for sure."

Harry looked over Toot at his boss. "Paul, we're not gonna have some Cherokee medicine man in here whoopin' and hollerin' and shaking his dick are we?" Seeming to remember I was in the room, Harry nodded to me. "Excuse me, Miss Argonne."

Paul rolled his shoulders. "Well, actually-"

"Still prayin', prayin', getting right with Jesus!" Toot interrupted loudly.

Harry slapped the back of Toot's greasy head lightly. "Do it quietly, you old gink!"

Paul sighed. "As I was saying, I don't believe they actually shake their dicks, Harry. Be that as it may, Mr.Bitterbuck is a Christian, so we got reverend Shuster coming in."

Dean perked up. "Oh, he's good. Fast, too. Doesn't get'em worked up."

Paul nodded. "On your feet, Toot. You've prayed enough for one day."

As we continued down the hallway Toot started up again. "Walkin' the Mile. Walkin' the mile. Walkin' the green mile."

The first thing I noticed as we stepped into, what my mind now called, the Lair was Percy leaning against the wall separating the controls from the rest of the room.

I eyed him carefully, as a chill crept up my back. Something about him being in this room made me uneasy.

A/N- I'm so sorry I haven't updated. This draft I've had for a while and I just decided to make it part one so everyone could have something. I just got the book and movie for Christmas so hopefully I'll update soon. I've been really depressed but I'm hopefully getting help soon and writing does help.