The Green Mile and The Reporter

The Rehearsal Part 2

Paul gestured for me to go stand next to Percy. "We'll have you in the audience for the real deal if you would like to be here at all, for that is your decision, but for now you'll just stand with Percy." 

I nodded and although I did as he instructed, I didn't dare get close to the volatile little man. He pointedly ignored me and asked "What do I do?" reminding me of a small child. 

"Watch and learn." Paul said coolly. 

I followed Percy behind the metal wall where an older man sat, he nodded to me and introduced himself as Jack Van Hay. I nodded politely but peeked around the edge of the metal wall as Percy squinted through the mesh window. 

Toot was wiggling into the chair and was continuing his loud, obnoxious description of events as they surrounded the chair, I felt a chill run down my spine as they began to clamp him in. When Paul signaled to Brutal that Toot's ankles were secure Brutal holstered the pistol in his hand and finished the last clamp. Brutal stood straight and at attention and loudly announced. "Roll on one."

From behind the wall I heard Jack Van Hay telling Percy that that was his cue to turn the generator up. Brutal stepped up to face Toot full on and proclaimed. "Arlen Bitterbuck, you have been condemned to die by a jury of your peers. a sentence imposed by a judge in good standing in this state. Do you have anything to say before the sentence is carried out?" 

Toot-Toot leaned forward eagerly, a gleeful light in his eyes, although his voice remained flat. "Yeah, I fried chicken dinner with gravy in the taters, I want to shit in your hat, and I want Mae West to sit on my face, because I am one horny motherfucker." 

The group tried to hold it together, but after a moment everyone's laughter was bouncing off the walls. My face must've been as red as my hair and I couldn't stop embarrassed giggles from escaping. I could even hear Van Hay guffawing from behind the wall. 

As the laughter began to die down I heard Paul's voice ring out. "Quiet. Quiet! Shut up!" The rest of the laughter died away quickly and I crossed my arms nervously, looking to Paul. "Toot one more remark like that and I'll have Van Hay roll on two for real. Then the world will have one less old trustee in the world." 

Toot looked away, seemingly abashed if somewhat confused. 

Brutal sobered slightly, but still had a slight smile on his face. "It was pretty funny." 

"And that's why I don't like it." Paul responded sharply. "We'll be doing this for real tomorrow night. I don't want anybody remembering some stupid joke like that and getting going again." Seeing everyone's looks, he added. "Ever try not laughing in church when something funny gets stuck in your head? It's the same goddamn thing." 

Brutal glanced at the floor, seeming to finally get it. "Sorry Paul, you're right. Let's keep going." 

Harry nodded and the whole room seemed a little bit heavier. Brutal leaned down and picked up a dry husk of a sponge, then mimed sticking it into a bucket, even going as far as to say "Soak the sponge." 

While he was doing that Harry pulled a a black hood with a hole in the top over Toot's head. While they were securing the head gear to Toot I heard Percy ask the question that I was thinking. "Why's he putting that sponge on his head?" 

Van Hay answered. "You soak it in brine, get it good and wet. Conducts the electricity directly to the brain, fast like a bullet. You don't ever want to throw the switch on a man without that." 

I nodded,  although the two men weren't paying any attention to me. Brutal continued his speech from earlier. "Arlen Bitterbuck, electricity shall now be passed through your body until you are dead, in accordance with the state law. God have mercy on your soul." Then in a louder voice. "Roll on two." 

Van Hay said something but I was too focused on Toot being an idiot in the electric chair. 

"I'm fryin'! I'm fryin'! I'm a done tom turkey! This is a shocking experience." He was wailing with an edge of laughter like some kind of maniac as he threw himself against the straps. Luckily no one felt like laughing this time. 

But as I glanced at Brutal he smiled slightly to Paul and I, looking behind us. "One of the witness' showed up a day early." 

We both turned to look and when Paul yelled "All right, let's go again and do it right this time. Get that idiot out of the chair." I was still smiling up at Steamboat Willy's disappearing tail.