The Green Mile

The next morning, Paul returns to work to find that Warden Hal Moore wants to speak with him. Paul groans, knowing it is likely about his treatment of Percy. At his office, he takes his time settling in, reviewing prison guard Brutus “Brutal” Howell’s notes from the night shift. In his notes, Brutal writes that Delacroix spent most of the night weeping, while Coffey barely spoke. He suggests that perhaps the other guards may have better luck “getting the talk started” (47), by which he means communicating with the prisoners so they do not lose grip of their sanity through their isolation. Paul makes a note that he will try to talk to Coffey.

Paul finds a note from Curtis Anderson, the warden’s chief assistant, that says Delacroix’s execution date should be set soon. In addition, there will be a new inmate arriving named William Wharton. Wharton is 19 years old, has a Billy the Kid tattoo, and has killed three people in a holdup. Anderson underlines the statement, “This man just doesn’t care” (48) in his description of Wharton. Due to Wharton’s age, the young offender may attempt to appeal his case, meaning he will be in prison for a while, until a final decision has been made.

At Warden Moore’s office, Paul inquires after the warden’s wife, Melinda, who is troubled by migraines. The warden responds that she is not doing well, before bringing up Percy. He agrees with Paul that they need to get rid of Percy. He adds that Percy is looking to transfer to Briar Ridge, a state-run hospital, and that Paul’s decision to remove him from E block would delay that move. The warden advises Paul to allow Percy to flip the switch for Old Sparky at Delacroix’s execution in order to prove his competency. Paul reluctantly complies. As they part ways, the warden asks about Coffey. Paul remarks that Coffey has been quiet and has the strangest eyes, suggesting some sympathy for the inmate. The warden reminds Paul of Coffey’s crimes, which he acknowledges before exiting the office.

Prior to being renamed Mr. Jingles, Delacroix’s mouse is referred to as Steamboat Willy. The rodent was once caught roaming the prison as if it worked there. Amused, the guards, which included Paul, Dean Stanton, Brutal, and Harry Terwilliger, offered the mouse bread and observed its intelligence as it ate. Jokingly, Brutal made a note in the visitors’ log about the mouse’s appearance. While the guards laughed, they also noted that it might be a good idea to erase the note, in case Percy discovered it and got Brutal in trouble. The guards decided to follow the mouse to the restraint room and were puzzled by where it might have disappeared to when they could not find any gaps large enough for the rodent to escape through. Later, Percy follows the mouse to the restraint room, determined to locate it. Without any success, he tells Harry that putting an insulation strip at the door to the restraint room would solve the prison’s rodent issue. Harry nonchalantly agrees, knowing Percy will forget all about it with time, which he does.

In the winter after John Coffey is put to death, Brutal informs Paul that he knows where Mr. Jingles goes in the restraint room. The two go to the restraint room together to learn the truth. Above a supply shelf is a hole that smells peculiarly of peppermint. Upon closer inspection, Paul discovers that the hole contains pieces of wood splinters, colored by Delacroix (these details become clear later in the book) before he was sentenced to death. Paul remembers his promise to Delacroix to take care of Mr. Jingles. Brutal reasons that the mouse possesses a surprising emotional intelligence and likely collects Delacroix’s colors as a way of missing him. He likens it to his youth, when he would bring his mother’s perfumed handkerchief with him to school to feel braver. The connection touches Brutal and Paul, and ushers in a confession by Brutal that he cannot put another man to his death. The job feels impossible after Coffey. He expresses a desire to transfer to a correctional facility for young boys or turn to farming. Paul states he will put in a transfer with him. At the end of the chapter, Paul reveals that Coffey’s sentence was the last death he was involved in.