s　and　one　slow　but　cheerful　foursome　pass　by　waving　their　mallets；　thinking　my　old　man's　thoughts　and　letting　the　sun　warm　my　old　man's　bones。

Around　two…forty…five；　the　three…to…eleven　shift　started　to　trickle　in　from　the　parking　lot；　and　at　three；　the　day…shift　folks　left。　Most　were　in　groups；　but　Brad　Dolan；　I　saw；　was　walking　alone。　That　was　sort　of　a　happy　sight；　maybe　the　world　hasn't　gone　entirely　to　hell；　after　all。　One　of　his　joke…books　was　sticking　out　of　his　back　pocket。　The　path　to　the　parking　lot　goes　by　the　croquet　course；　so　he　saw　me　there；　but　he　didn't　give　me　either　a　wave　or　a　scowl。　That　was　fine　by　me。　He　got　into　his　old　Chevrolet　with　the　bumper　sticker　reading　I　HAVE　SEEN　GOD　AND　HIS　NAME　IS　NEWT。　Then　he　was　gone　to　wherever　he　goes　when　he　isn't　here；　laying　a　thin　trail　of　discount　motor　oil　behind。

Around　four　o'clock；　Elaine　joined　me；　just　as　she　had　promised。　From　the　look　of　her　eyes；　she'd　done　a　little　more　crying。　She　put　her　arms　around　me　and　hugged　me　tight。　〃Poor　John　Coffey〃；　she　said。　〃And　poor　Paul　Edgebe；　too。〃

Poor　Paul；　I　heard　Jan　saying。　Poor　old　guy。

Elaine　began　to　cry　again。　I　held　her；　there　on　the　croquet　course　in　the　late　sunshine。　Our　shadows　looked　as　if　they　were　dancing。　Perhaps　in　the　Make　Believe　Ballroom　we　used　to　listen　to　on　the　radio　back　in　those　days。

At　last　she　got　herself　under　control　and　drew　back　from　me。　She　found　a　Kleenex　in　her　blouse　pocket　and　wiped　her　streaming