"Percy's funny!" Del said to Paul.
"He likes to make people laugh," Paul agreed.
Percy rushed over to Paul. "Paul, the infirmary is full. They don't need my help."
"Glad you told me," said Paul, "We were just talking about you."
"Oh, yeah?" Percy asked, surprised.
"All good things," Paul assured him.
"All good things," Del agreed. "Nothing bad."
Percy felt relief wash over him. In spite of his tragic past of being bullied at school, he does not let it interfere with his job at the prison. Even as the governor's nephew, Percy was a good man at heart, an empathetic listener, and did his job well, but could not bring himself to talk about his past. Not yet.
"Percy, are you feeling alright?" Paul asked him.
Percy snapped back into reality. "Yes, sir!"
"You can call me Paul if you want," Paul told him.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Paul," Percy said.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure I'm sure."
"If you need anything, talk to us."
Percy nodded. "Alright." And he exited the scene.
"Boss," a familiar voice said.
"John?" Paul asked.
"Come here, officer," the inmate commanded.
Paul stepped over to him. "What do you need, John?" Paul asked.
"The man you was talking to looks sad," John said.
"That's Percy and yes, he seems to be hiding something, but I don't know what. He's got to tell us sooner or later before it eats him alive. He does a good job here and gets along well with others, including the inmates like you."
"And me," Del added.
Paul turned over to him and said, "Yes, you, too, Del."
Del smiled at him.
Paul sighed and said to John, "John. Del. I gotta go. Goodnight." He left the lights on for John so he could sleep and started on his way through the mile to retire for the night.