actually care … a little…about the creatures of one's imagination。
In any case； I've decided to publish The Green Mile in a series of small paperbacks； in the nieenthcentury manner； and I hope you'll write and tell me （a） if you liked the story； and （b） if you liked the seldom used but rather amusing delivery system。 It has certainly energized the writing of the story； although at this moment （a rainy evening in October of 1995） it is still far from done； even in rough draft； and the oute remains in some doubt。 That is part of the excitement of the whole thing； though…at this point I'm driving through thick fog with the pedal all the way to the metal。
Most of all； I want to say that if you have even half as much fun reading this as I did writing it； we'll both be well off。 Enjoy 。。。 and why not read this aloud； with a friend？ If nothing else； it will shorten the time until the next installment appears on your newsstand or in your local bookstore。
In the meantime； take care； and be good to one another。
Stephen King
Part One：
The Two Dead Girls
1。
This happened in 1932； when the state penitentiary was still at Cold Mountain。 And the electric chair was there； too； of course。
The inmates made jokes about the chair； the way people always make jokes about things that frighten them but can't be gotten away from。 They called it Old Sparky； or the Big Juicy。 They made cracks about the power bill； and how Warden Moores would cook his Thanksgiving dinner that fall； with his wife； Melinda； too sick to cook。
But for the ones who actually had to sit down in that chair； the humor went out of the situation in a hurry。 I presided over seventy…eight executions during my time at Cold Mountain （that's one figure I've nev