s the remains of a Danish he'd hooked out of the kitchen。 He'd been standing under the leave； eating it where he wouldn't get wet。 And where he could watch for me； I'm pretty sure of that now。 I'm pretty sure of something else； as well： I'll have to watch out for Mr。 Brad Dolan。 He doesn't like me much。 I don't know why； but I never knew why Percy Wetmore didn't like Delacroix； either。 And dislike is really too weak a word。 Percy hated Del's guts from the very first moment the little Frenchman came onto the Green Mile。
'〃What's with this poncho you got on； Paulie？〃 he asked； flicking the collar。 〃This isn't yours。〃
〃I got it in the hall outside the kitchen；〃 I said。 I hate it when he calls me Paulie； and I think he knows it； but I was damned if I'd give him the satisfaction of seeing it。 〃There's a whole row of them。 I'm not hurting it any； would you say？ Rain's what it's made for； after all。〃
〃But it wasn't made for you； Paulie；〃 he said； giving it another little flick。 〃That's the thing。 Those slickers're for the employees； not the residents。〃
〃I still don't see what harm it does。〃
He gave me a thin little smile。 〃It's not about harm； it's about the rules。 What would life be without rules？ Paulie； Paulie； Paulie。〃 He shook his head； as if just looking at me made him feel sorry to be alive。 〃You probably think an old fart like you doesn't have to mind about the rules anymore； but that's just not true。 Paulie。〃
Smiling at me。 Disliking me。 Maybe even hating me。 And why？ I don't know。 Sometimes there is no why。 That's the scary part。
〃Well； I'm sorry if I broke the rules；〃 I said。 It came out sounding whiney； a little shrill； and I hated myself for sounding that way； but I'm old； and old people whine easily。 Old people sca