The Parole Board – Part 1: The Hearing

The dining table had been turned into a bench. A green cloth lay over it. A single lamp with a green shade stood at the centre. Behind it, on a high-backed chair, sat Prudence, in a charcoal suit, with a ring-bound file open in front of her and a fountain pen laid precisely beside it. A plain wooden chair stood on the other side of the table, facing the lamp.

Andrew stood in the doorway and looked at the arrangement for a long moment. He was forty-two, a primary-school head, mild and conscientious, and he had spent the last two days as Prisoner 042 in a game of cells, numbers and a very strict Matron. Prudence was forty-seven, a family-court judge, brisk and elegant, who had suggested, with great care, that the weekend should end with a parole hearing.

"The terms," said Prudence, in her own voice.

He read them from the card at his place. His limits and hers: no marks, nothing painful, no real humiliation, nothing beyond the room, no one else. The word was Released. If he said it, the board adjourned at once and they went into the kitchen.

"Say it."

"Released."

"And at every pause, I will ask whether you wish to continue."

"I will answer truthfully."

"Good." She lifted her chin, and her whole bearing changed. When she spoke again, her voice was crisp, cool and absolutely level. "This hearing is in session. Be seated, Mr Carter."

He sat in the plain chair. The lamp shone in his eyes, just enough to make him squint. She looked at him over the rim of her glasses for a long, silent time.

"You have served two days of your sentence. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Chair."

"The Board has reviewed your conduct. It has noted that you were disobedient on Friday evening, insolent on Saturday morning and, I regret to say, late for roll-call on Saturday night."

"I am sorry, Chair."

"The Board has not asked you to apologise." She turned a page. "It will ask you to account."

"Yes, Chair."

"Are you content to proceed?"

"Content, Chair."

"Good. Then we shall begin with the Saturday morning."

Continue the story: Part 2 – Released.