This is my first Green mile story I'm hoping I'll have kept everyone in character, I know the women's rights movement wasn't till years later but for the purpose of this story we've brought it earlier on so I apologise for it being technically historically inaccurate. Would love to know what you guys think.

Hal groaned as he was sat in his office chair behind his desk and rubbed his face with his hands after putting the phone down, the Governor's office had just informed him that due to a high demand for a change in the law and to improve his chances of re-election he had decided to give in to the demands of the people, woman wanted the opportunity to join the workforce and have the same working opportunities as men and if the Governor agreed to the demands of the people then his votes for the next vote would vastly increase. Hal didn't agree with this, he didn't agree with women in any workplace never mind women working somewhere as dangerous and mentally challenging on the mile, he knew this new change would be trouble. But if he wanted to stay on the Governor's good side then he would have to agree, he had a stack of applicants on his desk and he had been given a week to look through them and pick one for employment.

He knew that the men on the mile wouldn't be happy, they too had strong views on the position of women but he thought now would be as good a time as any to break the news. He was tempted not to tell them until the new employee showed up for work but he decided if he told them now and gave them some warning they would have a few days to get used to the idea, so Hal went down to E block to break the news. Sometimes he really didn't like the job he had.

Paul and Dean and Howell were sat round the table drinking coffee and reading a newspaper and Percy was stood staring in the mirror with a comb sorting out his hair while whistling, Percy looked after his hair to the point of vanity he always had a comb in his pocket and was constantly combing it, the men on the mile always teased him because of it.
"Look at him pamperin' himself like a damn poodle" Howell laughed; there was something about Percy that grated on him he grated against all the men's nerves but more with Howell in particular he didn't like the small weedy man that always acted like he was something special. Percy was the nephew of the Governor's wife and always he used his position to get away with everything, he would threaten other staff with getting fired when they did something he didn't like and that caused the other men to hate him.
"Yeah that boys not suited to working here on the mile" Paul sighed "The man is mean, careless, and stupid, Bad combination in a place like this"
"Boy can comb his hair all he likes still don't make him any less of an asshole" Dean said deadpanned.
"Asshole might be an understatement Dean" Howell said rolling his eyes. While Percy combed his hair he was almost brain dead, he was that deep in concentration he didn't hear a word of what the three men were saying.
"God Percy you're like a goddamn girl" Howell said loud enough for Percy to hear.

They hadn't noticed Hal enter the room and walk up behind them, he coughed to announce his presence and everyone turned round in his direction.
"Boys there's something we need to discuss and I'm afraid you're not going to like it" Hal sighed knowing the disapproval he was about the cause. "Well I just got off the phone to the Governor and..." He paused as he saw the three other man giving accusing glares at Percy, instantly thinking that it was Percy that had done something wrong but he was too busy styling his hair to see the pointed glares aimed in his direction. "No for ONCE it's not about Percy..." Hal was more than aware of the disruption and chaos Percy caused on the block no matter how hard Percy tried to pull the wool over his eyes, only then did Percy turn round from the mirror when he had heard his name being mentioned. "Due to new legislation we've now got to employ a woman onto the mile" The men's eyes went wide with disbelief exchanging glances between themselves.
"The miles no place for a damn lady" Howell hissed, Dean and Paul nodded in agreement.
"Hal the miles dangerous..." Paul said agreeing with Howell.
"That's not up for us to decide the Governor has made it final she'll receive all the relevant training, don't make it harder than it has to be it's not up for discussion"
"It sure would be nice to get some nice lookin' eye candy round these parts stead of looking at you guys all the time" Percy said excitedly instantly thinking it would work out for the best for him, what lady wouldn't be able to resist him? He thought to himself.
"Shut up Percy only lady who'd love a face like yours is your Ma" Howell glared at Percy, being arrogant and cocky he wasn't normally one to back down but Hal was there so he kept quiet and let the comment slide. He didn't need Hal thinking anymore negatively about him than he did already he needed to keep some people on his side and he wouldn't show Hal that he was the person all the men said he was.

Percy stood in the bathroom of his home and stared into the bathroom mirror with his fists clenched leaning on the sink; he hated how Paul, Dean and Howell tormented him all the time, made him feel worthless and stupid he'd love to see them all on the breadlines, he thudded his fist on the side of the sink in anger. He shrugged his jacket off in front of the mirror Percy hated how small and vulnerable he looked without it, the white button up shirt did nothing to improve his size of his stature, his uniformed made him feel powerful, confident, big and in control he loved the dominance that he felt over people when he was at work in his uniform he felt like nothing, a tiny little man without it, but with the larger men towering over him they threatened to bring them feeling to the surface even with his uniform sometimes they made him feel small and weak and he hated them for it. He couldn't help but think of this new female staff that was going to join them, he wondered what she would look like if she would be attractive it would make a nice change in the mile and a girl might just be what he needs to make him feel better about himself hopefully improve his self esteem and show them he wasn't as worthless as they thought, she just might be the little bit of sunshine that the mile needed.

Alice groaned and rubbed her eyes at her alarm clock, she reached round and switched it off then she realised it was her first day of work, frantically she pulled the covers off her and went across the room to put on her uniform that was neatly hung up on a coat hanger. Alice was so nervous the idea of working in death row both terrified and intrigued her, she wondered what it would be like she imagined that the prisoners wouldn't be easy to work with they were all murderers and she wondered what the staff would be like would they be nice or as hard to work with as the prisoners. After putting on her uniform she smoothed it out while looking in the mirror.
"Well here goes nothing" She thought to herself, she was ready to start her new job, meet new people and taking the next step of her life.