By the time mid-afternoon came I had shifted as many rocks as the others, who had been there all day, and hadn't spoken to anyone. As I began to think that the boss had just set the morning up to get me alone after what those two guards had said he surprised me by appearing, as if out of thin air, behind me.
"Put that rock down Julez I need a word," he said, "in the office."
I jumped at the sound of his voice, and spun to face him.
"Why what have I done?" I asked.
"The governor's coming in a couple of hours and I want to talk to you about this morning," he replied. "Make sure we both tell the same story."
"No worries about what I'll say," I responded. "I'll tell him we came straight back."
"What if the guards or other cons mention the time we got here?" He sounded on edge.
"Then we will just say we got a puncture on the way back and had to fix it."
"Just follow me Julez," he finally said, after thinking for a second or two.
Guessing the real reason that he wanted me in the office I put the rock that I had been holding down and followed alongside him silently, neither of us talking.
Once back at the office, and inside, he sat behind a large oak desk, and told me to sit in the chair opposite.
"Look Julez your idea was sound except for one small problem," the boss said.
"What's that boss?" I replied.
"All the tires are in perfect condition, including the spare."
"So you stick one of the tools in it and say we ran over a sharp stone on the way back."
"I couldn't do that I'd get fired."
"Then I'll do it," I said.
"If you do I know nothing about it," the boss said.
"Fair enough," I said and turned to leave."
"Did I say we were done?"
"No boss," I said turning back to face him.
"Sit down Julez."
Doing as he said, and eyeing him up suspiciously, I was surprised when he stood up and went to the cupboard behind his chair. As he opened the doors his back blocked virtually all of the cupboard's contents from my eyes, and I couldn't tell what he was doing so when he turned around holding two, large glasses, both three-quarters full I was surprised.
"Here Julez," he said offering one of the glasses to me.
Taking it I cautiously sniffed the liquid, causing the boss to burst out laughing, before lifting it to my lips. Taking a small sip the strength of the Jack Daniels shocked me, it was definitely straight, and a shiver went through my body.
"Come on Julez you can do better than that," the boss said, draining his glass in one.
Not wanting to look like I couldn't handle my drink I quickly lifted the glass again, and copied the boss.
"That's more like it," he said.
We had a couple more drinks, in silence, before he stepped forward and took the glass from me, and returned them to the cupboard.
"Best we don't let the governor catch us drinking," he said smiling and glancing at the clock. "He'll be here in just under an hour."
"I best get back to work then," I said and went to stand up.