The New Cellmate

A new prisoner was being escorted into his cell for the first time.

As the guard closed the door behind him, the new guy looked around nervously at his cellmate, a big quiet man sitting on the lower bunk.

Trying to break the silence, the new prisoner said, So… what are you in for?

The big man didn’t look up.

Twenty years, he said calmly.

The new guy swallowed hard. For what?

The big man paused.

For not finishing what I started.

The new prisoner went pale and quickly climbed onto the top bunk without another word.

A few minutes later, trying to act tough, he called down:

Well… I got ten years.

The big man finally looked up.

Oh yeah? For what?

The new prisoner hesitated, then said:

For finishing something someone else started.

The big man stared at him for a second… then slowly moved his pillow to the other side of the bunk.