don't think you are right now； but you will。 You got the shi — 〃
〃I wish I didn't！〃 Danny choked； his voice still thick with tears。 〃I wish I
didn't have it！〃
〃But you do；〃 Hallorann said quietly。 〃For better or worse。 You didn't get no
say； little boy。 But the worst is over。 You can use it to talk to me when things
get rough。 And if they get too rough； you just call me and I'll e。〃
〃Even if I'm down in Maryland？〃
〃Even there。〃
They were quiet； watching Danny's bobber drift around thirty feet out from the
end of the dock。 Then Danny said； almost too low to be heard； 〃You'll be my
friend？〃
〃As long as you want me。〃
The boy held him tight and Hallorann hugged him。
〃Danny？ You listen to me。 I'm going to talk to you about it this once and
never again this same way。 There's some things no six…year…old boy in the world
should have to be told； but the way things should be and the way things are
hardly ever get together。 The world's a hard place； Danny。 It don't care。 It
don't hate you and me； but it don't love us； either。 Terrible things happen in
the world； and they're things no one can explain。 Good people die in bad；
painful ways and leave the folks that love them all alone。 Sometimes it seems
like it's only the bad people who stay healthy and prosper。 The world don't love
you； but your momma does and so do I。 You're a good boy。 You grieve for your
daddy； and when you feel you have to cry over what happened to him； you go into
a closet or under your covers and cry until it's all out of you again。 That's
what a good son has to do。 But see that you get on。 That's your job in this hard
world； to keep your love alive and see that you get on； no matter what。 Pull
your act together and just go on。〃
〃All right；〃 Danny whispered。 〃I'll e see you again next summer if you want
。。。 if you don't mind。 Next summer I'm going to be seven。〃
〃And I'll be sixty…two。 And I'm gonna hug your brains out your ears。 But let's
finish one summer before we get on to the next。〃
〃Okay。〃 He looked at Hallorann。 〃Dick？〃
〃Hmm？〃
〃You won't die for a long time； will you？〃
〃I'm sure not studyin on it。 Are you？〃
〃No； sir。 I — 〃
〃You got a bite； sonny。〃 He pointed。 The red and white bobber had ducked
under。 It came up again glistening； and then went under again。
〃Hey！〃 Danny gulped。
Wendy had e down and now joined them； standing in back of Danny。 〃What is
it？〃 she asked。 〃Pickerel？〃
〃No； ma'am；〃 Hallorann said； 〃I believe that's a pink whale。〃
The tip of the fishing rod bent。 Danny pulled it back and a long fish；
rainbow…colored； flashed up in a sunny； winking parabola； and disappeared again。
Danny reeled frantically； gulping。
〃Help me； Dick！ I got him！ I got him！ Help me！〃
Hallorann laughed。 〃You're doin fine all by yourself； little man。 I don't know
if it's a pink whale or a trout； but it'll do。 It'll do just fine。〃
He put an arm around Danny's shoulders and the boy reeled the fish in； little
by little。 Wendy sat down on Danny's other side and the three of them sat on the
end of the dock in the afternoon sun。