Старик и море

           Therewasnocastnetandtheboyrememberedwhentheyhadsoldit.Buttheywentthroughthisfictioneveryday.Therewasnopotofyellowriceandfishandtheboyknewthistoo. 

           "Eighty-fiveisaluckynumber,"theoldmansaid."Howwouldyouliketoseemebringoneinthatdressedoutoverathousandpounds?" 

           "I’llgetthecastnetandgoforsardines.Willyousitinthesuninthedoorway?" 

           "Yes.Ihaveyesterday’spaperandIwillreadthebaseball." 

           Theboydidnotknowwhetheryesterday’spaperwasafictiontoo.Buttheoldmanbroughtitoutfromunderthebed. 

           "Pericogaveittomeatthebodega,"heexplained. 

           "I’llbebackwhenIhavethesardines.I’llkeepyoursandminetogetheroniceandwecansharetheminthemorning.WhenIcomebackyoucantellmeaboutthebaseball." 

           "TheYankeescannotlose." 

           "ButIfeartheIndiansofCleveland." 

           "HavefaithintheYankeesmyson.ThinkofthegreatDiMaggio." 

           "IfearboththeTigersofDetroitandtheIndiansofCleveland." 

           "BecarefuloryouwillfeareventheRedsofCincinnatiandtheWhiteSoxofChicago." 

           "YoustudyitandtellmewhenIcomeback." 

           "Doyouthinkweshouldbuyaterminalofthelotterywithaneighty-five?Tomorrowistheeighty-fifthday." 

           "Wecandothat,"theboysaid."Butwhatabouttheeighty-sevenofyourgreatrecord?" 

           "Itcouldnothappentwice.Doyouthinkyoucanfindaneighty-five?" 

           "Icanorderone." 

           "Onesheet.That’stwodollarsandahalf.Whocanweborrowthatfrom?" 

           "That’seasy.Icanalwaysborrowtwodollarsandahalf." 

           "IthinkperhapsIcantoo.ButItrynottoborrow.Firstyouborrow.Thenyoubeg."