Work Text:
I walked through the bushes trying to seek out Lennie. I thought if I could find him before Curley then I could save him. We could run away to the house and have us our horses and Lennie could tend to the rabbits, and we’d bring Candy with us, we can pay him to look after the farm.
I thought of what would happen to him when Curley found him, would he shoot him right there, would he torture him? Make his death slow and painful. Would he let Lennie walk away unscathed or would he make the rest of Lennies life prolonged and agonizing.
Due to thinking such awful and ghastly thoughts I started worrying more about where Curley and the others had got off to since I had dawdled away from them in search of Lennie.
I looked off into the distance over the bushes and rotting trees remembering what I had told Lennie when we arrived at the farm “Hide till I come for you. Don't let nobody see you. Hide in the brush by the river. Say that over.” Then Lennie repeated my words “Hide in the Brush by the river, down in the brush by the river.” to which I replied with “if you get in trouble.” “If I get in trouble.” Down by the river! In the brush! That's where Lennie will be.
I made my way over to the brush being careful not to make any sound or draw attention to myself. I could hear Curley’s voice rustling through the wind shouting phrases such as “I’ll kill that b****d!” and “Surely he doesn't think he can kill my wife and get away with it?” Luckly Curley's voice was faint and distant enough that I could tell he was heading away from the brush where Lennie was hiding and therefore would take a while before he came into contact with either of us. I was getting closer to the river's edge when I heard gentle stirring in the brush. I stilled. I have no reason to assume it was Curley, for all I know it could be a mouse or rabbit foraging for a meal. I cautiously made my way around the brush to confront the creature making this rustling. What I didn't expect was to see the back of Lennie’s head.
He looks so calm but so frightened, like he knew he was going to die but seemed to be at peace with it, like how you feel when you finally drift off to sleep and forget all your worries but feel no pain and no joy, that feeling when you realise there is nothing you can do to save yourself so you accept the consequences, there is this sense of safety knowing it will all be over. I hated seeing him like this, but I knew it would all have to end, and I did not want Curley being the one to end it all.
He was talking to himself, Lennie was, I listened slumped up against a tree. He hadn't seen me yet, but I was okay with that. The more I listened to him I understood what he was saying. He was talking about his dream, our dream, he was talking about the rabbits he would tend to and the plants we would grow. He was talking about how he could have new exciting foods every day and have access to ketchup whenever he wanted, he really wanted ketchup. He mentioned going out early in the morning to feed the rabbits, those damn rabbits, and walk his pup.
I sat for who knows how long listening to Lennie talk about his farm and the life we could have had. My eyes drifted from Lennies neck down to his pocket; a piece of metal was sticking out the top. Carlson’s gun. His gun hadn't been missing like I suggested, no, Lennie had the gun. Who knows what he was going to do with it. Shoot Curley, shoot himself, shoot me? I didn't know what to do, I knew Lennie didn't mean to kill Curley’s wife. He isn’t a bad person; he just does bad things. He doesn't deserve to die. I know there are only two ways this can go, Curley shoots Lennie or I shoot Lennie.
I got up from my seat against the tree, crouching down and slowly making my way across to Lennie. “I could have rabbits George! Lots of rabbits, I could tend to them every day with my brown and white pup.” I'm not sure if Lennie knew I was there or not but I spoke to him nonetheless “Yes Lennie you can have the rabbits, but you gotta tend to them morning and evening, rain or shine.” He started nodding “Yes George yes I can do that!” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “You gotta do some cooking too Lennie, ill teach you how, then you can make your own eggs and beans, you can have ketchup with anything you want.” “Please teach me George, please!!” I laughed a soft sound “Of course ill teach you Lennie.” My eyes drifted down to his pocket. The gun still there.
Curley’s voice started getting louder meaning he was soon to finding Lennie and me.
I slowly slid the gun out of his pocket; it was heavier than I thought.
Curley’s voice still loud in my ear.
I steadily lifted the gun up behind Lennies head.
Curley getting closer.
“What colour rabbits you want Lennie?” I placed my finger on the trigger.
Curley’s voice deafening.
“Well, it depends George what colours you got?” I took a sharp sudden breath.
“Your choice Lennie, I've got a beige one with grey markings or a grey one with orange markings” I closed my eyes.
I heard Curley shouting “Look at ‘em, there by the river!!” Followed by footsteps.
“The beige one George or you know maybe the gr-” His words got cut off by the sound of a loud BANG. I lifted my finger off the trigger; my arms fell to my sides as I stared at the lifeless body Infront of me. The gun fell from my hand before being picked up by who I assumed was Carlson (it was his gun after all). I stood up dusting off my knees whilst I turned on my heel, glancing up at the boys I saw the look in their eyes, shock. Looking back at Lennie one last time I realised what I had done, the confusion overwhelmed me, I headed straight for the floor as everything went black. Someone, I assumed Slim, grabbed my shoulders stopping me from hitting the dusty, tough ground. Only then did it fully occur to me. I had just killed Lennie.