Come on, jump on the skiff. We go rowing on the Caribbean Sea now. Do not be panic, when I tell you I do not really know how to steer the skiff and I have no sense of direction. But I have a book with me, the book written by Ernest Hemingway. That is to say, the old man – Santiago who know the Caribbean Sea inside out is with us, so no worry.
I trust Santiago so much, like the boy – Manolin trusted him. After 84 days Santiago caught no fish, Manolin still said to him:
“The best fisherman is you.”
“No. I know others better.”
“Que va,” the boy said. “There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you.”
Manolin’s parents forbid him to go fishing with Santiago, because they afraid Santiago would infect Manolin with his misfortune. After 84 days without catching a fish, what would a fisherman do? Of course continue to face the sea and go fishing. The reason is as simple as, the fish live in water. It would be certainly no fish if he stayed onshore although there is no promise he would catch fish if he go out to sea.
Santiago’s faith in catching fish after the 84 days was rewarded by a huge marlin. Great endurance and strength required to take the marlin, old man like him still can do this, he could not believe it, “perhaps it was a dream” he thought.
The old man looked at the fish constantly to make sure it was true. It was an hour before the first shark hit him.
Then came the 2nd shark, followed by the 3rd shark, 4th shark, 5th shark and more. He survived the sharks’ attack, and brought back the 18 foot of Marlin’s skeleton with him. After he has been bouncing between extreme luck and extreme unluckiness, his was longing for his bed.
And bed, he thought. Bed is my best friend. Just bed, he thought. Bed will be a great thing.
Everyone in the village amazed at the size of the Marlin’s skeleton. Manolin was sad seeing Santiago’s wounds and Santiago was all alone. He was determined to fish with Santiago again.
“Now we fish together again”.
“No. I am not lucky. I am not lucky anymore.”
“The hell with luck,” the boy said. “I’ll bring the luck with me.”
“What will your family say?”
“I do not care.”
Rather to go fishing with the best fisherman of his heart than to board on a lucky fishing boat. What is after all the definition of luck? The story ended with Santiago was sleeping again. For soon he would rowing again, this time with Manolin.
So, now let us get off the skiff silently, and don’t wake him up.