In chapter 6 of the short story Mice and Men, the setting is a deep green pool of the Salinas River in the late afternoon. Lennie was hiding in the brush, Lennie silently came up to the pool and started drinking from the pool. He was on his knees, chin down, stating that he would wait for George. Lennie remembered that George had said if he caused any trouble he would hide in the brush until George got there. He then remembers his Aunt Clara and imagines her getting him in trouble because he's crazy and makes things hard for George, Lennie agrees, crying. He also imagines a rabbit telling him he is no good. Then out of nowhere, George appears but Lennie asks him if he is mad. George says that he isn't mad and he wants Lennie to know that. George makes Lennie look at the green river, distracting him by telling Lennie about the dream and to imagine it as if he were there already. Then George takes the gun and points it at Lennie's head, shaking while Lennie is telling him to do it. The men in the background were shouting for George and were getting closer. George pulls the trigger of the gun killing Lennie, and Lennie falls to the ground. The men hear the shot and go to George, then find him next to Lennie's body. Slim goes up to George, telling him that he had to do it.

In the end, Slim invites George for a drink after the situation had happened.