eric was calm , his thoughts like a long drink of cool water on a desperately hot day . he simply brushes my last remaining tears off my cheeks . we buy our fish from him hes my only real friend here . it would be important to stay close , so she could answer all the questions . then as i was told , i hurried here as fast as i could to report . maybe , just maybe , she was already home . and we 're not going to tell him , are we , cowboy ? '' 