Pg. #101-107

These were the final pages of the novella, and the story came to a great end. It is May, 1977 and Red was finally approved on his after 38 years, and is out of Shawshank State prison. He has a descent job, and is living in a lower-class hotel. Red is having a hard time adjusting back to regular life, he was so used to the same routine every day for so many years, that he finds himself not knowing what to do with all his free time. Everything seems new, strange and frightening, he can't believe how much society has changed since he was a free man. He even thought about doing something to get sent back to Shawshank, where he knew everything so well and all of the routines were imbedded in his mind, but stopped himself as he thought of Andy. On April 23rd, a day Red will never forget, he went for a walk on a street called "Old Smith Road." Mid afternoon, a big hayfield appeared on his left lined by a rock wall. Could this be what Andy spoke of in the prison? Red was in Buxton after all... So he followed the wall and it led him straight to the rock Andy was talking about. He lifted it up out of pure curiosity, and found an envelope sealed in a plastic baggie. It was from Andy, and it was for him. In the letter, Andy explains that obviously Red is out if he's reading it. Andy asks Red to come with him a little further to a little town he spoke of a while ago, and help him get the business going he had dreamed of. Andy says to always hope, because hope is a great and powerful thing. After reading the letter, Red immediately goes back to the hotel, packs his suitcase, has a drink for Andy, and begins his journey to Zihuatanejo, Mexico and he hopes he will see Andy Dufresne once again. The conclusion to the novel was brilliant. It summed up the story perfectly, and I loved the ending. Although we aren't sure if Red ever made it to Andy, or if they started their very own hotel like he wanted, we can hope that they were united as friends, once again. Overall, it was an amazing novella and I can honestly say I enjoyed every page. Bravo Stephen King!