In this short story,Hemingway shows the feeling of a nine-year-old boy who,through a misunderstanding,undergoes a shattering experience.This misunderstanding is brought about by the fact that different countries use different kinds of medical thermometers.The experience is a real crisis for the boy:he thinks he is going to die and has spent a day thinking about his death. However,in facing this crisis,the boy shows no fear and controls his emotions manfully-a mark of courage in Hemingway's sense. In this short story, Hemingway shows the feeling of a nine-year-old boy who, through a misunderstanding, undergoes a shattering experience. This misunderstanding is brought about by the fact that different countries use different kinds of medical thermometers. The experience is a real crisis for the boy: he thinks he is going to die and has spent a day thinking about his death. However, in facing this crisis, the boy shows no fear and controls his emotions manfully—a mark of courage in Hemingway’s sense