because Curley was going to kill him anyway & it'd be better for Lennie to be killed by his close friend George during a happy fantasy instead being killed by an enemy out of revenge and anger
Lennie is laughing because he is imagining he will tend the rabbits on their future farm. In the book, Lennie is alone when he has this vision, which eventually leads to a tragic misunderstanding that ends in tragedy.
The men think Lennie is armed because George tells them that Lennie has a gun. George does this to create the illusion of danger in order to protect Lennie from the other men on the farm who may want to harm him.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, the character of Lennie is slow minded but physically strong. The two things that he should avoid while working on the farm, are confrontation and physical altercations.
He tells Lennie the story of their farm.
In the end of Mice and Men, George tells Lennie the story of their farm, and then shoots him in the back of the head.
rabbits
Candy wanted to talk to Lennie about the dream of owning a piece of land with George and him. Candy offered to contribute money towards purchasing the land in exchange for being allowed to live there and work with them.
George gets angry with Lennie while they are camping because Lennie repeatedly forgets important instructions and tends to get into trouble, which stresses George. Lennie's unintentional mistakes, such as his fascination with petting soft things, lead to anxiety about their future and the risk of losing their dream of owning a farm. George's frustration is compounded by his protective instinct, as he feels responsible for Lennie's well-being and the consequences of his actions. This tension highlights the complexities of their relationship, balancing care and irritation.
George tells Lennie to just stand there and not say anything until after they get jobs and work for a little while.
After George kills Lennie in "Of Mice and Men," he talks with Slim about their dream of owning a farm together. Slim is a trusted and understanding individual who empathizes with George's difficult decision.
Curley's wife died, so now Lennie will be in trouble and then their dream of the farm will be no more. Candy therefor won't be able to work on the farm with George and Lennie.
Lennie and Candy forget their agreement not to talk about their dream farm when they visit Crooks. They end up discussing their plans for the farm in front of him, even though they had promised not to mention it.