Гроздья гнева

           Almostshedon’twanttogotoCalifornia,fearshe’llneverseeyounomore."Astovelidclashedinthehouseagain."Le’ssurprise’em,"oldTomrepeated."Le’sgoinlikeyouneverbeenaway.Le’sjus’seewhatyourmasays."AtlasthetouchedTom,buttouchedhimontheshoulder,timidly,andinstantlytookhishandaway.HelookedatJimCasy.

           Tomsaid,"Yourememberthepreacher,Pa.Hecomealongwithme."

           "Hebeeninprisontoo?"

           "No,Imet’imontheroad.Hebeenaway."

           Pashookhandsgravely."You’rewelcomehere,sir."

           Casysaid,"Gladtobehere.It’sathingtoseewhenaboycomeshome.It’sathingtosee."

           "Home,"Pasaid.

           "Tohisfolks,"thepreacheramendedquickly."Westayedattheotherplacelastnight."

           Pa’schinthrustout,andhelookedbackdowntheroadforamoment.ThenheturnedtoTom."How’llwedoher?"hebeganexcitedly."S’poseIgoinan’say,’Here’ssomefellaswantsomebreakfast,’orhow’ditbeifyoujus’comeinan’stoodtheretillsheseenyou?How’dthatbe?"Hisfacewasalivewithexcitement.

           "Don’tle’sgivehernoshock,"saidTom."Don’tle’sscarehernone."

           Tworangyshepherddogstrotteduppleasantly,untiltheycaughtthescentofstrangers,andthentheybackedcautiouslyaway,watchful,theirtailsmovingslowlyandtentativelyintheair,buttheireyesandnosesquickforanimosityordanger.