Гроздья гнева
Chapter 8
Shemovedbacktothestoveanddumpedthebigpanofbulbousbiscuitsontwotinplates.Sheshookflourintothedeepgreasetomakegravy,andherhandwaswhitewithflour.ForamomentTomwatchedher,andthenhewenttothedoor.
Acrosstheyardcamefourpeople.Grampawasahead,alean,ragged,quickoldman,jumpingwithquickstepsandfavoringhisrightleg—thesidethatcameoutofjoint.Hewasbuttoninghisflyashecame,andhisoldhandswerehavingtroublefindingthebuttons,forhehadbuttonedthetopbuttonintothesecondbuttonhole,andthatthrewthewholesequenceoff.Heworedarkraggedpantsandatornblueshirt,openallthewaydown,andshowinglonggrayunderwear,alsounbuttoned.Hisleanwhitechest,fuzzedwithwhitehair,wasvisiblethroughtheopeninginhisunderwear.Hegaveuptheflyandleftitopenandfumbledwiththeunderwearbuttons,thengavethewholethingupandhitchedhisbrownsuspenders.Hiswasaleanexcitablefacewithlittlebrighteyesasevilasafranticchild’seyes.Acantankerous,complaining,mischievous,laughingface.Hefoughtandargued,tolddirtystories.Hewasaslecherousasalways.Viciousandcruelandimpatient,likeafranticchild,andthewholestructureoverlaidwithamusement.Hedranktoomuchwhenhecouldgetit,atetoomuchwhenitwasthere,talkedtoomuchallthetime.
BehindhimhobbledGranma,whohadsurvivedonlybecauseshewasasmeanasherhusband.
