Гроздья гнева

           GranmasmiledupatTom."Messy,ain’the?"sheobservedbrightly.Noahstoodonthestep,andhefacedTom,andhiswide-seteyesseemedtolookaroundhim.Hisfacehadlittleexpression.Tomsaid,"Howya,Noah?"

           "Fine,"saidNoah."Howa’you?"Thatwasall,butitwasacomfortablething.

           Mawavedthefliesawayfromthebowlofgravy."Weain’tgotroomtosetdown,"shesaid."Jus’getyaselfaplatean’setdownwhereveryacan.Outintheyardorsomeplace."

           SuddenlyTomsaid,"Hey!Where’sthepreacher?Hewasrighthere.Where’dhego?"

           Pasaid,"Iseenhim,buthe’sgone."

           AndGranmaraisedashrillvoice,"Preacher?Yougotapreacher?

           Gogithim.We’llhaveagrace."ShepointedatGrampa."Toolateforhim—he’set.Gogitthepreacher."

           Tomsteppedoutontheporch."Hey,Jim!JimCasy!"hecalled.Hewalkedoutintheyard."Oh,Casy!"Thepreacheremergedfromunderthetank,satup,andthenstoodupandmovedtowardthehouse.Tomasked,"Whatwasyoudoin’,hidin’?"

           "Well,no.Butafellashouldn’tbutthisheadinwhereafamblygotfamblystuff.Iwasjus’settin’a-thinkin’."

           "Comeoninan’eat,"saidTom."Granmawantsagrace."

           "ButIain’tapreachernomore,"Casyprotested.

           "Aw,comeon.Giveheragrace.Don’tdoyounoharm,an’shelikes’em."Theywalkedintothekitchentogether.

           Masaidquietly,"You’rewelcome."

           AndPasaid,"You’rewelcome.Havesomebreakfast."

           "Gracefust,"Granmaclamored."Gracefust."