Гроздья гнева

           Boxesofclothesnext,andkitchenutensilsinagunnysack;cutleryanddishesintheirbox.Thenthegallonbuckettiedonbehind.Theymadethebottomoftheloadasevenaspossible,andfilledthespacesbetweenboxeswithrolledblankets.Thenoverthetoptheylaidthemattresses,fillingthetruckinlevel.AndlasttheyspreadthebigtarpaulinovertheloadandAlmadeholesintheedge,twofeetapart,andinsertedlittleropes,andtieditdowntotheside-barsofthetruck.

           "Now,ifitrains,"hesaid,"we’lltieittothebarabove,an’thefolkscangetunderneath,outofthewet.Upfrontwe’llbedryenough."

           AndPaapplauded."That’sagoodidear."

           "Thatain’tall,"Alsaid."FirstchanceIgitI’mgonnafin’alongplankan’makearidgepole,an’putthetarpoverthat.An’thenit’llbecoveredin,an’thefolks’llbeoutathesun,too."

           AndPaagreed,"That’sagoodidear.Whyn’tyouthinkathatbefore?"

           "Iain’thadtime,"saidAl.

           "Ain’thadtime?Why,Al,youhadtimetocoyotealloverthecountry.Godknowswhereyoubeenthislas’twoweeks."

           "Stuffafellagottodowhenhe’sleavin’thecountry,"saidAl.Andthenhelostsomeofhisassurance."Pa,"heasked."Yougladtobegoin’,Pa?"

           "Huh?Well—sure.Leastwiseyeah.Wehadhardtimeshere.’Courseit’llbealldifferentoutthere—plentywork,an’ever’thingnicean’green,an’littlewhitehousesan’orangesgrowin’aroun’."