Гроздья гнева

           "Iwasjus’walkin’aroun’,an’Ithoughthowyou’dbegoin’,an’I’dmaybesaygood-by."

           "Goin’inalittlewhilenow,"saidPa."You’damissedusifyou’dcomeanhourlater.Allpackedup—see?"

           "Allpackedup."Muleylookedattheloadedtruck."SometimesIwishtI’dgoan’fin’myfolks."

           Maasked,"Didyouhearfrom’emoutinCalifornia?"

           "No,"saidMuley,"Iain’theard.ButIain’tbeentolookinthepostoffice.Ioughtagoinsometimes."

           Pasaid,"Al,godown,wakeupGranma,Grampa.Tell’emtocomean’eat.We’regoin’beforelong."AndasAlsaunteredtowardthebarn,"Muley,yawantasqueezeinwithusan’go?We’dtrytomakeroomforya."

           Muleytookabiteofmeatfromtheedgeofaribboneandchewedit.

           "SometimesIthinkImight.ButIknowIwon’t,"hesaid."Iknowperfectlywellthelas’minuteI’drunan’hidelikeadamnol’graveyardghos’."

           Noahsaid,"Yougonnadieoutinthefiel’someday,Muley."

           "Iknow.Ithoughtaboutthat.Sometimesitseemsprettylonely,an’sometimesitseemsallright,an’sometimesitseemsgood.Itdon’tmakenodifference.Butifyacomeacrostmyfolks—that’sreallywhatIcometosay—ifyacomeonanymyfolksinCalifornia,tell’emI’mwell.Tell’emI’mdoin’allright.Don’tletonI’mlivin’thisway.Tell’emI’llcometo’emsoon’sIgitthemoney."

           Maasked,"An’willya?"

           "No,"Muleysaidsoftly."No,Iwon’t.Ican’tgoaway.