Гроздья гнева

           Iofferweputanoteofwritin’inabottlean’layitwithGrampa,tellin’whoheisan’howhedied,an’whyhe’sburiedhere."

           Panoddedagreement."Tha’sgood.Wroteoutinanicehan’.Benotsolonesometoo,knowin’hisnameistherewith’im,notjus’aoldfellalonesomeunderground.Anymorestufftosay?"Thecirclewassilent.

           PaturnedhisheadtoMa."You’lllay’imout?"

           "I’lllay’imout,"saidMa."Butwho’stogetsupper?"

           SairyWilsonsaid,"I’llgetsupper.Yougorightahead.Mean’thatbiggirlofyourn."

           "Wesurethankyou,"saidMa."Noah,yougetintothemkegsan’bringoutsomenicepork.Saltwon’tbedeepinityet,butit’llberightniceeatin’."

           "Wegotahalfsackapotatoes,"saidSairy.

           Masaid,"Gimmetwohalf-dollars."Paduginhispocketandgaveherthesilver.Shefoundthebasin,filleditfullofwater,andwentintothetent.Itwasnearlydarkinthere.Sairycameinandlightedacandleandstuckituprightonaboxandthenshewentout.ForamomentMalookeddownatthedeadoldman.Andtheninpityshetoreastripfromherownapronandtieduphisjaw.Shestraightenedhislimbs,foldedhishandsoverhischest.Sheheldhiseyelidsdownandlaidasilverpieceoneachone.Shebuttonedhisshirtandwashedhisface.

           Sairylookedin,saying,"CanIgiveyouanyhelp?"

           Malookedslowlyup."Comein,"shesaid."Iliketotalktoya."

           "That’sagoodbiggirlyougot,"saidSairy."She’srightinpeelin’potatoes.