Гроздья гнева

           Helaysthesplitbunsontheplatetotoastandheat.Hegathersupstrayonionsfromtheplateandheapsthemonthemeatandpressestheminwiththespatula.Heputshalfthebunontopofthemeat,paintstheotherhalfwithmeltedbutter,withthinpicklerelish.Holdingthebunonthemeat,heslipsthespatulaunderthethinpadofmeat,flipsitover,laysthebutteredhalfontop,anddropsthehamburgeronasmallplate.Quarterofadillpickle,twoblackolivesbesidethesandwich.Alskimstheplatedownthecounterlikeaquoit.Andhescrapeshisgriddlewiththespatulaandlooksmoodilyatthestewkettle.

           Carswhiskingbyon66.Licenseplates.Mass.,Tenn.,R.I.,N.Y.,

           Vt.,Ohio.Goingwest.Finecars,cruisingatsixty-five.

           TheregoesoneofthemCords.Lookslikeacoffinonwheels.

           But,Jesus,howtheytravel!

           SeethatLaSalle?Meforthat.Iain’tahog.IgoforaLaSalle.

           ’Fyagoin’big,what’samatterwithaCad’?Jus’alittlebigger,littlefaster.

           I’dtakeaZephyrmyself.Youain’tridin’nofortune,butyougotclassan’speed.GivemeaZephyr.

           Well,sir,youmaygetalaughoutathis—I’lltakeBuick-Puick.

           That’sgoodenough.

           But,hell,thatcostsintheZephyrclassan’itain’tgotthesap.Idon’care.Idon’wantnothin’todowithnothin’ofHenryFord’s.

           Idon’like’em.Neverdid.Gotabrotherworkedintheplant.

           Oughtahearhimtell.

           Well,aZephyrgotsap.

           Thebigcarsonthehighway.