Гроздья гнева

           TheywenttoliveinEnidan’donewell—realwell.OnlyAllenthateverdonewell.Gotagarage.

           Whenthewaterwascarriedandthewoodcut,thechildrenwalkedshyly,cautiouslyamongthetents.Andtheymadeelaborateacquaintanceshipgestures.Aboystoppednearanotherboyandstudiedastone,pickeditup,examineditclosely,spatonit,andrubbeditcleanandinspectedituntilheforcedtheothertodemand,Whatyougotthere?

           Andcasually,Nothin’.Jus’arock.

           Well,whatyoulookin’atitlikethatfor?

           ThoughtIseengoldinit.

           How’dyouknow?Goldain’tgold,it’sblackinarock.

           Sure,ever’bodyknowsthat.

           Ibetit’sfool’sgold,an’youfiggereditwasgold.

           Thatain’tso,’causePa,he’sfoun’lotsagoldan’hetol’mehowtolook.

           How’dyouliketopickupabigol’pieceagold?

           Sa-a-ay!I’dgitthebigges’oldson-a-bitchin’pieceacandyyoueverseen.

           Iain’tlettoswear,butIdo,anyways.

           Metoo.Le’sgotothespring.

           Andyounggirlsfoundeachotherandboastedshylyoftheirpopularityandtheirprospects.Thewomenworkedoverthefire,hurryingtogetfoodtothestomachsofthefamily—porkiftherewasmoneyinplenty,porkandpotatoesandonions.Dutch-ovenbiscuitsorcornbread,andplentyofgravytogooverit.Side-meatorchopsandacanofboiledtea,blackandbitter.Frieddoughindrippingsifmoneywasslim,doughfriedcrispandbrownandthedrippingspouredoverit.