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           GotlittlehunksofJesusjumpin’outamymouththatday.Youwon’tremember’causeyouwasbusypullin’thatpigtail."

           "Iremember,"saidJoad."ThatwasSusyLittle.Shebustmyfingerayearlater."

           "Well—didyoutakeanygoodoutathatbaptizin’?Wasyourwaysbetter?"

           Joadthoughtaboutit."No-o-o,can’tsayasIfeltanything."

           "Well—didyoutakeanybadfromit?Thinkhard."Joadpickedupthebottleandtookaswig."Theywasn’tnothinginit,goodorbad.Ijusthadfun."Hehandedtheflasktothepreacher.

           Hesighedanddrankandlookedatthelowlevelofthewhiskyandtookanothertinydrink."That’sgood,"hesaid."Igottoworryin’aboutwhetherinmessin’aroundmaybeIdonesomebodyahurt."

           Joadlookedovertowardhiscoatandsawtheturtle,freeoftheclothandhurryingawayinthedirectionhehadbeenfollowingwhenJoadfoundhim.Joadwatchedhimforamomentandthengotslowlytohisfeetandretrievedhimandwrappedhiminthecoatagain."Iain’tgotnopresentforthekids,"hesaid."Nothin’butthisol’turtle."

           "It’safunnything,"thepreachersaid."Iwasthinkin’aboutol’TomJoadwhenyoucomealong.Thinkin’I’dcallinonhim.Iusedtothinkhewasagodlessman.HowisTom?"

           "Idon’tknowhowheis.Iain’tbeenhomeinfouryears."

           "Didn’thewritetoyou?"

           Joadwasembarrassed."Well,Pawasn’tnohandtowriteforpretty,ortowriteforwritin’.He’dsignuphisnameasniceasanybody,an’lickhispencil.