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Chapter 24
«Well,shemight’swellgivehimup.He’sprob’lystudyin’tobePresidentoftheUnitedStatesbynow.»
«Don’tworryher,"Masaid.«Sheain’tgotnoeasyrowtohoe.»WillieEatonmovednear,andhegrinnedandsaid,«YouTomJoad?»
«Yeah.»
«Well,I’mChairmantheEntertainmentCommittee.Wegonnaneedyou.Fellatol’me’boutyou.»
«Sure,I’llplaywithyou,"saidTom.«Thishere’sMa.»
«Howdy,"saidWillie.«Gladtomeetya.»Williesaid,«Gonnaputyouonthegatetostart,an’thenonthefloor.Wantyatolookovertheguyswhentheycomein,an’trytospot’em.You’llbewithanotherfella.ThenlaterIwantyatodancean’watch.»
«Yeah!Icandothatawright,"saidTom.Masaidapprehensively,«Theyain’tnotrouble?»
«No,ma’am,"Williesaid.«Theyain’tgonnabenotrouble.»
«Noneatall,"saidTom.«Well,I’llcome’long.Seeyouatthedance,Ma.»Thetwoyoungmenwalkedquicklyawaytowardthemaingate.Mapiledthewasheddishesonabox.«Comeonout,"shecalled,andwhentherewasnoanswer,«Rosasharn,youcomeout.»Thegirlsteppedfromthetent,andshewentonwiththedish-wiping.«Tomwason’yjollyin’ya.»
«Iknow.Ididn’tmind;on’yIhatetohavefolkslookatme.»
«Ain’tnowaytohe’pthat.Folksgonnalook.Butitmakesfolkshappytoseeagirlinafamblyway—makesfolkssortofgigglyan’happy.Ain’tyoua-goin’tothedance?»
«Iwas—butIdon’know.IwishtConniewashere.»Hervoicerose.«Ma,Iwishthewashere.
