Chapter 26

           Intheweedpatchcamp,onaneveningwhenthelong,barredcloudshungoverthesetsunandinflamedtheiredges,theJoadfamilylingeredaftertheirsupper.Mahesitatedbeforeshestartedtodothedishes.

           «Wegottodosomepin,"shesaid.AndshepointedatWinfield.«Lookat’im,"shesaid.Andwhentheystaredatthelittleboy,«He’sa-jerkin’an’a-twistin’inhissleep.Lookuthiscolor.»Themembersofthefamilylookedattheearthagaininshame.«Frieddough,"Masaid.«Onemonthwebeenhere.An’Tomhadfivedays’work.An’therestofyouscrabblin’outever’day,an’nowork.An’scairttotalk.An’themoneygone.You’rescairttotalkitout.Ever’nightyoujes’eat,thenyougetwanderin’away.Can’tbeartotalkitout.Well,yougotto.Rosasharnain’tfarfromdue,an’lookuthercolor.Yougottotalkitout.Nowdon’tnoneofyougetuptillwefiggersomepinout.Oneday’moregreasean’twodays’flour,an’tenpotatoes.Yousetherean’getbusy!»

           Theylookedattheground.Pacleanedhisthicknailswithhispocketknife.UncleJohnpickedatasplinterontheboxhesaton.Tompinchedhislowerlipandpulleditawayfromhisteeth.

           Hereleasedhislipandsaidsoftly,«Webeena-lookin’,Ma.Beenwalkin’outsencewecan’tusethegasnomore.Beengoin’inever’gate,walkin’uptoever’house,evenwhenweknowedtheywasn’tgonnabenothin’.Putsaweightonya.Goin’outlookin’forsomepinyouknowyouain’tgonnafind.»