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Chapter 26
Andalittlegrocerystorestoodontheotherside.Attheendofeachrowofsquarehousesstoodtwomenarmedwithshotgunsandwearingbigsilverstarspinnedtotheirshirts.
Thesixcarsstopped.Twobookkeepersmovedfromcartocar.«Wanttowork?»Tomanswered,«Sure,butwhatisthis?»
«That’snotyouraffair.Wanttowork?»
«Surewedo.»
«Name?»
«Joad.»
«Howmanymen?»
«Four.»
«Women?»
«Two.»
«Kids?»
«Two.»
«Canallofyouwork?»
«Why—Iguessso.»
«O.K.Findhousesixty-three.Wagesfivecentsabox.Nobruisedfruit.Allright,movealongnow.Gotoworkrightaway.»
Thecarsmovedon.Onthedoorofeachsquareredhouseanumberwaspainted.«Sixty,"Tomsaid.«There’ssixty.Mustbedownthatway.There,sixty-one,sixty-two—Theresheis.»
Alparkedthetruckclosetothedoorofthelittlehouse.Thefamilycamedownfromthetopofthetruckandlookedaboutinbewilderment.Twodeputiesapproached.Theylookedcloselyintoeachface.
«Name?»
«Joad,"Tomsaidimpatiently.«Say,whatisthishere?»Oneofthedeputiestookoutalonglist.«Nothere.Everseethesehere?Lookatthelicense.Nope.Ain’tgotit.Guessthey’reO.K.»
«Nowyoulookhere.Wedon’twantnotroublewithyou.Jes’doyourworkandmindyourownbusinessandyou’llbeallright.»Thetwoturnedabruptlyandwalkedaway.Attheendofthedustystreettheysatdownontwoboxesandtheirpositioncommandedthelengthofthestreet.
Tomstaredafterthem.«Theysuredowantamakeusfeelathome.»
