Гроздья гнева

           Maopenedthedoorofthehouseandsteppedinside.Thefloorwassplashedwithgrease.Intheoneroomstoodarustytinstoveandnothingmore.Thetinstoverestedonfourbricksanditsrustystovepipewentupthroughtheroof.Theroomsmelledofsweatandgrease.RoseofSharonstoodbesideMa.«Wegonnalivehere?»

           Mawassilentforamoment.«Whysure,"shesaidatlast.«Itain’tsobadoncewewashitout.Gethermopped.»

           «Ilikethetentbetter,"thegirlsaid.«Thisgotafloor,"Masuggested.«Thisherewouldn’leakwhenitrains.»Sheturnedtothedoor.«Mightaswellunload,"shesaid.

           Themenunloadedthetrucksilently.Afearhadfallenonthem.Thegreatsquareofboxeswassilent.Awomanwentbyinthestreet,butshedidnotlookatthem.Herheadwassunkandherdirtyginghamdresswasfrayedatthebottominlittleflags.

           ThepallhadfallenonRuthieandWinfield.Theydidnotdashawaytoinspecttheplace.Theystayedclosetothetruck,closetothefamily.Theylookedforlornlyupanddownthedustystreet.Winfieldfoundapieceofbalingwireandhebentitbackandforthuntilitbroke.Hemadealittlecrankoftheshortestpieceandturneditaroundandaroundinhishands.

           TomandPawerecarryingthemattressesintothehousewhenaclerkappeared.Heworekhakitrousersandablueshirtandablacknecktie.Heworesilver-boundeyeglasses,andhiseyes,throughthethicklenses,wereweakandred,andthepupilswerestaringlittlebull’seyes.HeleanedforwardtolookatTom.