Гроздья гнева
Chapter 26
«Gottopickeasier.Can’tdrop’eminthebucket.Gottolay’emin.»
Theystartedagain,andthistimetheyhandledthefruitgently.Theboxesfilledmoreslowly.«Wecouldfiggersomepinout,Ibet,"Tomsaid.«IfRuthiean’Winfiel’orRosasharnjus’put’emintheboxes,wecouldworkoutasystem.»Hecarriedhisnewestboxtothestation.«Isthishereworthanickel?»
Thecheckerlookedthemover,dugdownseverallayers.«That’sbetter,"hesaid.Hecheckedtheboxin.«Justtakeiteasy.»Tomhurriedback.«Igotanickel,"hecalled.«Igotanickel.On’ygottodothattheretwentytimesforadollar.»
Theyworkedonsteadilythroughtheafternoon.RuthieandWinfieldfoundthemafterawhile.«Yougottowork,"Patoldthem.«Yougottoputthepeachescarefulinthebox.Here,now,oneatatime.»
Thechildrensquatteddownandpickedthepeachesoutoftheextrabucket,andalineofbucketsstoodreadyforthem.Tomcarriedthefullboxestothestation.«That’sseven,"hesaid.«That’seight.Fortycentswegot.Getanicepieceofmeatforfortycents.»
Theafternoonpassed.Ruthietriedtogoaway.«I’mtar’d,"shewhined.«Igottorest.»
«Yougottostayrightwhereyou’reat,"saidPa.UncleJohnpickedslowly.HefilledonebuckettotwoofTom’s.
Hispacedidn’tchange.Inmid-afternoonMacametrudgingout.«Iwouldacomebefore,butRosasharnfainted,"shesaid.«Jes’faintedaway.»
«Youbeeneatin’peaches,"shesaidtothechildren.«Well,they’llblastyouout.»
