Chapter 28

           Theboxcars,twelveofthem,stoodendtoendonalittleflatbesidethestream.Thereweretworowsofsixeach,thewheelsremoved.Uptothebigslidingdoorsslattedplanksranforcat-walks.Theymadegoodhouses,water-tightanddraftless,roomfortwenty-fourfamilies,onefamilyineachendofeachcar.Nowindows,butthewidedoorsstoodopen.Insomeofthecarsacanvashungdowninthecenterofthecar,whileinothersonlythepositionofthedoormadetheboundary.

           TheJoadshadoneendofanendcar.Somepreviousoccupanthadfittedupanoilcanwithastovepipe,hadmadeaholeinthewallforthestovepipe.Evenwiththewidedooropen,itwasdarkintheendsofthecar.Mahungthetarpaulinacrossthemiddleofthecar.

           «It’snice,"shesaid.«It’salmostnicerthananythingwehad’ceptthegov’mentcamp.»

           Eachnightsheunrolledthemattressesonthefloor,andeachmorningrolledthemupagain.Andeverydaytheywentintothefieldsandpickedthecotton,andeverynighttheyhadmeat.OnaSaturdaytheydroveintoTulare,andtheyboughtatinstoveandnewoverallsforAlandPaandWinfieldandUncleJohn,andtheyboughtadressforMaandgaveMa’sbestdresstoRoseofSharon.

           «She’ssobig,"Masaid.«Jus’awasteofgoodmoneytogetheranewdressnow.»

           TheJoadshadbeenlucky.Theygotinearlyenoughtohaveaplaceintheboxcars.Nowthetentsofthelate-comersfilledthelittleflat,andthosewhohadtheboxcarswereold-timers,andinawayaristocrats.