О мышах и людях

           Lenniespokecraftily,«Tellme—likeyoudonebefore.»

           «Tellyouwhat?»

           «Abouttherabbits.»

           Georgesnapped,«Youain’tgonnaputnothingoveronme.»

           Lenniepleaded,«Comeon,George.Tellme.Please,George.Likeyoudonebefore.»

           «Yougetakickoutathat,don’tyou?Awright,I’lltellyou,andthenwe’lleatoursupper...»

           George’svoicebecamedeeper.Herepeatedhiswordsrhythmicallyasthoughhehadsaidthemmanytimesbefore.«Guyslikeus,thatworkonranches,aretheloneliestguysintheworld.Theygotnofambly.Theydon’tbelongnoplace.Theycometoaranchan’workupastakeandthentheygointotownandblowtheirstake,andthefirstthingyouknowthey’repoundin’theirtailonsomeotherranch.Theyain’tgotnothingtolookaheadto.»

           Lenniewasdelighted.«That’sit—that’sit.Nowtellhowitiswithus.»

           Georgewenton.«Withusitain’tlikethat.Wegotafuture.Wegotsomebodytotalktothatgivesadamnaboutus.Wedon’thavetosit-innobarroomblowin’inourjackjus’becausewegotnoplaceelsetogo.Ifthemotherguysgetsinjailtheycanrotforallanybodygivesadamn.Butnotus.»

           Lenniebrokein.«Butnotus!An’why?Because...becauseIgotyoutolookafterme,andyougotmetolookafteryou,andthat’swhy.»Helaugheddelightedly.«Goonnow,George!»