О мышах и людях

           Theoldswampershiftedhisbroomandhelditbetweenhiselbowandhissidewhileheheldouthishandforthecan.Hestudiedthelabelcarefully.«Tellyouwhat—"hesaidfinally,«lastguythathadthisbedwasablacksmith—hellofanicefellaandascleanaguyasyouwanttomeet.Usedtowashhishandsevenafterheate.»

           «Thenhowcomehegotgraybacks?»Georgewasworkingupaslowanger.Lennieputhisbindleontheneighboringbunkandsatdown.HewatchedGeorgewithopenmouth.

           «Tellyouwhat,"saidtheoldswamper.«Thishereblacksmith—nameofWhitey—wasthekindofguythatwouldputthatstuffaroundeveniftherewasn’tnobugs—justtomakesure,see?Tellyouwhatheusedtodo—Atmealshe’dpeelhisboil’potatoes,an’he’dtakeoutever’littlespot,nomatterwhatkind,beforehe’deatit.Andiftherewasaredsplotchonanegg,he’dscrapeitoff.Finallyquitaboutthefood.That’sthekindaguyhewas—clean.UsedtadressupSundaysevenwhenhewasn’tgoingnoplace,putonanecktieeven,andthensetinthebunkhouse.»

           «Iain’tsosure,"saidGeorgeskeptically.«Whatdidyousayhequitfor?»

           Theoldmanputtheyellowcaninhispocket,andherubbedhisbristlywhitewhiskerswithhisknuckles.«Why...he...justquit,thewayaguywill.Saysitwasthefood.Justwantedtomove.Didn’tgivenootherreasonbutthefood.Justsays‘gimmemytime’onenight,thewayanyguywould.»

           Georgeliftedhistickandlookedunderneathit.Heleanedoverandinspectedthesackingclosely.ImmediatelyLenniegotupanddidthesamewithhisbed.FinallyGeorgeseemedsatisfied.Heunrolledhisbindleandputthingsontheshelf,hisrazorandbarofsoap,hiscombandbottleofpills,hislinimentandleatherwristband.