О мышах и людях

           Thenhemadehisbedupneatlywithblankets.Theoldmansaid,«Iguesstheboss’llbeouthereinaminute.Hewassureburnedwhenyouwasn’therethismorning.Comerightinwhenwewaseatin’breakfastandsays,‘Wherethehell’sthemnewmen?’An’hegivethestablebuckhell,too.»

           Georgepattedawrinkleoutofhisbed,andsatdown.«Givethestablebuckhell?»heasked.

           «Sure.Yaseethestablebuck’sanigger.»

           «Nigger,huh?»

           «Yeah.Nicefellatoo.Gotacrookedbackwhereahorsekickedhim.Thebossgiveshimhellwhenhe’smad.Butthestablebuckdon’tgiveadamnaboutthat.Hereadsalot.Gotbooksinhisroom.»

           «Whatkindofaguyistheboss?»Georgeasked.

           «Well,he’saprettynicefella.Getsprettymadsometimes,buthe’sprettynice.Tellyawhat—knowwhathedoneChristmas?Brangagallonofwhiskyrightinhereandsays,‘Drinkhearty,boys.Christmascomesbutonceayear.’"

           «Thehellhedid!Wholegallon?»

           «Yessir.Jesus,wehadfun.Theylettheniggercomeinthatnight.LittleskinnernameofSmittytookafterthenigger.Doneprettygood,too.Theguyswouldn’tlethimusehisfeet,sotheniggergothim.Ifhecouldausedhisfeet,Smittysayshewouldakilledthenigger.Theguyssaidonaccountofthenigger’sgotacrookedback,Smittycan’tusehisfeet.»Hepausedinrelishofthememory.«AfterthattheguyswentintoSoledadandraisedhell.Ididn’tgointhere.Iain’tgotthepoopnomore.»