О мышах и людях

           Likeshesayswhenwecomeuponthefrontporchlas’Sat’daynight.Susyopensthedoorandthensheyellsoverhershoulder,‘Getyorcoatson,girls,herecomesthesheriff.’Shenevertalksdirty,neither.Gotfivegirlsthere.»

           «What’sitsetyouback?»Georgeasked.

           «Twoan’ahalf.Youcangetashotfortwobits.Susygotnicechairstosetin,too.Ifaguydon’twantaflop,whyhecanjustsetinthechairsandhaveacoupleorthreeshotsandpassthetimeofdayandSusydon’tgiveadamn.Sheain’trushin’guysthroughandkickin’‘emoutiftheydon’twantaflop.»

           «Mightgoinandlookthejointover,"saidGeorge.

           «Sure.Comealong.It’sahellofalotoffun—hercrackin’jokesallthetime.Likeshesaysonetime,shesays,‘I’veknewpeoplethatiftheygotaragrugontheflooran’akewpiedolllamponthephonographtheythinkthey’rerunningaparlorhouse.’That’sClara’shouseshe’stalkin’about.An’Susysays,‘Iknowwhatyouboyswant,’shesays.‘Mygirlsisclean,’shesays,‘an’thereain’tnowaterinmywhisky,’shesays.‘Ifanyyouguyswantalookatakewpiedolllampan’takeyourownchancegettin’burned,whyyouknowwheretogo.’An’shesays,‘There’sguysaroundherewalkin’bow-legged‘causetheyliketolookatakewpiedolllamp.’"

           Georgeasked,«Clararunstheotherhouse,huh?»

           «Yeah,"saidWhit.«Wedon’tnevergothere.Claragetsthreebucksacrackandthirty-fivecentsashot,andshedon’tcracknojokes.ButSusy’splaceiscleanandshegotnicechairs.Don’tletnogoo-goosin,neither.»

           «Mean’Lennie’srollin’upastake,"saidGeorge.«Imightgoinan’setandhaveashot,butIain’tputtin’outnotwoandahalf.»