О мышах и людях

           Georgeasked,«DidyouseeSlimoutinthebarn?»

           «SureIdid.Hetol’meIbetternotpetthatpupnomore.»

           «Didyouseethatgirl?»

           «YoumeanCurley’sgirl?»

           «Yeah.Didshecomeinthebarn?»

           «No.AnywaysIneverseenher.»

           «YouneverseenSlimtalkin’toher?»

           «Uh-uh.Sheain’tbeeninthebarn.»

           «O.K.,"saidGeorge.«Iguessthemguysain’tgonnaseenofight.Ifthere’sanyfightin’,Lennie,youkeepoutofit.»

           «Idon’twantnofights,"saidLennie.Hegotupfromhisbunkandsatdownatthetable,acrossfromGeorge.AlmostautomaticallyGeorgeshuffledthecardsandlaidouthissolitairehand.Heusedadeliberate,thoughtfulslowness.

           Lenniereachedforafacecardandstudiedit,thenturneditupsidedownandstudiedit.«Bothendsthesame,"hesaid.«George,whyisitbothendsthesame?»

           «Idon’tknow,"saidGeorge.«That’sjus’thewaytheymake‘em.WhatwasSlimdoin’inthebarnwhenyouseenhim?»

           «Slim?»

           «Sure.Youseenhiminthebarn,an’hetol’younottopetthepupssomuch.»