О мышах и людях

           NoiselesslyLennieappearedintheopendoorwayandstoodtherelookingin,hisbigshouldersnearlyfillingtheopening.ForamomentCrooksdidnotseehim,butonraisinghiseyeshestiffenedandascowlcameonhisface.Hishandcameoutfromunderhisshirt.

           Lenniesmiledhelplesslyinanattempttomakefriends.

           Crookssaidsharply,«Yougotnorighttocomeinmyroom.Thishere’smyroom.Nobodygotanyrightinherebutme.»

           Lenniegulpedandhissmilegrewmorefawning.«Iain’tdoingnothing,"hesaid.«Justcometolookatmypuppy.AndIseenyourlight,"heexplained.

           «Well,Igotarighttohavealight.Yougoongetoutamyroom.Iain’twantedinthebunkhouse,andyouain’twantedinmyroom.»

           «Whyain’tyouwanted?»Lennieasked.

           «’CauseI’mblack.Theyplaycardsinthere,butIcan’tplaybecauseI’mblack.TheysayIstink.Well,Itellyou,youallofyoustinktome.»

           Lennieflappedhisbighandshelplessly.«Ever’bodywentintotown,"hesaid.«Sliman’Georgean’ever’body.GeorgesaysIgottastayherean’notgetinnotrouble.Iseenyourlight.»

           «Well,whatdoyouwant?»

           «Nothing—Iseenyourlight.IthoughtIcouldjus’comeinan’set.»

           CrooksstaredatLennie,andhereachedbehindhimandtookdownthespectaclesandadjustedthemoverhispinkearsandstaredagain.«Idon’tknowwhatyou’redoin’inthebarnanyway,"hecomplained.