О мышах и людях

           «Wegonnahavealittleplace,"Lennieexplainedpatiently.«Wegonnahaveahousean’agardenandaplaceforalfalfa,an’thatalfalfaisfortherabbits,an’ItakeasackandgetitallfullaalfalfaandthenItakeittotherabbits.»

           Sheasked,«Whatmakesyousonutsaboutrabbits?»

           Lenniehadtothinkcarefullybeforehecouldcometoaconclusion.Hemovedcautiouslyclosetoher,untilhewasrightagainsther.«Iliketopetnicethings.OnceatafairIseensomeofthemlong-hairrabbits.An’theywasnice,youbet.SometimesI’veevenpetmice,butnotwhenIcouldn’tgetnothingbetter.»

           Curley’swifemovedawayfromhimalittle.«Ithinkyou’renuts,"shesaid.

           «NoIain’t,"Lennieexplainedearnestly.«GeorgesaysIain’t.Iliketopetnicethingswithmyfingers,sof’things.»

           Shewasalittlebitreassured.«Well,whodon’t?»shesaid.«Ever’bodylikesthat.Iliketofeelsilkan’velvet.Doyouliketofeelvelvet?»

           Lenniechuckledwithpleasure.«Youbet,byGod,"hecriedhappily.«An’Ihadsome,too.Aladygivemesome,an’thatladywas—myownAuntClara.Shegiveitrighttome—‘boutthisbigapiece.IwishtIhadthatvelvetrightnow.»Afrowncameoverhisface.«Ilostit,"hesaid.«Iain’tseenitforalongtime.»

           Curley’swifelaughedathim.«You’renuts,"shesaid.«Butyou’reakindanicefella.Jus’likeabigbaby.Butapersoncanseekindawhatyoumean.WhenI’mdoin’myhairsometimesIjus’setan’strokeit‘causeit’ssosoft.»Toshowhowshedidit,sheranherfingersoverthetopofherhead.«Somepeoplegotkindacoarsehair,"shesaidcomplacently.