1In the Weedpatch camp, on an evening when the long, barred clouds hung over the set sun and inflamed their edges, the Joad family lingered after their supper. Ma hesitated before she started to do the dishes.

2“We got to do somepin,” she said. And she pointed at Winfield. “Look at ’im,” she said. And when they stared at the little boy, “He’s a-jerkin’ an’ a-twistin’ in his sleep. Lookut his color.” The members of the family looked at the earth again in shame. “Fried dough,” Ma said. “One month we been here. An’ Tom had five days’ work. An’ the rest of you scrabblin’ out ever’ day, an’ no work. An’ scairt to talk. An’ the money gone. You’re scairt to talk it out. Ever’ night you jus’ eat, an’ then you get wanderin’ away. Can’t bear to talk it out. Well, you got to. Rosasharn ain’t far from due, an’ lookut her color. You got to talk it out. Now don’t none of you get up till we figger somepin out. One day’ more grease an’ two days’ flour, an’ ten potatoes. You set here an’ get busy!”

3They looked at the ground. Pa cleaned his thick nails with his pocket knife. Uncle John picked at a splinter on the box he sat on. Tom pinched his lower lip and pulled it away from his teeth.

4He released his lip and said softly, “We been a-lookin’, Ma. Been walkin’ out sence we can’t use the gas no more. Been goin’ in ever’ gate, walkin’ up to ever’ house, even when we knowed they wasn’t gonna be nothin’. Puts a weight on ya. Goin’ out lookin’ for somepin you know you ain’t gonna find.”

5Ma said fiercely, “You ain’t got the right to get discouraged. This here fambly’s goin’ under. You jus’ ain’t got the right.”

6Pa inspected his scraped nail. “We gotta go,” he said. “We didn’ wanta go. It’s nice here, an’ folks is nice here. We’re feared we’ll have to go live in one a them Hoovervilles.”

7“Well, if we got to, we got to. First thing is, we got to eat.”

8Al broke in. “I got a tankful a gas in the truck. I didn’ let nobody get into that.”

9Tom smiled. “This here Al got a lot of sense along with he’s randy-pandy.”

10“Now you figger,” Ma said. “I ain’t watchin’ this here fambly starve no more. One day’ more grease. That’s what we got. Come time for Rosasharn to lay in, she got to be fed up. You figger!”

11“This here hot water an’ toilets—” Pa began.

12“Well, we can’t eat no toilets.”

13Tom said, “They was a fella come by today lookin’ for men to go to Marysville. Pickin’ fruit.”

14“Well, why don’ we go to Marysville?” Ma demanded.

15“I dunno,” said Tom. “Didn’ seem right, somehow. He was so anxious. Wouldn’ say how much the pay was. Said he didn’ know exactly.”

16Ma said, “We’re a-goin’ to Marysville. I don’ care what the pay is. We’re a-goin’.”

17“It’s too far,” said Tom. “We ain’t got the money for gasoline. We couldn’ get there. Ma, you say we got to figger. I ain’t done nothin’ but figger the whole time.”

18Uncle John said, “Feller says they’s cotton a-comin’ in up north, near a place called Tulare. That ain’t very far, the feller says.”

19“Well, we got to git goin’, an’ goin’ quick. I ain’t a-settin’ here no longer, no matter how nice.” Ma took up her bucket and walked toward the sanitary unit for hot water.

20“Ma gets tough,” Tom said. “I seen her a-gettin’ mad quite a piece now. She jus’ boils up.”

21Pa said with relief, “Well, she brang it into the open, anyways. I been layin’ at night a-burnin’ my brains up. Now we can talk her out, anyways.”

22Ma came back with her bucket of steaming water. “Well,” she demanded, “figger anything out?”

23“Jus’ workin’ her over,” said Tom. “Now s’pose we jus’ move up north where that cotton’s at. We been over this here country. We know they ain’t nothin’ here. S’pose we pack up an’ shove north. Then when the cotton’s ready, we’ll be there. I kinda like to get my han’s aroun’ some cotton. You got a full tank, Al?”

24“Almos’—’bout two inches down.”

25“Should get us up to that place.”

26Ma poised a dish over the bucket. “Well?” she demanded.

27Tom said, “You win. We’ll move on, I guess. Huh, Pa?”

28“Guess we got to,” Pa said.

29Ma glanced at him. “When?”

30“Well—no need waitin’. Might’s well go in the mornin’.”

31“We got to go in the mornin’. I tol’ you what’s lef’.”

32“Now, Ma, don’ think I don’ wanta go. I ain’t had a good gutful to eat in two weeks. ’Course I filled up, but I didn’ take no good from it.”

33Ma plunged the dish into the bucket. “We’ll go in the mornin’,” she said.

34Pa sniffled. “Seems like times is changed,” he said sarcastically. “Time was when a man said what we’d do. Seems like women is tellin’ now. Seems like it’s purty near time to get out a stick.”

35Ma put the clean dripping tin dish out on a box. She smiled down at her work. “You get your stick, Pa,” she said. “Times when they’s food an’ a place to set, then maybe you can use your stick an’ keep your skin whole. But you ain’t a-doin’ your job, either a-thinkin’ or a-workin’. If you was, why, you could use your stick, an’ women folks’d sniffle their nose an’ creep-mouse aroun’. But you jus’ get you a stick now an’ you ain’t lickin’ no woman; you’re a-fightin’, ’cause I got a stick all laid out too.”

36Pa grinned with embarrassment. “Now it ain’t good to have the little fellas hear you talkin’ like that,” he said.

37“You get some bacon inside the little fellas ’fore you come tellin’ what else is good for ’em,” said Ma.

38Pa got up in disgust and moved away, and Uncle John followed him.

39Ma’s hands were busy in the water, but she watched them go, and she said proudly to Tom, “He’s all right. He ain’t beat. He’s like as not to take a smack at me.”

40Tom laughed. “You jus’ a-treadin’ him on?”

41“Sure,” said Ma. “Take a man, he can get worried an’ worried, an’ it eats out his liver, an’ purty soon he’ll jus’ lay down and die with his heart et out. But if you can take an’ make ’im mad, why, he’ll be awright. Pa, he didn’ say nothin’, but he’s mad now. He’ll show me now. He’s awright.”

42Al got up. “I’m gonna walk down the row,” he said.

43“Better see the truck’s ready to go,” Tom warned him.

44“She’s ready.”

45“If she ain’t, I’ll turn Ma on ya.”

46“She’s ready.” Al strolled jauntily along the row of tents.

47Tom sighed. “I’m a-gettin’ tired, Ma. How ’bout makin’ me mad?”

48“You got more sense, Tom. I don’ need to make you mad. I got to lean on you. Them others—they’re kinda strangers, all but you. You won’t give up, Tom.”

49The job fell on him. “I don’ like it,” he said. “I wanta go out like Al. An’ I wanta get mad like Pa, an’ I wanta get drunk like Uncle John.”

50Ma shook her head. “You can’t, Tom. I know. I knowed from the time you was a little fella. You can’t. They’s some folks that’s just theirself an’ nothin’ more. There’s Al—he’s jus’ a young fella after a girl. You wasn’t never like that, Tom.”

51“Sure I was,” said Tom. “Still am.”

52“No you ain’t. Ever’thing you do is more’n you. When they sent you up to prison I knowed it. You’re spoke for.”

53“Now, Ma—cut it out. It ain’t true. It’s all in your head.”

54She stacked the knives and forks on top of the plates. “Maybe. Maybe it’s in my head. Rosasharn, you wipe up these here an’ put ’em away.”

55The girl got breathlessly to her feet and her swollen middle hung out in front of her. She moved sluggishly to the box and picked up a washed dish.

56Tom said, “Gettin’ so tightful it’s a-pullin’ her eyes wide.”

57“Don’t you go a-jollyin’,” said Ma. “She’s doin’ good. You go ’long an’ say goo’-by to anybody you wan’.”

58“O.K.,” he said. “I’m gonna see how far it is up there.”

59Ma said to the girl, “He ain’t sayin’ stuff like that to make you feel bad. Where’s Ruthie an’ Winfiel’?”

60“They snuck off after Pa. I seen ’em.”

61“Well, leave ’em go.”

62Rose of Sharon moved sluggishly about her work. Ma inspected her cautiously. “You feelin’ pretty good? Your cheeks is kinda saggy.”

63“I ain’t had milk like they said I ought.”

64“I know. We jus’ didn’ have no milk.”

65Rose of Sharon said dully, “Ef Connie hadn’ went away, we’d a had a little house by now, with him studyin’ an’ all. Would a got milk like I need. Would a had a nice baby. This here baby ain’t gonna be no good. I ought a had milk.” She reached in her apron pocket and put something into her mouth.

66Ma said, “I seen you nibblin’ on somepin. What you eatin’?”

67“Nothin’.”

68“Come on, what you nibblin’ on?”

69“Jus’ a piece a slack lime. Foun’ a big hunk.”

70“Why, tha’s jus’ like eatin’ dirt.”

71“I kinda feel like I wan’ it.”

72Ma was silent. She spread her knees and tightened her skirt. “I know,” she said at last. “I et coal oncet when I was in a fambly way. Et a big piece a coal. Granma says I shouldn’. Don’ you say that about the baby. You got no right even to think it.”

73“Got no husban’! Got no milk!”

74Ma said, “If you was a well girl, I’d take a whang at you. Right in the face.” She got up and went inside the tent. She came out and stood in front of Rose of Sharon, and she held out her hand. “Look!” The small gold earrings were in her hand. “These is for you.”

75The girl’s eyes brightened for a moment, and then she looked aside. “I ain’t pierced.”

76“Well, I’m a-gonna pierce ya.” Ma hurried back into the tent. She came back with a cardboard box. Hurriedly she threaded a needle, doubled the thread and tied a series of knots in it. She threaded a second needle and knotted the thread. In the box she found a piece of cork.

77“It’ll hurt. It’ll hurt.”

78Ma stepped to her, put the cork in back of the ear lobe and pushed the needle through the ear, into the cork.

79The girl twitched. “It sticks. It’ll hurt.”

80“No more’n that.”

81“Yes, it will.”

82“Well, then. Le’s see the other ear first.” She placed the cork and pierced the other ear.

83“It’ll hurt.”

84“Hush!” said Ma. “It’s all done.”

85Rose of Sharon looked at her in wonder. Ma clipped the needles off and pulled one knot of each thread through the lobes.

86“Now,” she said. “Ever’ day we’ll pull one knot, and in a couple weeks it’ll be all well an’ you can wear ’em. Here—they’re your’n now. You can keep ’em.”

87Rose of Sharon touched her ears tenderly and looked at the tiny spots of blood on her fingers. “It didn’ hurt. Jus’ stuck a little.”

88“You oughta been pierced long ago,” said Ma. She looked at the girl’s face, and she smiled in triumph. “Now get them dishes all done up. Your baby gonna be a good baby. Very near let you have a baby without your ears was pierced. But you’re safe now.”

89“Does it mean somepin?”

90“Why, ’course it does,” said Ma. “ ’Course it does.”

91Al strolled down the street toward the dancing platform. Outside a neat little tent he whistled softly, and then moved along the street. He walked to the edge of the grounds and sat down in the grass.

92The clouds over the west had lost the red edging now, and the cores were black. Al scratched his legs and looked toward the evening sky.

93In a few moments a blond girl walked near; she was pretty and sharp-featured. She sat down in the grass beside him and did not speak. Al put his hand on her waist and walked his fingers around.

94“Don’t,” she said. “You tickle.”

95“We’re goin’ away tomorra,” said Al.

96She looked at him, startled. “Tomorra? Where?”

97“Up north,” he said lightly.

98“Well, we’re gonna git married, ain’t we?”

99“Sure, sometime.”

100“You said purty soon!” she cried angrily.

101“Well, soon is when soon comes.”

102“You promised.” He walked his fingers around farther. “Git away,” she cried. “You said we was.”

103“Well, sure we are.”

104“An’ now you’re goin’ away.”

105Al demanded, “What’s the matter with you? You in a fambly way?”

106“No, I ain’t.”

107Al laughed. “I jus’ been wastin’ my time, huh?”

108Her chin shot out. She jumped to her feet. “You git away from me, Al Joad. I don’ wanta see you no more.”

109“Aw, come on. What’s the matter?”

110“You think you’re jus’—hell on wheels.”

111“Now wait a minute.”

112“You think I got to go out with you. Well, I don’t! I got lots a chances.”

113“Now wait a minute.”

114“No, sir—you git away.”

115Al lunged suddenly, caught her by the ankle, and tripped her. He grabbed her when she fell and held her and put his hand over her angry mouth. She tried to bite his palm, but he cupped it out over her mouth, and he held her down with his other arm. And in a moment she lay still, and in another moment they were giggling together in the dry grass.

116“Why, we’ll be a-comin’ back purty soon,” said Al. “An’ I’ll have a pocketful a jack. We’ll go down to Hollywood an’ see the pitchers.”

117She was lying on her back. Al bent over her. And he saw the bright evening star reflected in her eyes, and he saw the black cloud reflected in her eyes. “We’ll go on the train,” he said.

118“How long ya think it’ll be?” she asked.

119“Oh, maybe a month,” he said.

120The evening dark came down and Pa and Uncle John squatted with the heads of families out by the office. They studied the night and the future. The little manager, in his white clothes, frayed and clean, rested his elbows on the porch rail. His face was drawn and tired.

121Huston looked up at him. “You better get some sleep, mister.”

122“I guess I ought. Baby born last night in Unit Three. I’m getting to be a good midwife.”

123“Fella oughta know,” said Huston. “Married fella got to know.”

124Pa said, “We’re a-gittin’ out in the mornin’.”

125“Yeah? Which way you goin’?”

126“Thought we’d go up north a little. Try to get in the first cotton. We ain’t had work. We’re outa food.”

127“Know if they’s any work?” Huston asked.

128“No, but we’re sure they ain’t none here.”

129“They will be, a little later,” Huston said. “We’ll hold on.”

130“We hate to go,” said Pa. “Folks been so nice here—an’ the toilets an’ all. But we got to eat. Got a tank of gas. That’ll get us a little piece up the road. We had a bath ever’ day here. Never was so clean in my life. Funny thing—use ta be I on’y got a bath ever’ week an’ I never seemed to stink. But now if I don’t get one ever’ day I stink. Wonder if takin’ a bath so often makes that?”

131“Maybe you couldn’t smell yourself before,” the manager said.

132“Maybe. I wisht we could stay.”

133The little manager held his temples between his palms. “I think there’s going to be another baby tonight,” he said.

134“We gonna have one in our fambly ’fore long,” said Pa. “I wisht we could have it here. I sure wisht we could.”

135Tom and Willie and Jule the half-breed sat on the edge of the dance floor and swung their feet.

136“I got a sack of Durham,” Jule said. “Like a smoke?”

137“I sure would,” said Tom. “Ain’t had a smoke for a hell of a time.” He rolled the brown cigarette carefully, to keep down the loss of tobacco.

138“Well, sir, we’ll be sorry to see you go,” said Willy. “You folks is good folks.”

139Tom lighted his cigarette. “I been thinkin’ about it a lot. Jesus Christ, I wisht we could settle down.”

140Jule took back his Durham. “It ain’t nice,” he said. “I got a little girl. Thought when I come out here she’d get some schoolin’. But hell, we ain’t in one place hardly long enough. Jes’ gits goin’ an’ we got to drag on.”

141“I hope we don’t get in no more Hoovervilles,” said Tom. “I was really scairt, there.”

142“Deputies push you aroun’?”

143“I was scairt I’d kill somebody,” said Tom. “Was on’y there a little while, but I was a-stewin’ aroun’ the whole time. Depity come in an’ picked up a frien’, jus’ because he talked outa turn. I was jus’ stewin’ all the time.”

144“Ever been in a strike?” Willie asked.

145“No.”

146“Well, I been a-thinkin’ a lot. Why don’ them depities get in here an’ raise hell like ever’ place else? Think that little guy in the office is a-stoppin’ ’em? No, sir.”

147“Well, what is?” Jule asked.

148“I’ll tell ya. It’s ’cause we’re all a-workin’ together. Depity can’t pick on one fella in this camp. He’s pickin’ on the whole darn camp. An’ he don’t dare. All we got to do is give a yell an’ they’s two hunderd men out. Fella organizin’ for the union was a-talkin’ out on the road. He says we could do that any place. Jus’ stick together. They ain’t raisin’ hell with no two hunderd men. They’re pickin’ on one man.”

149“Yeah,” said Jule, “an’ suppose you got a union? You got to have leaders. They’ll jus’ pick up your leaders, an’ where’s your union?”

150“Well,” said Willie, “we got to figure her out some time. I been out here a year, an’ wages is goin’ right on down. Fella can’t feed his fam’ly on his work now, an’ it’s gettin’ worse all the time. It ain’t gonna do no good to set aroun’ an’ starve. I don’ know what to do. If a fella owns a team a horses, he don’t raise no hell if he got to feed ’em when they ain’t workin’. But if a fella got men workin’ for him, he jus’ don’t give a damn. Horses is a hell of a lot more worth than men. I don’ understan’ it.”

151“Gets so I don’ wanta think about it,” said Jule. “An’ I got to think about it. I got this here little girl. You know how purty she is. One week they give her a prize in this camp ’cause she’s so purty. Well, what’s gonna happen to her? She’s gettin’ spindly. I ain’t gonna stan’ it. She’s so purty. I’m gonna bust out.”

152“How?” Willie asked. “What you gonna do—steal some stuff an’ git in jail? Kill somebody an’ git hung?”

153“I don’ know,” said Jule. “Gits me nuts thinkin’ about it. Gets me clear nuts.”

154“I’m a-gonna miss them dances,” Tom said. “Them was some of the nicest dances I ever seen. Well, I’m gonna turn in. So long. I’ll be seein’ you someplace.” He shook hands.

155“Sure will,” said Jule.

156“Well, so long.” Tom moved away into the darkness.

157In the darkness of the Joad tent Ruthie and Winfield lay on their mattress, and Ma lay beside them. Ruthie whispered, “Ma!”

158“Yeah? Ain’t you asleep yet?”

159“Ma—they gonna have croquet where we’re goin’?”

160“I don’ know. Get some sleep. We want to get an early start.”

161“Well, I wisht we’d stay here where we’re sure we got croquet.”

162“Sh!” said Ma.

163“Ma, Winfiel’ hit a kid tonight.”

164“He shouldn’ of.”

165“I know. I tol’ ’im, but he hit the kid right in the nose an’, Jesus, how the blood run down!”

166“Don’ talk like that. It ain’t a nice way to talk.”

167Winfield turned over. “That kid says we was Okies,” he said in an outraged voice. “He says he wasn’t no Okie ’cause he come from Oregon. Says we was goddamn Okies. I socked him.”

168“Sh! You shouldn’. He can’t hurt you callin’ names.”

169“Well, I won’t let ’im,” Winfield said fiercely.

170“Sh! Get some sleep.”

171Ruthie said, “You oughta seen the blood run down—all over his clothes.”

172Ma reached a hand from under the blanket and snapped Ruthie on the cheek with her finger. The little girl went rigid for a moment, and then dissolved into sniffling, quiet crying.

173In the sanitary unit Pa and Uncle John sat in adjoining compartments. “Might’s well get in a good las’ one,” said Pa. “It’s sure nice. ’Member how the little fellas was so scairt when they flushed ’em the first time?”

174“I wasn’t so easy myself,” said Uncle John. He pulled his overalls neatly up around his knees. “I’m gettin’ bad,” he said. “I feel sin.”

175“You can’t sin none,” said Pa. “You ain’t got no money. Jus’ sit tight. Cos’ you at leas’ two bucks to sin, an’ we ain’t got two bucks amongst us.”

176“Yeah! But I’m a-thinkin’ sin.”

177“Awright. You can think sin for nothin’.”

178“It’s jus’ as bad,” said Uncle John.

179“It’s a whole hell of a lot cheaper,” said Pa.

180“Don’t you go makin’ light of sin.”

181“I ain’t. You jus’ go ahead. You always gets sinful jus’ when hell’s a-poppin’.”

182“I know it,” said Uncle John. “Always was that way. I never tol’ half the stuff I done.”

183“Well, keep it to yaself.”

184“These here nice toilets gets me sinful.”

185“Go out in the bushes then. Come on, pull up ya pants an’ le’s get some sleep.” Pa pulled his overall straps in place and snapped the buckle. He flushed the toilet and watched thoughtfully while the water whirled in the bowl.

186It was still dark when Ma roused her camp. The low night lights shone through the open doors of the sanitary units. From the tents along the road came the assorted snores of the campers.

187Ma said, “Come on, roll out. We got to be on our way. Day’s not far off.” She raised the screechy shade of the lantern and lighted the wick. “Come on, all of you.”

188The floor of the tent squirmed into slow action. Blankets and comforts were thrown back and sleepy eyes squinted blindly at the light. Ma slipped on her dress over the underclothes she wore to bed. “We got no coffee,” she said. “I got a few biscuits. We can eat ’em on the road. Jus’ get up now, an’ we’ll load the truck. Come on now. Don’t make no noise. Don’ wanta wake the neighbors.”

189It was a few moments before they were fully aroused. “Now don’ you get away,” Ma warned the children. The family dressed. The men pulled down the tarpaulin and loaded up the truck. “Make it nice an’ flat,” Ma warned them. They piled the mattress on top of the load and bound the tarpaulin in place over its ridge pole.

190“Awright, Ma,” said Tom. “She’s ready.”

191Ma held a plate of cold biscuits in her hand. “Awright. Here. Each take one. It’s all we got.”

192Ruthie and Winfield grabbed their biscuits and climbed up on the load. They covered themselves with a blanket and went back to sleep, still holding the cold hard biscuits in their hands. Tom got into the driver’s seat and stepped on the starter. It buzzed a little, and then stopped.

193“Goddamn you, Al!” Tom cried. “You let the battery run down.”

194Al blustered, “How the hell was I gonna keep her up if I ain’t got gas to run her?”

195Tom chuckled suddenly. “Well, I don’ know how, but it’s your fault. You got to crank her.”

196“I tell you it ain’t my fault.”

197Tom got out and found the crank under the seat. “It’s my fault,” he said.

198“Gimme that crank,” Al seized it. “Pull down the spark so she don’t take my arm off.”

199“O.K. Twist her tail.”

200Al labored at the crank, around and around. The engine caught, spluttered, and roared as Tom choked the car delicately. He raised the spark and reduced the throttle.

201Ma climbed in beside him. “We woke up ever’body in the camp,” she said.

202“They’ll go to sleep again.”

203Al climbed in on the other side. “Pa ’n’ Uncle John got up top,” he said. “Goin’ to sleep again.”

204Tom drove toward the main gate. The watchman came out of the office and played his flashlight on the truck. “Wait a minute.”

205“What ya want?”

206“You checkin’ out?”

207“Sure.”

208“Well, I got to cross you off.”

209“O.K.”

210“Know which way you’re goin’?”

211“Well, we’re gonna try up north.”

212“Well, good luck,” said the watchman.

213“Same to you. So long.”

214The truck edged slowly over the big hump and into the road. Tom retraced the road he had driven before, past Weedpatch and west until he came to 99, then north on the great paved road, toward Bakersfield. It was growing light when he came into the outskirts of the city.

215Tom said, “Ever’ place you look is restaurants. An’ them places all got coffee. Lookit that all-nighter there. Bet they got ten gallons a coffee in there, all hot!”

216“Aw, shut up,” said Al.

217Tom grinned over at him. “Well, I see you got yaself a girl right off.”

218“Well, what of it?”

219“He’s mean this mornin’, Ma. He ain’t good company.”

220Al said irritably, “I’m goin’ out on my own purty soon. Fella can make his way lot easier if he ain’t got a fambly.”

221Tom said, “You’d have yaself a fambly in nine months. I seen you playin’ aroun’.”

222“Ya crazy,” said Al. “I’d get myself a job in a garage an’ I’d eat in restaurants——”

223“An’ you’d have a wife an’ kid in nine months.”

224“I tell ya I wouldn’.”

225Tom said, “You’re a wise guy, Al. You gonna take some beatin’ over the head.”

226“Who’s gonna do it?”

227“They’ll always be guys to do it,” said Tom.

228“You think jus’ because you——”

229“Now you jus’ stop that,” Ma broke in.

230“I done it,” said Tom. “I was a-badgerin’ him. I didn’ mean no harm, Al. I didn’ know you liked that girl so much.”

231“I don’t like no girls much.”

232“Awright, then, you don’t. You ain’t gonna get no argument out of me.”

233The truck came to the edge of the city. “Look a them hot-dog stan’s—hunderds of ’em,” said Tom.

234Ma said, “Tom! I got a dollar put away. You wan’ coffee bad enough to spen’ it?”

235“No, Ma. I’m jus’ foolin’.”

236“You can have it if you wan’ it bad enough.”

237“I wouldn’ take it.”

238Al said, “Then shut up about coffee.”

239Tom was silent for a time. “Seems like I got my foot in it all the time,” he said. “There’s the road we run up that night.”

240“I hope we don’t never have nothin’ like that again,” said Ma. “That was a bad night.”

241“I didn’ like it none either.”

242The sun rose on their right, and the great shadow of the truck ran beside them, flicking over the fence posts beside the road. They ran on past the rebuilt Hooverville.

243“Look,” said Tom. “They got new people there. Looks like the same place.”

244Al came slowly out of his sullenness. “Fella tol’ me some a them people been burned out fifteen-twenty times. Says they jus’ go hide down the willows an’ then they come out an’ build ’em another weed shack. Jus’ like gophers. Got so use’ to it they don’t even get mad no more, this fella says. They jus’ figger it’s like bad weather.”

245“Sure was bad weather for me that night,” said Tom. They moved up the wide highway. And the sun’s warmth made them shiver. “Gettin’ snappy in the mornin’,” said Tom. “Winter’s on the way. I jus’ hope we can get some money ’fore it comes. Tent ain’t gonna be nice in the winter.”

246Ma sighed, and then she straightened her head. “Tom,” she said, “we gotta have a house in the winter. I tell ya we got to. Ruthie’s awright, but Winfiel’ ain’t so strong. We got to have a house when the rains come. I heard it jus’ rains cats aroun’ here.”

247“We’ll get a house, Ma. You res’ easy. You gonna have a house.”

248“Jus’ so’s it’s got a roof an’ a floor. Jus’ to keep the little fellas off’n the groun’.”

249“We’ll try, Ma.”

250“I don’ wanna worry ya now.”

251“We’ll try, Ma.”

252“I jus’ get panicky sometimes,” she said. “I jus’ lose my spunk.”

253“I never seen you when you lost it.”

254“Nights I do, sometimes.”

255There came a harsh hissing from the front of the truck. Tom grabbed the wheel tight and he thrust the brake down to the floor. The truck bumped to a stop. Tom sighed. “Well, there she is.” He leaned back in the seat. Al leaped out and ran to the right front tire.

256“Great big nail,” he called.

257“We got any tire patch?”

258“No,” said Al. “Used it all up. Got patch, but no glue stuff.”

259Tom turned and smiled sadly at Ma. “You shouldn’ a tol’ about that dollar,” he said. “We’d a fixed her some way.” He got out of the car and went to the flat tire.

260Al pointed to a big nail protruding from the flat casing. “There she is!”

261“If they’s one nail in the county, we run over it.”

262“Is it bad?” Ma called.

263“No, not bad, but we got to fix her.”

264The family piled down from the top of the truck. “Puncture?” Pa asked, and then he saw the tire and was silent.

265Tom moved Ma from the seat and got the can of tire patch from underneath the cushion. He unrolled the rubber patch and took out the tube of cement, squeezed it gently. “She’s almos’ dry,” he said. “Maybe they’s enough. Awright, Al. Block the back wheels. Le’s get her jacked up.”

266Tom and Al worked well together. They put stones behind the wheels, put the jack under the front axle, and lifted the weight off the limp casing. They ripped off the casing. They found the hole, dipped a rag in the gas tank and washed the tube around the hole. And then, while Al held the tube tight over his knee, Tom tore the cement tube in two and spread the little fluid thinly on the rubber with his pocket knife. He scraped the gum delicately. “Now let her dry while I cut a patch.” He trimmed and beveled the edge of the blue patch. Al held the tube tight while Tom put the patch tenderly in place. “There! Now bring her to the running board while I tap her with a hammer.” He pounded the patch carefully, then stretched the tube and watched the edges of the patch. “There she is! She’s gonna hold. Stick her on the rim an’ we’ll pump her up. Looks like you keep your buck, Ma.”

267Al said, “I wisht we had a spare. We got to get us a spare, Tom, on a rim an’ all pumped up. Then we can fix a puncture at night.”

268“When we get money for a spare we’ll get us some coffee an’ side-meat instead,” Tom said.

269The light morning traffic buzzed by on the highway, and the sun grew warm and bright. A wind, gentle and sighing, blew in puffs from the southwest, and the mountains on both sides of the great valley were indistinct in a pearly mist.

270Tom was pumping at the tire when a roadster, coming from the north, stopped on the other side of the road. A brown-faced man dressed in a light gray business suit got out and walked across to the truck. He was bare-headed. He smiled, and his teeth were very white against his brown skin. He wore a massive gold wedding ring on the third finger of his left hand. A little gold football hung on a slender chain across his vest.

271“Morning,” he said pleasantly.

272Tom stopped pumping and looked up. “Mornin’.”

273The man ran his fingers through his coarse, short, graying hair. “You people looking for work?”

274“We sure are, mister. Lookin’ even under boards.”

275“Can you pick peaches?”

276“We never done it,” Pa said.

277“We can do anything,” Tom said hurriedly. “We can pick anything there is.”

278The man fingered his gold football. “Well, there’s plenty of work for you about forty miles north.”

279“We’d sure admire to get it,” said Tom. “You tell us how to get there, an’ we’ll go a-lopin’.”

280“Well, you go north to Pixley, that’s thirty-five or -six miles, and you turn east. Go about six miles. Ask anybody where the Hooper ranch is. You’ll find plenty of work there.”

281“We sure will.”

282“Know where there’s other people looking for work?”

283“Sure,” said Tom. “Down at the Weedpatch camp they’s plenty lookin’ for work.”

284“I’ll take a run down there. We can use quite a few. Remember now, turn east at Pixley and keep straight east to the Hooper ranch.”

285“Sure,” said Tom. “An’ we thank ya, mister. We need work awful bad.”

286“All right. Get along as soon as you can.” He walked back across the road, climbed into his open roadster, and drove away south.

287Tom threw his weight on the pump. “Twenty apiece,” he called. “One—two—three—four—” At twenty Al took the pump, and then Pa and then Uncle John. The tire filled out and grew plump and smooth. Three times around, the pump went. “Let ’er down an’ le’s see,” said Tom.

288Al released the jack and lowered the car. “Got plenty,” he said. “Maybe a little too much.”

289They threw the tools into the car. “Come on, le’s go,” Tom called. “We’re gonna get some work at last.”

290Ma got in the middle again. Al drove this time.

291“Now take her easy. Don’t burn her up, Al.”

292They drove on through the sunny morning fields. The mist lifted from the hilltops and they were clear and brown, with black-purple creases. The wild doves flew up from the fences as the truck passed. Al unconsciously increased his speed.

293“Easy,” Tom warned him. “She’ll blow up if you crowd her. We got to get there. Might even get in some work today.”

294Ma said excitedly, “With four men a-workin’ maybe I can get some credit right off. Fust thing I’ll get is coffee, ’cause you been wanting that, an’ then some flour an’ bakin’ powder an’ some meat. Better not get no side-meat right off. Save that for later. Maybe Sat’dy. An’ soap. Got to get soap. Wonder where we’ll stay.” She babbled on. “An’ milk. I’ll get some milk ’cause Rosasharn, she ought to have milk. The lady nurse says that.”

295A snake wriggled across the warm highway. Al zipped over and ran it down and came back to his own lane.

296“Gopher snake,” said Tom. “You oughtn’t to done that.”

297“I hate ’em,” said Al gaily. “Hate all kinds. Give me the stomach-quake.”

298The forenoon traffic on the highway increased, salesmen in shiny coupés with the insignia of their companies painted on the doors, red and white gasoline trucks dragging clinking chains behind them, great square-doored vans from wholesale grocery houses, delivering produce. The country was rich along the roadside. There were orchards, heavy leafed in their prime, and vineyards with the long green crawlers carpeting the ground between the rows. There were melon patches and grain fields. White houses stood in the greenery, roses growing over them. And the sun was gold and warm.

299In the front seat of the truck Ma and Tom and Al were overcome with happiness. “I ain’t really felt so good for a long time,” Ma said. “ ’F we pick plenty peaches we might get a house, pay rent even, for a couple months. We got to have a house.”

300Al said, “I’m a-gonna save up. I’ll save up an’ then I’m a-goin’ in a town an’ get me a job in a garage. Live in a room an’ eat in restaurants. Go to the movin’ pitchers ever’ damn night. Don’ cost much. Cowboy pitchers.” His hands tightened on the wheel.

301The radiator bubbled and hissed steam. “Did you fill her up?” Tom asked.

302“Yeah. Wind’s kinda behind us. That’s what makes her boil.”

303“It’s a awful nice day,” Tom said. “Use’ ta work there in McAlester an’ think all the things I’d do. I’d go in a straight line way to hell an’ gone an’ never stop nowheres. Seems like a long time ago. Seems like it’s years ago I was in. They was a guard made it tough. I was gonna lay for ’im. Guess that’s what makes me mad at cops. Seems like ever’ cop got his face. He use’ ta get red in the face. Looked like a pig. Had a brother out west, they said. Use’ ta get fellas paroled to his brother, an’ then they had to work for nothin’. If they raised a stink, they’d get sent back for breakin’ parole. That’s what the fellers said.”

304“Don’ think about it,” Ma begged him. “I’m a-gonna lay in a lot a stuff to eat. Lot a flour an’ lard.”

305“Might’s well think about it,” said Tom. “Try to shut it out, an’ it’ll whang back at me. They was a screwball. Never tol’ you ’bout him. Looked like Happy Hooligan. Harmless kinda fella. Always was gonna make a break. Fellas all called him Hooligan.” Tom laughed to himself.

306“Don’ think about it,” Ma begged.

307“Go on,” said Al. “Tell about the fella.”

308“It don’t hurt nothin’, Ma,” Tom said. “This fella was always gonna break out. Make a plan, he would; but he couldn’ keep it to hisself an’ purty soon ever’body knowed it, even the warden. He’d make his break an’ they’d take ’im by the han’ an’ lead ’im back. Well, one time he drawed a plan where he’s goin’ over. ’Course he showed it aroun’, an’ ever’body kep’ still. An’ he hid out, an’ ever’body kep’ still. So he’s got himself a rope somewheres, an’ he goes over the wall. They’s six guards outside with a great big sack, an’ Hooligan comes quiet down the rope an’ they jus’ hol’ the sack out an’ he goes right inside. They tie up the mouth an’ take ’im back inside. Fellas laughed so hard they like to died. But it busted Hooligan’s spirit. He jus’ cried an’ cried, an’ moped aroun’ an’ got sick. Hurt his feelin’s so bad. Cut his wrists with a pin an’ bled to death ’cause his feelin’s was hurt. No harm in ’im at all. They’s all kinds a screwballs in stir.”