The Salinas River Clearing

"I tol’ you an’ tol’ you," she said. "I tol’ you, ‘Min’ George because he’s such a nice fella an’ good to you.’ But you don’t never take no care. You do bad things."

I di’n’t forget, you bet, God damn. Hide in the brush an’ wait for George.

Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves.

“Lennie!” he said sharply. “Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.”

The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover.

On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them.