I never had none.
I planted crops for damn near ever’body in this state, but they wasn’t my crops, and when I harvested ‘em, it wasn’t none of my harvest.
But we gonna do it now, and don’t you make no mistake about that.
George ain’t got the money in town.
That money’s in the bank.
Me an’ Lennie an’ George. We gonna have a room to ourself.
We’re gonna have a dog an’ rabbits an’ chickens.
We’re gonna have green corn an’ maybe a cow or a goat.”
He stopped, overwhelmed with his picture.
Crooks asked, “You say you got the money?”
“Damn right.
We got most of it.
Just a little bit more to get.
Have it all in one month.
George got the land all picked out, too.”
Crooks reached around and explored his spine with his hand.
“I never seen a guy really do it,” he said. “I seen guys nearly crazy with loneliness for land, but ever’ time a whore house or a blackjack game took what it takes.” He hesitated. “.... If you.... guys would want a hand to work for nothing — just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand.
I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to.”
“Any you boys seen Curley?”
They swung their heads toward the door.
Looking in was Curley’s wife.
Her face was heavily made up.
Her lips were slightly parted.
She breathed strongly, as though she had been running.
“Curley ain’t been here,” Candy said sourly.
She stood still in the doorway, smiling a little at them, rubbing the nails of one hand with the thumb and forefinger of the other.
And her eyes traveled from one face to another.
“They left all the weak ones here,” she said finally. “Think I don’t know where they all went?
Even Curley.
I know where they all went.”
Lennie watched her, fascinated; but Candy and Crooks were scowling down away from her eyes.
Candy said,
“Then if you know, why you want to ast us where Curley is at?”
She regarded them amusedly.
“Funny thing,” she said. “If I catch any one man, and he’s alone, I get along fine with him.
But just let two of the guys get together an’ you won’t talk.
Jus’ nothing but mad.” She dropped her fingers and put her hands on her hips. “You’re all scared of each other, that’s what.
Ever’ one of you’s scared the rest is goin’ to get something on you.”
After a pause Crooks said,
“Maybe you better go along to your own house now.
We don’t want no trouble.”
“Well, I ain’t giving you no trouble.
Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?
Think I like to stick in that house alla time?”
Candy laid the stump of his wrist on his knee and rubbed it gently with his hand.
He said accusingly,
“You gotta husban’.
You got no call foolin’ aroun’ with other guys, causin’ trouble.”
The girl flared up.
“Sure I gotta husban’.