He ain´t much of a talker, is he?

On the second day, the narrator begins by describing the barracks with the bunk beds where workers can leave their belongings and rest.

We take a tour of the room and know how the walls are painted, how the windows are distributed, where the stove is, and the table to play cards and something that has managed to get me a smile: on one of the shelves, in addition to soap and razors, there are ‘those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe.’ We are tired of hearing people criticize the programs of celebrities who do not work and they live off their wits, but who know all the partners and ex-partners of them.

Curious, at least, is the character of Whitey the blacksmith. Finicky to the point of washing his hands before and after eating. Obsession for cleanliness and physical appearance. Guy who left the ranch just for food, according to the old swamper.

On page 25 the boss is surprised that George cares so much about Lennie and bluntly asks him what he gets from his buddy, maybe his pay?

The story rises in temperature when the boss's daughter-in-law appears. She got the eye. According to the swamper, although she has only been married to the boss's son for a couple of weeks, she seems to need some company. Maybe that's why the boss's son´s pants are full of ants, George believes. There are Slim or Carlson that this woman has tempted, always according to the busybody swamper. The old man has gained confidence and before leaving he tells George what he thinks about the woman. If you want to know it, open the book on page 31. If you prefer not to wait I will tell you what George and most of the men think about it.

If a dude does what the boss's daughter-in-law does, he is a tough guy; on the other hand, when the woman, in her first encounter with the protagonists, leaves, George has no qualms about branding her as a tramp. This happened in the United States during the Great Depression and it happens in my country today.

The way to introduce the prince of the ranch, Slim, combing her hair reminded me a house neighbour when I was just a brat who hadn't gotten into trouble yet. My neighbour also had long black hair and also used to use brilliantine to fix the hair, especially the bangs, in place. A small mirror hanging from a nail on the wall next to the entrance door served to direct the tufts to one side and another, while remaining with his legs wide open and flexed in the meantime because the height of the mirror was not consistent with his height.

I am completely sure that it´s not Slim, but Steinbeck himself who believes that ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.

From my Borstal.

LDR

Of Mice and Men. John Steinbeck. Pocket Penguin Classic. London, 2006.