Lennie Small

I remembered, George! I remembered th' place you wen' an' told me to remember. 

But, Aunt Clara tol' me I wen' an' caused you trouble, George. I'm sorry. And the big rabbit tol' me you'll hit me, George. I jes' wanna pet soft things, George. Honest! 

I wanna listen to the story again, George.

I'm scared, George. I wen' an' done it now. I don't want'you to be angry, George! I'm sorry.

I jes' dint' want her to scream! Honest, it was an accident!

Oh no. I'm goin', George. I didn't mean to make ya upset. 

I'm goin' to that place. I'll wait for you.

Crooks

I talked with Crooks today. At first, he told me to go on away, because he dint' want no white men in his room. I dint' really understand. I figured I'd come in and keep'im company. 

Crooks talked a lot. Heck, he talked so much I told'im 'bout the farm. I tried not to--I did. I'm sorry George. 

Then, Crooks started talkin' about George and told me he'd never come back. And that made me angry. Because George wouldn't do that. 

But, later, he pro'missed George'd come back, so I was okay again. Then, that old man without an arm came again an' start'd talkin' about them rabbits.

Then, that purty woman came again. I tried to stay away from her, jes' like George told me. She talked 'bout herself a lot, an' then she wen' and told me she was glad I beat'er husband. I think the other guys were sorta' mad at her for somethin'. 

I wonder when George'll be back. 

Today, that small fellow hit me. I dunno why--I told'm to leave me alone. I kept away from him, jes' like George told me to. 

Then, George told me to hit'm back. So I did. George told me so! I dint' wanna hurt'm. 

I hope I can still tend the rabbits. I'm sorry George.

The New Place

George and me, we got to the ranch today. George told me that he'd do all the talkin', and I'd jes' listen' and not say a word. 

But, then, the boss came and star'ed askin' que'shuns. I accidentally forgot what George'd told me and spoke up. I don't think the boss likes us very much. 

Then, another guy came, and he was kinda mad for some reason. And then, he want'd to talk with me, but he left. Then, George told'm to keep away from that small man because talkin' with him will probably costs us our jobs. 

And then, a woman came't visit us. She was purty. But, George told'm to stay away from her also. 

I don't wanna make George upset. I'll try to do what he says.

Me an' George

George took my mouse an' threw it'n the river. I told'm I jes' wan'ed to pet him, an' that he bein' dead wasn't my fault; but George got mad and threw him anyway. He'd already been mad about that bus driver who dropped us off in the wrong place. 

George and me, we go way back. He's been with me for as long as I remember! He gets mad a lot, too, and sometimes, he does some stuff I don't understan' very much. Like later today. He tol' me to go an' find some sticks for supper, and I wen' ahead and got me my mouse back. My Aunt Clara used to gi'me some mice a lot when I was a boy.

But George, he went and took the mouse away again. He said: "Aw'right. Gi'me that mouse". And when I asked'm for ketchup, he talked about how ungraetfol I am. But, George's a nice guy.

He all'ways tells how we s'pecial--how we've got each o'ther. We're gonna buy a big farm and live off the fatta the lan'. And I'm gonna tend them rabbits.

That always cheers me up! Then, we looked at the stars. 

Then, George told me that'f anythin' happens in th' new work place, then I'd have to com' back here and hide until he came back. 

Where are we goin'?

Today, George and me, we had to go an' leave again. I don't understand very much why George was so shaky--you'd think we was in a rush. All I want'd to do was jes' touch the soft red dress.

That lady sure did scream a lot. Maybe she had ants'n her behind or somethin'; otherwise, I dunno why she was so darn scared. She got so scared that, heck, it made ME scared. All I remember is that George hit me in the head with somethin', and I calmed down a bit after that.

But, next thing you know, George and I, we was runnin' away from a very angry group of people--a 'lynching mob' or somethin. We got to this wet ditch, and then nobody was followin' us no more.

I think George was a bit mad, but he was okay again after a while--tellin' me we was gonna work in another place again.

I was really thirsty, so I started drinkin' some water--but the water dint' really make me feel good. But, while I was drinking offa water, I found this cute lil' mouse by the road.

Ain't he somethin'? He was really soft, too!