Summary

A brief, poetically written introduction describes the flow of the Salinas River and a site by a pool formed in the shallows of that river where traveling hoboes often sit. Narration describes the arrival there of two men – the small, sharp-boned and sharp-tongued George, and the large, strong but dull-witted Lennie. As they settle down to rest after a long walk, George reminds the forgetful Lennie that they are on their way to get jobs, how they were forced to leave their previous job when Lennie got them into trouble (as usual, George says), and how, in order to keep the new jobs, Lennie has to do exactly what George says. Lennie agrees. As they talk, George realizes that Lennie is concealing something from him – a small dead mouse, kept in his pocket where he can easily pet it. George angrily demands that Lennie give...