Summary

The next day, when Lennie and George arrive at the ranch, they are shown to the bunkhouse by elderly “swamper” Candy, who is missing one of his hands and is accompanied by his elderly dog. As they settle in, Candy tells them about some of the other men on the farm – in particular, the “nigger” stable hand Crooks, who is (Candy says) often bullied by the ranch hands, and the sometimes short-tempered boss. When the boss turns up to sign George and Lennie in, Candy goes out, leaving the boss to complain about their being late. As George explains how he and Lennie were misdirected, the boss notices that Lennie stays silent, and wonders whether George is trying to trick either him or Lennie. George tells him that Lennie is his cousin, that he was kicked in the head by a horse when he was...