Summary

Chapter Twenty-Two starts with a letter from Elsa to Rose and Tony, that spares them the details of their Hooverville life. In June, Elsa learns that if she wakes up at four a.m. and joins Jeb and the other men in line there would usually be work in the cotton fields. They make 50 cents for 12 hours of work a day at Welty Farms. On the way home one day, Jeb tells her Welty is talking about cutting wages. When Elsa gets back to the camp, Loreda takes her aside - which worries Elsa as Loreda has been angry lately - and reminds her school is over, and she can help in the fields. Elsa says only for the summer, and Loreda suggests Ant join them too, which Elsa ignores.

In July cotton work ends, though migrants keep flooding California. The...