“Hey, stupid birds.” Lennie muttered to himself.
“George, did you see which one of those dumb birds throwed’ something at me?” holding back his laughter George forced himself to say
“No… Lennie, sorry.” But the suspense was too much and he burst into hectic roars of laughter. Lennie, looking blank, reluctantly joined in this supposedly hilarious moment and started laughing himself.
It was now midday and the sound of men hard at work on the ranches was in the air. It was a perfect day. It was hot enough to go swimming in the river but cool enough that you could sit outside for hours and not get sweaty and sticky. George and Lennie were heading back to the ranches when a group of 7 lively boys came trudging down the road. One of them, who was short and had pale skin announced
“Hey, there’s Milton and his dumbass’ sidekick!” another of the boys, quite tall with fair hair and light, mischievous features uttered in a sly ‘hillbilly’ voice
“Well, well, if it ain’t George Milton and the retard. So what brings y’all’ out here?” George had a stern look on his face. He wanted to be part of Scotty Richardson’s gang but he always seemed to end up with Lennie. Lennie sat down at the bank to watch the river flow and get deeper as it got nearer to the climbing brush. Hesitating at first George made up yet another excuse for being with Lennie
“I, um was making um’ catch my ma’ some salmon, he ain’t bright but damn can he sure catch fish! And its fun with him, coz’ he’ll do anything I tell um’ ta’ do, watch this” he turned desperately to Lennie and looked at him for a while thinking; he turned back to the boys and saw their disapproving, cold stares. He turned back to Lennie and sighed
“Lennie”
“Yeah George?”
“G’ go and jump into that river there” Lennie looked at George puzzlingly and followed where Georges stretched out arm was pointing, and back again with perplexity; then finally exclaimed
“But why George, its wet in there and…” George interrupted him nervously
“Just do it Lennie, don’t ask questions, just jump!” Lennie slowly got up; he looked down with uneasiness and gulped back he then took one step back, closed his eyes and hurled himself intensely into the deep river and with an enormous splash, he was under the water.
“Lennie, you crazy bastard, you all right?” George shouted desperately. An impressed sound came from behind George
“That was pretty neat Milton, make um’ do summit’ else!” at that moment Lennie came bursting through the rapid surface of the river. He waved his arms frantically and was uncontrollably gulping back the river as he tried to breathe.
“Help George, I cant swim, help me!” Georges face went pale. He angrily cursed at himself and yelled
“Hold on Lennie, I’m comin’ for ya’!” he jumped in without hesitating and swam towards Lennie.
“Milton? Come on boys lets go.” Exclaimed Scotty, looking confused. The group of boys obeyed Scotty and they all disappeared down the road where they were originally heading.
George pulled Lennie onto the muddy bank and gave a long sigh of relief. Lennie, breathing very heavily reached over and hugged George tightly. George had a confused and disapproving look on his face but patted Lennie on the back anyway.
“Thanks very much George, I really owe ya’ one, thanks. You saved me George thank you so much!”
“That’s fine Lennie” George was very confused, Lennie seemed to have forgotten that he had told him to jump in the river in the first place.
“You really scared me then Lennie, maybe you need someone around, ya’ know ta’ stop you from killin’ yourself or summit”
“What about you George? You will be good, you saved my life George!” George thought with guilt about how he nearly killed Lennie; he decided he would look after Lennie as much as possible.
“Hey Lennie, your lookin’ at your new bodyguard.”
“Wow George you’ll do that for me?”
“Yeah I guess, now come on, these fish ain’t gonna take um’ selves ta’ ma’s!” they both got up and headed down the dusty road.
“Hey George? What’s a body guide?” asked Lennie. George laughed and gave Lennie a playful push and Lennie laughed and pushed him back
“You crazy bastard Lennie!” George joked.
