George Back on the Ranch

Ten years have passed but nothing here has changed on the ranch. The scenery is different; the grass is dull and dead, starting to turn brown and shrivelling over, starved from water. The weather is miserable just like my mood I suppose; the clouds are black and full of rain, ready to rupture just like a car tyre. I hear the rumble in the atmosphere like a lion roaring, the wind was howling, it is as if a zoo is being created by the dreadful weather, with the howling and roaring. The wind howling so much it is manipulating the leaves of the brush to make soundless movements. The people may be different here on the ranch but the way in which they treat each other is much the same. As I walk onto the premises’ of the ranch I can smell burnt wood. I notice that the immigrant workers are still doing the worst jobs such as being stable bucks. The only consolation, I suppose, is that the pay is equal no matter what job you do.

Just standing here looking at the ranch brings back lots of memories, both good and bad. The barn where the terrible accident happened no longer exists. It looks like a fire was started on the site and all that remains now are the burnt ashes. The grass has disintegrated and all that is left is the dry almost could be described, as malnourished soil, no water to quench its thirst I’m told that burning the barn was the first thing that Curley did after taking over the ranch from his father. All the other buildings remain intact as they were when I was here.

If I look hard enough I can still see Lennie working as if it was only yesterday. I can remember talking to Slim about how good a worker Lennie was, when suddenly he picked up a bale of hay all by himself. Oh how we laughed, it had taken two men to d...

... middle of paper ...

...ng around, I realise that this is the place I belong. Working on a ranch may not be the best work but having travelled around and worked on a few, I realise that this is where my heart belongs. So here I am at the gates about to start work again for Curley. I’m not going be just any old worker, though like I was once was. Curley specifically asked me to be his deputy. I seized the chance, as I am going to make this a better place for all. I’m going to make sure that all of the guys get a fair and equal chance to do all of the jobs here on the ranch. I’m not going to allow the less intelligent ones to suffer abuse or ridicule at the hands of the others.

Maybe by taking over some of the pressure of running a ranch, Curley will be less stressed and have more time for his family. I’m hoping he will realise how lucky he is to live the dream I have always had.