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Elsa turned onto the ation ditch full of broater ran the length of the field to her left

The first tent they ca sides; a stovepipe stuck out from the front like a bent elbow The area in front of the open flaps was cluttered with belongings: dentedblock with an ax stuck in it, an old hubcap Not far away sat a truck with no tires Someone had built up slatted sides and draped plastic over it all to create a dry place to live

“E,” Loreda said

There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the placement of the tents and shacks and parked jalopies

Rail-thin children dressed in rags ran through the tent town, followed by s Wo clothes in broater

One pile of junk turned out to be a dwelling; inside, three children and two adults huddled around a makeshift stove A family

Aonly his torn trousers, his feet bare and black soled, his drying shirt and socks spread out in the dirt in front of him Somewhere, a baby cried

Okies

Your kind

“I don’t like this place,” Ant whined “It stinks”

“Turn around, Mom,” Loreda said “Get us out of here”

Elsa couldn’t believe people lived this way in California In Aabonds or hobos These tents and shacks and jalopies housed families Children Women Babies People who had co for work

“We can’t drive around wasting gas,” Elsa said, feeling sick to her sto on Tomorrow I’ll find work and we’ll be on our way At least there’s a river”

“River? River?” Loreda said “That is not a river and this is … I don’t knohat this is, but we do not belong here”

“No one belongs in a place like this, Loreda, but we only have twenty-seven dollars left How long do you think that will last?”