ALTERNATE ENDING: OF MICE AND MEN

Two

I greeted Lennie and saw the dead puppy. I tried to coax him into telling him what had happened to the puppy. Eventually he confessed, I must admit it was quite disturbing, but that did not matter because I had someone to talk to. We sat there for a while and I told him about my youth and how I wanted to be a movie star. That how my old lady said I could not, so I settled down with Curley. Lennie clearly had his mind occupied with the dead puppy, and rabbits? Lennie then told me about a dream he and George had shared, they were going to have a ranch. Lennie was going to tend to the rabbits and pet them. Lennie was distraught at the idea that George would not let him tend the rabbits. I had a very sudden realization that would solve both of our problems. I told Lennie that I had a plan that would solve both our problems, he was slightly intrigued, but his mind was clearly still on the rabbits. I told him to meet me here at 10 o'clock with his bindle. 
​ I departed from the back room and was greeted by Curley. For once Curley seemed interested in what I was doing out in the barn. I gave him only vague answers hoping he would stay with me longer and want to know about my day. As usual he dismissed me and told me to go back to the house. I obeyed and sauntered back to the house to prepare my bags for tonight. The day went by in a blur, soon enough it was now 8 o'clock in the evening. Dinner had come and went; I was now cleaning up when Curley walked in his hand was bandaged from getting it caught up in the "machine". Or at least that was what the story was. I was fairly certain that one of the other ranchers had done it though. Curley was the cocky arrogant type, he always wanted to win and when he didn't, he always gave excuses. Curley took a seat at the kitchen table and waited until I served him some tea, he still didn't speak. We sat in an uncomfortable silence for a half hour before he finished his tea and retired to the bedroom.
​After a few minutes I had finished tidying the kitchen and went into the bathroom to remove my make-up. As I washed my face, I thought about whether Lennie would show up. I knew if he did not show up, I would have to accept my future at the ranch and be unhappy until my last breath. I had hope though my life could not just be this. Could it? I finished washing my face and changed into my pajamas, I had to make it seem as though I was not leaving Curley, with Lennie. It was now 9:45 I had my bag packed and had changed. Curley was fast asleep in the bed we once shared, longing for happiness, but alas it was not possible for me to be happy with Curley on this ranch.
​I took one last glance at my sleeping husband; Curley was a very light sleeper, so I had to be very careful to not wake him up. I turned to go out the door then I heard a rustle in the background. I froze. After a few moments, the rustling stopped, and I continued out the door. The cold night air washed over me. It was time for the start of a new chapter in my life. I slung my bag over my shoulder, I walked down to the barn and took a seat on the hay. A few minutes later I heard the door creak open, and in stumble my kind giant. He took a couple steps into the light and our eyes met; a grin spread across our faces. I got up from the hay and picked up my bag, Lennie had his bindle with him. An indication that he also wanted to leave. We chose the two fastest horses on the ranch. We put the harnesses and saddles on the horses. By the time it was 10:30 we had the horses prepared to leave.