Slim and George walk into the bunkhouse together and George thanks Slim for Lennie’s new puppy. Slim comments on Lennie’s ability to work hard and mentions that it is obvious Lennie is not too bright. Slim then asks why Lennie and George go around together because most of the ranch hands he has seen are always alone and “never seem to give a damn about nobody”. Feeling comfortable with Slim, George explains that he knew Lennie 's aunt. After her death, Lennie just naturally began staying with George and following him around. At first, George accepted Lennie’s company because he could play jokes on Lennie, who didn’t realize he was being made fun of. But one day, George told Lennie to jump into the Sacramento River, which Lennie did, even though he couldn 't swim. Lennie nearly drowned …show more content…
Then Curley comes in and looks for his wife. When he hears that she isn 't there and that Slim is also in the barn, he goes to the barn, and then Whit and Carlson follow him and hopes for a fight. Candy overhears the discussion between George and Lennie of their farm, and offers to contribute $300 toward the cost if George and Lennie will let him join them. George eventually agrees, and then the three men muse on what their place will be like and they agree not to tell anyone of their plans. Candy admits he should have shot his dog himself. Slim is angry at Curley for constantly asking about his wife, and then Curley who is on the defensive and looking for someone to fight and finally picks a fight with Lennie and punches him unmercifully. Lennie doesn 't protect himself until George tells him to fight back, and Lennie crushes all the bones in Curley 's hand. Slim says they must get Curley to a doctor, but he cautions Curley that if he tells on Lennie and gets him fired, they will spread the word about how Curley 's hand really got hurt and everyone will laugh at him. Finally, Curley agrees not to tell. George explains to Slim that Lennie didn 't mean to hurt Curley since he was