The story of mice and men takes place in California in the 1930s. The story is about two men who go around seeking jobs. Although one of the men is mentally handicapped, he can still work very well. Two men who travel together as best friends or companions. The two main characters are: George Milton and Lennie Small. The man with the handicap (Lennie Small) is one of the most interesting and dynamic characters of the time. George however is more of a secretive man who enjoys getting paid rather than mingling and chatting with the other characters. George would rather go untalked to and unbothered than to go in and talk and have a good time. Although this book by John Steinbeck is a very happy book, it can also be sad as well. When Lennie and George set off from the town of Weed they encounter a bus ride that proves to be very long. When the bus driver kicks the two off of the bus George and Lennie must now walk 9 miles to their next job at a ranch.

The story takes off when the two arrive at their new jobs awaiting their work. They meet a young skinner by the name of Slim, and an old coot named Candy. But the boss is suspicious of George and Lennie. The bosses son Curley and his wife, are big trouble makers. Curley’s wife is a huge flirt and a big tart. Although she was invited to be a model her mother had said no. So now she lives on the ranch married to Curley. When she tries to flirt with Lennie, George steps in and tells her to leave right away. Curley then thinks that Lennie is trying to steal his girl (the professional boxer he is) tries to fight Lennie. Lennie broke Curley’s hand and they continued on with their own business.

Curley’s wife still wants Lennie though. So Curley’s wife goes to where Lennie is and tries to flirt with him. Lennie really likes soft things so Curley’s wife tells him to touch her hair. And when he does he won’t stop petting it so Curley’s wife starts yelling. Well Lennie holds his hand over her mouth (not knowing better and not in meanness either) and tells her to be quiet or they will both get into big trouble. Lennie ends up shaking Curley’s wife and Lennie accidentally snaps her neck.

So Lennie goes to hide where George told him to hide if he gets into any trouble. And Lennie does just that. But Curley forms a search party and goes after him with guns. But somebody took another ranch-hands Luger. So everyone starts yelling and grow madder. They go searching together. George goes to the hiding spot and tells Lennie to turn around. George begins telling Lennie again about what they were going to do when they gather enough money to buy their own ranch. Then George pulls out the Luger and shoots Lennie in the back of the head.

The search party comes up and sees Lennie there. But when they ask George what happened George told them that Lennie had taken the pistol and George fought the gun away from him and shot him in the back of the head. Slim tells George “Let’s go and get a drink”. And when they go to get a drink George confides once again with him and tells Slim what really happened.

The End.