3 Events that Best Highlights Al

"He's a-billygoatin' aroun' the country. Tom-cattin' hisself to death. Smart-aleck sixteen-year-older, an' his nuts is just a-eggin' him on. He don't think of nothin' but girls and engines. A plain smart aleck. Ain't been in nights for a week"(82).

My Pa's a thinkin' I goes out a every night a lookin' for girls, but I's jus wants ta settle down. Im bout thinkin' of the oppertunity in California. Findin' a good payin' job and a good woman ta settle down with, like I tol' Tom. But ah know that they 'preciate me fur mah car skills. I can fix 'er up reel good. Ah think that every boy in his life has this mindset. Ah bet pa met ma this way, so they can' scrutinize me.


"Tom and the preacher looked up the road. And randy Al, seeing he was being noticed, threw back his shoulders, and he came into the yard with a swaying strut like that of a rooster about to crow. Cockily, he walked close before he recognized Tom; and when he did, his boasting face changed, and admiration and veneration shone in his eyes, and his swagger fell away...could not build up to his brother's stature; for his brother had killed a man, and no one would ever forget it. Al knew that even he had inspired some admiration among boys in Sallisaw how he was pointed out: "That's Al Joad. His brother killed a fella with a shovel." And now Al, moving humbly near, saw that his brother was not a swaggerer as he had supposed...And instantly Al changed"(84-5).

When I seen my brother standing therr I knew I needid ta act strait. I look up ta him. He done killed a man an he still come out proper. While he was in jail I been tryin' ta take his place, but now that he back I can let my guard down. I can learn things from him. Plenty a things. Ah hope I can fill his shoes proper.



"Al explained, I don't know what made her go out. I give her plenty of oil. Al knew the blame was on him. He felt his failure"(166).

When I hear that rattlin' in the car I was a devasted. I jus knew it was that damned Con-rod bearing. I knew the fambly car was up ta me. I tried choosin' a car I'd thoughta woulda hold up for this here trip. My fambly's survivin' the journey depend on me. I feel like Ida let my fambly down. But thas alright cuz I knew I would be able to fix that ol' car up cuz my fambly depended on it. An' I filled 'er with plentee a oil an 'errthing.