Chapter 16: Summary

In chapter sixteen, the Joad's family continues on their way out of Oklahoma all the way to the "promise land" of California. As they travel along route 66, with the Wilson's, one of the vehicles starts rattling, and Al pulls it over. Tom and Al look over the vehicle and conclude that the bearings and the con-rod are causing the problems. The family is unsure of what to do at this point, whether to stay with the vehicle or split up and head to California. The family decides that it would probably be best to split up and then meet back up again in California. However, Ma hates this idea. "Ma's face softened, but her eyes were still fierce. 'You done this 'thout thinkin' much,' Ma said. 'What we got lef' in the worl'? Nothin' but us. Nothin' but the folks. We come out an' Grampa, he reached for the shovel-shelf right off. An' now, right off, you wanna bust up the folks---'"

Ma throws a fit and threatens to fight if she does not get her way. She decides that they will take the truck to a shady spot with water and set up camp there. Then, the truck will come back to pick up Tom and Casy who will stay with the broken down vehicle. Tom will go into the nearest town and get the parts he needs for the vehicle. After they fix the vehicle they will meet at the camping place, and then they will all continue on their way to California together. Everyone agrees with her, and the plan is put to action.

When Al comes back with the truck and Tom gets the broken parts off the vehicle, Al and Tom go into town, leaving Jim Casy to watch the broken-down vehicle. On their way there, Al and Tom talk about Tom's experience in jail, and how they will start a new adventure in California. They arrive a station to find a dirty one-eyed man, sulking around and asking them questions about his life and feeling sorry for himself. Tom and Al buy the parts they need, and Tom lectures the man on how he needs to stop being pathetic and move on with his life. The two men arrive back to the vehicle, fix it with the help of Casy, and then drive over to the camp that the rest of the Joad's and Wilson's are staying at. The proprietor charges them for entry, which they decline. After talking to the rest of their family, the boys decide to drive on ahead to later meet up with the rest of their sleeping family.