Chapter 28: Summary

Chapter twenty eight talks about the Joad's and the Wainwright's and their lives just before winter comes in California. Both of the families pick cotton for some extra money, and they both live in neighboring boxcars near the field. The families have been there a little while and have been acquainted and are on their way to being good friends. The families pick cotton to make some money, and the Joad family makes enough money to have milk, meat, potatoes, mush, and coffee. They are quite happy where they are, because the boxcar is snug and does not leak, and they are making money picking cotton, something they are confident in doing. Tom has to hide in the brush about a half mile away so as not to give him away or his family. Ma brings him food every night and talks to him occasionally. However, one day, Ruthie gets in a fight with another girl, because the girl and her friends were trying to take away her Cracker Jack. In the fight she says that her big brother, who has already killed two men and is now in hiding because of that, will come and kill the big girl's older brother. Winfield tells on Ruthie, who is utterly ashamed and sobs violently. Ma goes out to warn young Tom Joad that he must leave because Ruthie told on him. Tom understands and prepares to head out telling Ma of his plans to join Casy's cause and not to worry about him. Ma makes him promise to meet up with her after the depression is over. Then he leaves, and Ma sadly trudges back to the camp where she is confronted by the Wainwright's. They tell her that Al and their daughter Aggie have been seeing each other, and they do not want any shame. Ma says she will talk to him, and then she apologizes to Pa that she did not mean to interfere with his manly hood or his authority. He understands and states that because of all the sad changes of life, he has changed and has not been much help. Ma reassures him, and the two families plan to celebrate Al and Aggie's announced wedding. Also, the two families go out into a new smaller cotton field to pick cotton in the morning, and they make a little change. Rose of Sharon picks cotton with them, but after she did she becomes sick and very cold. Ma and Mrs. Wainwright take care of her, and the families huddle in their boxcars out of the pouring, cold rain.