Chapter 1 – Quiet
The story opens on a serene summer evening by the Salinas River in California. We meet George Milton, a rational and practical ranch hand, and his companion Lennie Small, a childlike and mentally-impaired migrant worker with a childlike fascination for soft things.
As they prepare to camp for the night, their conversation unveils their shared dream of purchasing a small farm where Lennie can tend to rabbits. This glimpse into their aspirational bond juxtaposed with the transience of their existence sets the stage for a narrative filled with both hope and inevitability.
Chapter 2 – The Isolation of Friendship