17-20

The Joad family makes it through the mountains and into California at last. They stop at a river and get out to enjoy the fresh water and to relax before crossing the desert later that night. While they are stopped Noah decide to leave the family to walk along the river and live off the fish that he can catch. While the men are in the river, a local family comes into the tent and sees that grandma is very sick and about to die. They ask ma if they can have a prayer meeting with her, but ma says no because grandma is just tired, not about to die. As the Joad's begin to leave the Wilson's tell them to go on alone because they are a hassle and Sairy will not live long enough to cross the desert. The family When the family crosses the desert they are struck with death again as grandma passes on. They decide to spend 40 dollars and let her have a good funeral. A man at a local campt tells Tommy that he should be bull simple and play dumb around authorities. Tommy and Casy get into an altercation with some cops after they accuse another man of a crime just so they can arrest him. The man runs away and while one of the cops shoots at him Tommy hits him in the head and knocks him out. Casy decides to take the blame and tells Tommy to go and hide. Casy says he will be fine in prison and that he has done nothing to hlep the family so it will not hurt them any. Uncle John decides that he has to go and get drunk to relieve the sin that is on his mind. While he is away the family decides to pack up and leave. Tommy leaves to find John and bring him back. After he finds him John says that he is not leaving. Tommy punches him a couple times and carries him back to the camp. The family leaves the camp because they think the cops will burn it later that night.