The chapter begins with an introduction to George and Lennie who are walking single file next to the Salinas to the town of where their new job awaits them. They had to run away from their last in the town of because Lennie got into some trouble by touching a girl’s . In this chapter we learn that is mentally disabled. He likes to imitate George; he can’t remember most things that he has been told, except the about the rabbits; and he loves to soft things like mice--even if they are . George looks after Lennie, but he gets irritated with Lennie at times. He tells Lennie how much easier his would be without Lennie but then seems to feel for saying so and changes his tone to tell Lennie that he doesn’t really mean it. George and Lennie are walking through the beside the river to get to their new job because the driver dropped them off too early-- away from their final destination. They decide that instead of getting to the that evening like they were supposed to, they will rest for the night and get there in the . Before they eat their dinner and go to sleep that night, Lennie asks to tell him about the . George tells Lennie all about their to own their own ranch and “live of the fatta the lan.’” And Lennie gets to the rabbits on that ranch.