Chapter 3

Alone in the bunkhouse, George thanks Slim for giving Lennie a pup. Slim
comments on Lennie’s ability to work hard and mentions that it is obvious
Lennie is not too bright. Slim then asks why Lennie and George go around
together because most of the ranch hands he's seen are always alone. Slim
appreciates George’s friendship with Lennie. After that, George tells Slim the
story of how he and Lenny became friends. They were born in the same village,
and George took care of Lenny after his aunt Clara died. George acknowledges
that at initially he bullied Lennie and had him do absurd things, like leap into
a river without knowing how to swim. After seeing his friend almost drown,
George felt bad about his actions. Since that time, he has taken good care of
his friend and has always stood up for him. Lennie, for instance, yearned to
stroke the material of a girl's crimson dress in Weed, the final town where they
worked. Lennie was terrified when she started to draw away, so he clung to
her until George struck him in the head to get him to release.

Candy joins the Bunk house and his old dog follows, and Carlson starts
bothering him again about shooting the dog. Carlson explains that the dog is
suffering and that it is best to let it out of its misery. He even offers to shoot a
dog for Candy. Candy didn't want his dog to die. Because he spent too long
time with his dog. Carlson told Candy he would kill the puppy instead. And
finally, Candy allowed Carlson to take him. Carlson brings his lugger gun and
shovel when he takes the dog outside. Candy lies stiffly in his bed until the
men hear gunshots indicating that the dog is dead.

Crooks, the black stable-hand, comes in and tells Slim that he has warmed
some tar to put on a mule’s foot. After Slim leaves, the other men play cards
and discuss Curley’s wife, agreeing that she will make trouble for someone; as
George says, “She’s a jailbait all set on the trigger.” Whit invites George to
accompany them to a local whorehouse the following night. . Whit discusses
the merits of old Susy’s place over Clara’s, it being cheaper and having nice
chairs, but George comments that he cannot afford to waste his money
because he and Lennie are trying to put together a “stake.” Lennie and Carlson
come in. Carlson cleans his gun and avoids looking at Candy. Curley appears
looking for his wife again.

Lenny asks George to explain once again about the small farm they want
to own one day. George says it's 10 acres with pigs and a nice stove. There are
all kinds of vegetables, cows and chickens. George explains where they can
build a rabbit hut and how Lenny fed the rabbits alfalfa when he suddenly sat
up. George and Lenny forget that Candy is in the room, but the question
doesn't seem harmful, so George tells Candy that he can buy it for $600.
 Lennie and George have never been able to save up a significant amount
of money. Candy has no relatives and doesn't expect to live much longer. He
offers to buy the ranch from the old people who own the place for four
hundred and fifty dollars. Lennie, George and Candy are elated at the prospect
of leaving this ranch and owning a place of their own.

George and Slim convince Curley not to tell anyone what Lennie did but
instead to say he got his hand caught in a machine. Lennie is too stunned to
react, so Curley continues to beat on him until George tells Lennie to fight
back. At that point Lennie simply grabs Curley's swinging fist and smashes
every bone in his hand. The men all agree that Curley needs to see a doctor.

This chapter shows a huge step forward in George and Lennie's quest to
purchase their own property. Candy regrets his decision to allow Carlson to
shoot his dog, but is pleased to help Lennie and George buy a farm. The
friendship between the two men has grown to include Candy who never really
had a friend besides his dog.