George dealt the solitaire hand out again and began to play. From outside the occasional clatter and thud of the guys' horseshoes game drifted in and the light that sliced across the table had a strange quality to it. He stared blankly at the game then impatiently swept the cards from the table onto the floor, where they fluttered slightly in the breeze. He sat back on his chair and pulled his hat over his eyes though that could never completely block out the sight of the empty bunk. For a moment his heart lifted as it seemed as though Lennie was once again curled up there cradling his little puppy, hiding it from George and Slim. The illusion vanished as the guys entered though in the doorway a girl in a red dress posed against the light and it seemed as though Slim too saw her for a second.