Chapter 2- Note Taking

Connection: On page 17, as the author described the bunkhouse I thought of where I stayed at for camp. The walls were painted an ivory color and the floor was also unpainted. There were five bunks on each side of the walls. above each bunk there was always a little compartment or as they call it in Of Mice and Men an "apple box". The only difference was at camp the boxes contained your bathroom necessities, a notebook usually, a pen or pencil, hair ties or anything just laying around was stored there. In the text it says the apple boxes contained little articles, soap and talcum powder, razors and those Western magazines, little vials, combs, and a few neckties.

Summarize: In chapter 2, Lennie and George find their new job and tart to get settled into the bunkhouse. They keep using the term "bucking and barley" and since George said they knew how to do this, I'm guessing it has to do with farming. George and Lennie arrived at the bunkhouse and already got in trouble because they came later than expected. At first, the place was pretty nice and the people were also fairly nice. The boss tells them after there talk with him, that he's going to keep an eye on them. Towards the end of the chapter, they meet a few people and they all tell them about the place. Finally, they come to meet the boss' son, which he's not the nicest guy on the planet. Right of the back, the boss' son, Curly doesn't like guys like Lennie because he's a big guy. George doesn't like Curly very much and I can see this already as being a conflict.

Question: The entire chaper basically George wasn't allowing Lennie to talk and when he did, he scowled at him. I wonder why can't Lennie talk? I feel that that'll just get both of them in trouble for lying that Lennie doesn't talk much.
Why does George choose to stay in such an uncomfortable environment? He knows Curly doesn't like him because of the altercation about his wife and he doesn't like Lennie because he's a big guy. I would think that any person would want to leave that type of environment.