This short story, "The Doll" is about poor out of work okies back in the early 1930's
looking for any type of job they can find, so they can get paid or something to eat. Mrs. Hollis and
the two okies are the main characters in the story. The story tells about these okies asking for
work from a well off woman, Mrs. Hollis, and how she treats them. In spite of her will to help
them, she eventually sends them away after meager payment and food.
The story starts off as two ragged boys walk up Mrs. Hollis' lawn coming from the camp,
where poor out of work families live. They were two "okies" looking for a job to get some food.
Mrs. Hollis is disgusted at all of the dirt and ragged clothes they're wearing. Mrs. Hollis gives the
okies some work to do in exchange for some food. One of the boys points to the other and tells
Mrs. Hollis that he is his uncle. He was a short man in his 40's. His hands reminded Mrs. Hollis
of an old wedding doll she used to have years ago. She was still disgusted at his ragged image.
As she fixed some sandwiches and coffee for them, she gave them one of her chocolate cherries in
a red shiny wrapper. They have only had one of those once in their whole lifetime and were very
While Mrs. Hollis was taking her afternoon nap, she was awoken by a knock on the door.
She went and looked, and sure enough it was the two "okies" again asking if they could go piss in
her bathroom. She got mad and told them to finish their work and leave, then slammed the door.
She came out later to tell them that's enough for the day because it's getting hotter. They
didn't get their work done, but she still gave them a dollar. One of them grinned while snatching
the dollar from her hand. She asked why he was grinning like that. He pointed to his uncle and he
was "pissing in his pants." Mrs Hollis saw a puddle forming on her pa
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