There is a scene in Grapes of Wrath when an Okie family stops in at a rest area. They are about to cross the Mojave and need to fill their truck up with water. Their kids drink from the hose. The father asks the diner waitress if he can buy a loaf of bread. She doesn’t want to give it up, she can’t just be selling bread to everyone, they’d run out and wouldn’t have none for the customers’ sandwiches. Plus the bread truck won’t be back for a few more days. Her husband in the back yells at her to give it up. But the loaf is too expensive, he asks to buy half a loaf. She is more annoyed. Her husband tells her to sell the whole loaf for half cost. So she sells it to him with reluctance. The two boys come inside, and stare at the candy case not saying anything. He asks her how much the candy is, she says two for a penny. The father buys both boys a piece of candy, they thank them and leave. The waitress, her husband, and the truckers watch the family putter down the road to California. The truckers look at the waitress, that wasn’t penny candy, that was two cent a piece candy, they tell her. Shut up she says. When the truckers take off they leave her a big fat tip.
Like her, I struggle between myself and faith that there is enough for us all.