The first chapter of Of Mice and Men introduces readers to Lennie and George as well as to the setting of the Salinas River and valley. The men stop at the river for the evening after hiking for several miles to get to their new job. The contrast between the two men is striking, with Lennie's height and bear-like movements stressed. George's angular features and compact build, along with his quick and decisive movements allow the reader to notice Lennie's mental handicap quickly.
After a few moments of interaction, the conversation turns to what's in Lennie's pocket. Although he tries to hide it, much like a child would try to hide something from a parent, George makes Lennie show him what he has in his pocket. The object is a dead mouse. Lennie has been petting the dead mouse for most of their hike. Apparently this is a pretty common occurrence for Lennie, who loves to touch soft things, like fur. George takes the mouse away from Lennie, throwing it away into the brush by their campsite.
When George asks Lennie to go get firewood, Lennie attempts to surreptitiously pocket the mouse's corpse. George knows what he's up to, however, and forces him to give up the mouse's body again, throwing it across the river this time. When Lennie begins to cry, George explains why he had to take the corpse away from him:
"Aw, Lennie!" George put his hand on Lennie's shoulder. "I ain't takin' it away jus' for meanness. That mouse ain't fresh, Lennie; and besides, you've broke it pettin' it. You get another mouse that's fresh and I'll let you keep it a little while." (9)
The fact that Lennie kills mice doesn't really seem to bother George as much as the fact that Lennie is toting around a dead mouse. Any corpse will eventually decay. George grows increasingly frustrated with Lennie's behavior following this exchange. Exasperated, George starts to complain about how his life would be easier without Lennie in it.
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