"You done this ‘thout thinkin’ much," Ma said. "What we got lef’ in the worl’? Nothin’ but us. Nothin’ but the folks. We come out an’ Grampa he reached for the shovel-shelf right off. An’ now, right off, you wanna bust up the folks."
– John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 16. Ma Joad has struck a blow for family unity. She has successfully won the argument against Tom and Casy and Al staying behind to repair one of the cars, while the others carry on the journey. Criticising her husband Pa for going along with the plan, she reminds him that all they have left in the world now is the family. Despite their homelessness, Ma is adament that the Joads must stay together.