Since Steinbeck often focused on the common man's struggle, it's likely that the new short story will also feature characters who are facing some sort of hardship. It could be economic, social or personal. His descriptions are always so vivid that we can probably expect a really well - described setting too. For example, in his previous works, he could make you feel like you were right there in the Dust Bowl or on the migrant worker's journey. So, in this new story, the setting will probably be just as immersive.
One thing we can expect from the new John Steinbeck short story is a story that makes you think. His works were never just simple tales. They always had layers of meaning. Maybe it will be about the power dynamics between different classes of people, as he often explored such themes. Or it could be about the changing values in society. Steinbeck had a way of showing the darker and the lighter sides of humanity, and I'm sure this new short story will be no different. His writing is so engaging that it draws you in and makes you care about the characters and their situations, and I'm hopeful that this new story will have the same effect.