Question

us but little man scrambled up the steep right bank into the forest.
\get up here, man,\ stacey ordered, but little man only gazed at the ragged red bank sparsely covered with scraggly brown briars and kept on walking. \come on, do like i say.\
\but ill get my clothes dirty!\ protested little man.
\youre gonna get them a whole lot dirtier you stay down there. look!\
little man turned around and watched saucer - eyed as a bus bore down on him spewing clouds of red dust like a huge yellow dragon breathing fire. little man headed toward the bank, but it was too steep. he ran frantically along the road looking for a foothold and, finding one, hopped onto the bank, but not before the bus had sped past enveloping him in a scarlet haze while laughing white faces pressed against the bus windows.
little man shook a threatening fist into the thick air, then looked dismally down at himself.
\well, ole little man done got his sunday clothes dirty,\ t.j. laughed as we jumped down from the bank. angry tears welled in little mans eyes but he quickly brushed them away before t.j. could see them.
from mildred d. taylor, roll of thunder, hear my cry. copyright 1976 by mildred d. taylor
why doesnt little man want to get off the road?
he wants to keep his clothes clean.
he wants to get on the bus with the other kids.
he wants to stay on the path with t.j.

Explanation:

The text directly quotes Little Man protesting, "But I'll get my clothes dirty!" when told to get off the road, which is the explicit reason he refuses to leave the road.

Answer:

He wants to keep his clothes clean.