Над пропастью во ржи

           Ican’tstandlookingattheotherguy’sface,ismytrouble.Itwouldn’tbesobadifyoucouldbothbeblindfoldedorsomething.It’safunnykindofyellowness,whenyoucometothinkofit,butit’syellowness,allright.I’mnotkiddingmyself.

           ThemoreIthoughtaboutmyglovesandmyyellowness,themoredepressedIgot,andIdecided,whileIwaswalkingandall,tostopoffandhaveadrinksomewhere.I’donlyhadthreedrinksatErnie’s,andIdidn’tevenfinishthelastone.OnethingIhave,it’saterrificcapacity.Icandrinkallnightandnotevenshowit,ifI’minthemood.Once,attheWhootonSchool,thisotherboy,RaymondGoldfarb,andIboughtapintofScotchanddrankitinthechapeloneSaturdaynight,wherenobody’dseeus.Hegotstinking,butIhardlydidn’tevenshowit.Ijustgotverycoolandnonchalant.IpukedbeforeIwenttobed,butIdidn’treallyhaveto—Iforcedmyself.

           Anyway,beforeIgottothehotel,Istartedtogointhisdumpy-lookingbar,buttwoguyscameout,drunkashell,andwantedtoknowwherethesubwaywas.OneofthemwasthisveryCuban-lookingguy,andhekeptbreathinghisstinkingbreathinmyfacewhileIgavehimdirections.Iendedupnotevengoinginthedamnbar.Ijustwentbacktothehotel.

           Thewholelobbywasempty.Itsmelledlikefiftymilliondeadcigars.Itreallydid.Iwasn’tsleepyoranything,butIwasfeelingsortoflousy.Depressedandall.IalmostwishedIwasdead.

           Then,allofasudden,Igotinthisbigmess.

           ThefirstthingwhenIgotintheelevator,theelevatorguysaidtome,"Innarestedinhavingagoodtime,fella?Orisittoolateforyou?"