Над пропастью во ржи

           Hewasalwayssaying,"Trythisforsize,"andthenhe’dgoosethehelloutofyouwhileyouweregoingdownthecorridor.Andwheneverhewenttothecan,healwaysleftthegoddamdooropenandtalkedtoyouwhileyouwerebrushingyourteethorsomething.Thatstuff’ssortofflitty.Itreallyis.I’veknownquiteafewrealflits,atschoolsandall,andthey’realwaysdoingstufflikethat,andthat’swhyIalwayshadmydoubtsaboutoldLuce.Hewasaprettyintelligentguy,though.Hereallywas.

           Heneversaidhellooranythingwhenhemetyou.Thefirstthinghesaidwhenhesatdownwasthathecouldonlystayacoupleofminutes.Hesaidhehadadate.ThenheorderedadryMartini.Hetoldthebartendertomakeitverydry,andnoolive.

           "Hey,Igotaflitforyou,"Itoldhim."Attheendofthebar.Don’tlooknow.Ibeensavinghimforya."

           "Veryfunny,"hesaid."SameoldCaulfield.Whenareyougoingtogrowup?"

           Iboredhimalot.Ireallydid.Heamusedme,though.Hewasoneofthoseguysthatsortofamusemealot.

           "How’syoursexlife?"Iaskedhim.Hehatedyoutoaskhimstufflikethat.

           "Relax,"hesaid."Justsitbackandrelax,forChrissake."

           "I’mrelaxed,"Isaid."How’sColumbia?Yalikeit?"

           "CertainlyIlikeit.IfIdidn’tlikeitIwouldn’thavegonethere,"hesaid.Hecouldbeprettyboringhimselfsometimes.

           "What’reyoumajoringin?"Iaskedhim."Perverts?"Iwasonlyhorsingaround.