Над пропастью во ржи

           ItscaredhelloutofoldPhoebewhenIstarteddoingit,andshecameoverandtriedtomakemestop,butonceyougetstarted,youcan’tjuststoponagoddamdime.IwasstillsittingontheedgeofthebedwhenIdidit,andsheputheroldarmaroundmyneck,andIputmyarmaroundher,too,butIstillcouldn’tstopforalongtime.IthoughtIwasgoingtochoketodeathorsomething.Boy,IscaredhelloutofpooroldPhoebe.Thedamnwindowwasopenandeverything,andIcouldfeelhershiveringandall,becauseallshehadonwasherpajamas.Itriedtomakehergetbackinbed,butshewouldn’tgo.FinallyIstopped.Butitcertainlytookmealong,longtime.ThenIfinishedbuttoningmycoatandall.ItoldherI’dkeepintouchwithher.ShetoldmeIcouldsleepwithherifIwantedto,butIsaidno,thatI’dbetterbeatit,thatMr.Antoliniwaswaitingformeandall.ThenItookmyhuntinghatoutofmycoatpocketandgaveittoher.Shelikesthosekindofcrazyhats.Shedidn’twanttotakeit,butImadeher.I’llbetshesleptwithiton.Shereallylikesthosekindofhats.ThenItoldheragainI’dgiveherabuzzifIgotachance,andthenIleft.

           Itwasahelluvaloteasiergettingoutofthehousethanitwasgettingin,forsomereason.Foronething,Ididn’tgivemuchofadamnanymoreiftheycaughtme.Ireallydidn’t.Ifigurediftheycaughtme,theycaughtme.Ialmostwishedtheydid,inaway.

           Iwalkedallthewaydownstairs,insteadoftakingtheelevator.Iwentdownthebackstairs.Inearlybrokemyneckonabouttenmilliongarbagepails,butIgotoutallright.Theelevatorboydidn’tevenseeme.HeprobablystillthinksI’mupattheDicksteins’.