Над пропастью во ржи

           "Areyouallalone,baby?"oldLillianaskedme.Shewasblockingupthewholegoddamtrafficintheaisle.Youcouldtellshelikedtoblockupalotoftraffic.Thiswaiterwaswaitingforhertomoveoutoftheway,butshedidn’tevennoticehim.Itwasfunny.Youcouldtellthewaiterdidn’tlikehermuch,youcouldtelleventheNavyguydidn’tlikehermuch,eventhoughhewasdatingher.AndIdidn’tlikehermuch.Nobodydid.Youhadtofeelsortofsorryforher,inaway."Don’tyouhaveadate,baby?"sheaskedme.Iwasstandingupnow,andshedidn’teventellmetositdown.Shewasthetypethatkeepsyoustandingupforhours."Isn’thehandsome?"shesaidtotheNavyguy."Holden,you’regettinghandsomerbytheminute."TheNavyguytoldhertocomeon.Hetoldhertheywereblockingupthewholeaisle."Holden,comejoinus,"oldLilliansaid."Bringyourdrink."

           "Iwasjustleaving,"Itoldher."Ihavetomeetsomebody."Youcouldtellshewasjusttryingtogetingoodwithme.SothatI’dtelloldD.B.aboutit.

           "Well,youlittleso-and-so.Allrightforyou.TellyourbigbrotherIhatehim,whenyouseehim."

           Thensheleft.TheNavyguyandItoldeachotherweweregladto’vemeteachother.Whichalwayskillsme.I’malwayssaying"Gladto’vemetyou"tosomebodyI’mnotatallgladImet.Ifyouwanttostayalive,youhavetosaythatstuff,though.

           AfterI’dtoldherIhadtomeetsomebody,Ididn’thaveanygoddamchoiceexcepttoleave.