Над пропастью во ржи

           "Hey,isshegood-looking?"Iaskedhim."Idon’twantanyoldbag."

           "Nooldbag.Don’tworryaboutit,chief."

           "WhodoIpay?"

           "Her,"hesaid."Let’sgo,chief."Heshutthedoors,practicallyrightinmyface.

           Iwenttomyroomandputsomewateronmyhair,butyoucan’treallycombacrewcutoranything.ThenItestedtoseeifmybreathstankfromsomanycigarettesandtheScotchandsodasIdrankatErnie’s.Allyoudoisholdyourhandunderyourmouthandblowyourbreathuptowardtheoldnostrils.Itdidn’tseemtostinkmuch,butIbrushedmyteethanyway.ThenIputonanothercleanshirt.IknewIdidn’thavetogetalldolledupforaprostituteoranything,butitsortofgavemesomethingtodo.Iwasalittlenervous.Iwasstartingtofeelprettysexyandall,butIwasalittlenervousanyway.Ifyouwanttoknowthetruth,I’mavirgin.Ireallyam.I’vehadquiteafewopportunitiestolosemyvirginityandall,butI’venevergotaroundtoityet.Somethingalwayshappens.Forinstance,ifyou’reatagirl’shouse,herparentsalwayscomehomeatthewrongtime—oryou’reafraidtheywill.Orifyou’reinthebackseatofsomebody’scar,there’salwayssomebody’sdateinthefrontseat—somegirl,Imean—thatalwayswantstoknowwhat’sgoingonalloverthewholegoddamcar.Imeansomegirlinfrontkeepsturningaroundtoseewhatthehell’sgoingon.Anyway,somethingalwayshappens.Icamequiteclosetodoingitacoupleoftimes,though.Onetimeinparticular,Iremember.Somethingwentwrong,though—Idon’tevenrememberwhatanymore.