Над пропастью во ржи

           Thenshesortofsatdownsidewaysonthechairthatwentwiththedeskintheroomandstartedjigglingherfootupanddown.Shecrossedherlegsandstartedjigglingthisonefootupanddown.Shewasverynervous,foraprostitute.Shereallywas.Ithinkitwasbecauseshewasyoungashell.Shewasaroundmyage.Isatdowninthebigchair,nexttoher,andofferedheracigarette."Idon’tsmoke,"shesaid.Shehadatinylittlewheeny-whinyvoice.Youcouldhardlyhearher.Sheneversaidthankyou,either,whenyouofferedhersomething.Shejustdidn’tknowanybetter.

           "Allowmetointroducemyself.MynameisJimSteele,"Isaid.

           "Yagotawatchonya?"shesaid.Shedidn’tcarewhatthehellmynamewas,naturally."Hey,howoldareyou,anyways?"

           "Me?Twenty-two."

           "Likefunyouare."

           Itwasafunnythingtosay.Itsoundedlikearealkid.You’dthinkaprostituteandallwouldsay"Likehellyouare"or"Cutthecrap"insteadof"Likefunyouare."

           "Howoldareyou?"Iaskedher.

           "Oldenoughtoknowbetter,"shesaid.Shewasreallywitty."Yagotawatchonya?"sheaskedmeagain,andthenshestoodupandpulledherdressoverherhead.

           Icertainlyfeltpeculiarwhenshedidthat.Imeanshediditsosuddenandall.