Над пропастью во ржи

           "Youdon’tcomefromNewYork,doyou?"Isaidfinally.That’sallIcouldthinkof.

           "Hollywood,"shesaid.Thenshegotupandwentovertowhereshe’dputherdressdown,onthebed."Yagotahanger?Idon’twanttogetmydressallwrinkly.It’sbrand-clean."

           "Sure,"Isaidrightaway.Iwasonlytoogladtogetupanddosomething.Itookherdressovertotheclosetandhungitupforher.Itwasfunny.ItmademefeelsortofsadwhenIhungitup.Ithoughtofhergoinginastoreandbuyingit,andnobodyinthestoreknowingshewasaprostituteandall.Thesalesmanprobablyjustthoughtshewasaregulargirlwhensheboughtit.Itmademefeelsadashell—Idon’tknowwhyexactly.

           Isatdownagainandtriedtokeeptheoldconversationgoing.Shewasalousyconversationalist."Doyouworkeverynight?"Iaskedher—itsoundedsortofawful,afterI’dsaidit.

           "Yeah."Shewaswalkingallaroundtheroom.Shepickedupthemenuoffthedeskandreadit.

           "Whatdoyoudoduringtheday?"

           Shesortofshruggedhershoulders.Shewasprettyskinny."Sleep.Gototheshow."Sheputdownthemenuandlookedatme."Let’sgo,hey.Ihaven’tgotall—"

           "Look,"Isaid."Idon’tfeelverymuchlikemyselftonight.I’vehadaroughnight.HonesttoGod.I’llpayyouandall,butdoyoumindverymuchifwedon’tdoit?Doyoumindverymuch?"