Над пропастью во ржи

           God,wasIscared.Isortofhadmyarmsfolded,Iremember.Itwouldn’thavebeensobad,Idon’tthink,ifIhadn’thadjustmygoddampajamason.

           "Let’shaveit,chief."HecamerightuptowhereIwasstanding.That’sallhecouldsay."Let’shaveit,chief."Hewasarealmoron.

           "No."

           "Chief,you’regonnaforcemeinnaroughin’yaupalittlebit.Idon’twannadoit,butthat’sthewayitlooks,"hesaid."Youoweusfivebucks."

           "Idon’toweyoufivebucks,"Isaid."Ifyouroughmeup,I’llyelllikehell.I’llwakeupeverybodyinthehotel.Thepoliceandall."Myvoicewasshakinglikeabastard.

           "Goahead.Yellyourgoddamheadoff.Fine,"oldMauricesaid."Wantyourparentstoknowyouspentthenightwithawhore?High-classkidlikeyou?"Hewasprettysharp,inhiscrumbyway.Hereallywas.

           "Leavemealone.Ifyou’dsaidten,it’dbedifferent.Butyoudistinctly—"

           "Areyagonnaletushaveit?"Hehadmerightupagainstthedamndoor.Hewasalmoststandingontopofme,hiscrumbyoldhairystomachandall.

           "Leavemealone.Getthehelloutofmyroom,"Isaid.Istillhadmyarmsfoldedandall.God,whatajerkIwas.

           ThenSunnysaidsomethingforthefirsttime."Hey,Maurice.Wantmetogethiswallet?"shesaid."It’srightonthewutchamacallit."

           "Yeah,getit."