Над пропастью во ржи

           "Leavemywalletalone!"

           "Iawreddygotit,"Sunnysaid.Shewavedfivebucksatme."See?AllI’mtakin’isthefiveyouoweme.I’mnocrook."

           AllofasuddenIstartedtocry.I’dgiveanythingifIhadn’t,butIdid."No,you’renocrooks,"Isaid."You’rejuststealingfive—"

           "Shutup,"oldMauricesaid,andgavemeashove.

           "Leavehimalone,hey,"Sunnysaid."C’mon,hey.Wegotthedoughheowesus.Let’sgo.C’mon,hey."

           "I’mcomin’,"oldMauricesaid.Buthedidn’t.

           "Imeanit,Maurice,hey.Leavehimalone."

           "Who’shurtin’anybody?"hesaid,innocentashell.Thenwhathedid,hesnappedhisfingerveryhardonmypajamas.Iwon’ttellyouwherehesnappedit,butithurtlikehell.Itoldhimhewasagoddamdirtymoron."What’sthat?"hesaid.Heputhishandbehindhisear,likeadeafguy."What’sthat?WhatamI?"

           Iwasstillsortofcrying.Iwassodamnmadandnervousandall."You’readirtymoron,"Isaid."You’reastupidchiselingmoron,andinabouttwoyearsyou’llbeoneofthosescraggyguysthatcomeuptoyouonthestreetandaskforadimeforcoffee.You’llhavesnotalloveryourdirtyfilthyovercoat,andyou’llbe—"

           Thenhesmackedme.Ididn’teventrytogetoutofthewayorduckoranything.AllIfeltwasthisterrificpunchinmystomach.