Над пропастью во ржи

           "HoldenCaulfield.Howareya?"

           "Holden!I’mfine!Howareyou?"

           "Swell.Listen.Howareya,anyway?Imeanhow’sschool?"

           "Fine,"shesaid."Imean—youknow."

           "Swell.Well,listen.Iwaswonderingifyouwerebusytoday.It’sSunday,butthere’salwaysoneortwomatineesgoingonSunday.Benefitsandthatstuff.Wouldyoucaretogo?"

           "I’dloveto.Grand."

           Grand.Ifthere’sonewordIhate,it’sgrand.It’ssophony.Forasecond,Iwastemptedtotellhertoforgetaboutthematinee.Butwechewedthefatforawhile.Thatis,shechewedit.Youcouldn’tgetawordinedgewise.FirstshetoldmeaboutsomeHarvardguy—itprobablywasafreshman,butshedidn’tsay,naturally—thatwasrushinghelloutofher.Callingherupnightandday.Nightandday—thatkilledme.Thenshetoldmeaboutsomeotherguy,someWestPointcadet,thatwascuttinghisthroatoverhertoo.

           Bigdeal.ItoldhertomeetmeundertheclockattheBiltmoreattwoo’clock,andnottobelate,becausetheshowprobablystartedattwo-thirty.Shewasalwayslate.ThenIhungup.Shegavemeapainintheass,butshewasverygood-looking.

           AfterImadethedatewitholdSally,Igotoutofbedandgotdressedandpackedmybag.ItookalookoutthewindowbeforeIlefttheroom,though,toseehowallthepervertsweredoing,buttheyallhadtheirshadesdown.