Над пропастью во ржи

           Thenyou’dpassbythisbigglasscase,withIndiansinsideitrubbingstickstogethertomakeafire,andasquawweavingablanket.Thesquawthatwasweavingtheblanketwassortofbendingover,andyoucouldseeherbosomandall.Weallusedtosneakagoodlookatit,eventhegirls,becausetheywereonlylittlekidsandtheydidn’thaveanymorebosomthanwedid.Then,justbeforeyouwentinsidetheauditorium,rightnearthedoors,youpassedthisEskimo.Hewassittingoveraholeinthisicylake,andhewasfishingthroughit.Hehadabouttwofishrightnexttothehole,thathe’dalreadycaught.Boy,thatmuseumwasfullofglasscases.Therewereevenmoreupstairs,withdeerinsidethemdrinkingatwaterholes,andbirdsflyingsouthforthewinter.Thebirdsnearestyouwereallstuffedandhunguponwires,andtheonesinbackwerejustpaintedonthewall,buttheyalllookedliketheywerereallyflyingsouth,andifyoubentyourheaddownandsortoflookedatthemupsidedown,theylookedinanevenbiggerhurrytoflysouth.Thebestthing,though,inthatmuseumwasthateverythingalwaysstayedrightwhereitwas.Nobody’dmove.Youcouldgothereahundredthousandtimes,andthatEskimowouldstillbejustfinishedcatchingthosetwofish,thebirdswouldstillbeontheirwaysouth,thedeerswouldstillbedrinkingoutofthatwaterhole,withtheirprettyantlersandtheirpretty,skinnylegs,andthatsquawwiththenakedbosomwouldstillbeweavingthatsameblanket.Nobody’dbedifferent.Theonlythingthatwouldbedifferentwouldbeyou.Notthatyou’dbesomucholderoranything.Itwouldn’tbethat,exactly.You’djustbedifferent,that’sall.You’dhaveanovercoatonthistime.Orthekidthatwasyourpartnerinlinethelasttimehadgotscarletfeverandyou’dhaveanewpartner.