Над пропастью во ржи

           Hecouldtakesomethingveryjazzy,like"TinRoofBlues,"andwhistleitsoniceandeasy—rightwhilehewashangingstuffupinthecloset—thatitcouldkillyou.Naturally,InevertoldhimIthoughthewasaterrificwhistler.Imeanyoudon’tjustgouptosomebodyandsay,"You’reaterrificwhistler."ButIroomedwithhimforabouttwowholemonths,eventhoughheboredmetillIwashalfcrazy,justbecausehewassuchaterrificwhistler,thebestIeverheard.SoIdon’tknowaboutbores.Maybeyoushouldn’tfeeltoosorryifyouseesomeswellgirlgettingmarriedtothem.Theydon’thurtanybody,mostofthem,andmaybethey’resecretlyallterrificwhistlersorsomething.Whothehellknows?Notme.

           Finally,oldSallystartedcomingupthestairs,andIstarteddowntomeether.Shelookedterrific.Shereallydid.Shehadonthisblackcoatandsortofablackberet.Shehardlyeverworeahat,butthatberetlookednice.Thefunnypartis,IfeltlikemarryinghertheminuteIsawher.I’mcrazy.Ididn’tevenlikehermuch,andyetallofasuddenIfeltlikeIwasinlovewithherandwantedtomarryher.IsweartoGodI’mcrazy.Iadmitit.

           "Holden!"shesaid."It’smarveloustoseeyou!It’sbeenages."Shehadoneoftheseveryloud,embarrassingvoiceswhenyoumethersomewhere.Shegotawaywithitbecauseshewassodamngood-looking,butitalwaysgavemeapainintheass.

           "Swelltoseeyou,"Isaid.Imeantit,too."Howareya,anyway?"

           "Absolutelymarvelous.AmIlate?"

           Itoldherno,butshewasaroundtenminuteslate,asamatteroffact.Ididn’tgiveadamn,though.