Над пропастью во ржи

           "MaybeIdon’t!Maybeyoudon’t,either,"oldSallysaid.Webothhatedeachother’sgutsbythattime.Youcouldseetherewasn’tanysensetryingtohaveanintelligentconversation.IwassorryashellI’dstartedit.

           "C’mon,let’sgetoutahere,"Isaid."Yougivemearoyalpainintheass,ifyouwanttoknowthetruth."

           Boy,didshehittheceilingwhenIsaidthat.IknowIshouldn’t’vesaidit,andIprobablywouldn’t’veordinarily,butshewasdepressingthehelloutofme.UsuallyIneversaycrudethingslikethattogirls.Boy,didshehittheceiling.Iapologizedlikeamadman,butshewouldn’tacceptmyapology.Shewasevencrying.Whichscaredmealittlebit,becauseIwasalittleafraidshe’dgohomeandtellherfatherIcalledherapainintheass.Herfatherwasoneofthosebigsilentbastards,andhewasn’ttoocrazyaboutmeanyhow.HeoncetoldoldSallyIwastoogoddamnoisy.

           "Nokidding.I’msorry,"Ikepttellingher.

           "You’resorry.You’resorry.That’sveryfunny,"shesaid.Shewasstillsortofcrying,andallofasuddenIdidfeelsortofsorryI’dsaidit.

           "C’mon,I’lltakeyahome.Nokidding."

           "Icangohomebymyself,thankyou.IfyouthinkI’dletyoutakemehome,you’remad.Noboyeversaidthattomeinmyentirelife."

           Thewholethingwassortoffunny,inaway,ifyouthoughtaboutit,andallofasuddenIdidsomethingIshouldn’thave.Ilaughed.AndIhaveoneoftheseveryloud,stupidlaughs.ImeanifIeversatbehindmyselfinamovieorsomething,I’dprobablyleanoverandtellmyselftopleaseshutup.ItmadeoldSallymadderthanever.