Над пропастью во ржи

           I’vewatchedthatguysinceIwasabouteightyearsold.MybrotherAllieandI,ifwewerewithourparentsandall,weusedtomoveourseatsandgowaydownsowecouldwatchhim.He’sthebestdrummerIeversaw.Heonlygetsachancetobangthemacoupleoftimesduringawholepiece,butheneverlooksboredwhenheisn’tdoingit.Thenwhenhedoesbangthem,hedoesitsoniceandsweet,withthisnervousexpressiononhisface.OnetimewhenwewenttoWashingtonwithmyfather,Alliesenthimapostcard,butI’llbethenevergotit.Weweren’ttoosurehowtoaddressit.

           AftertheChristmasthingwasover,thegoddampicturestarted.ItwassoputridIcouldn’ttakemyeyesoffit.ItwasaboutthisEnglishguy,Alecsomething,thatwasinthewarandloseshismemoryinthehospitalandall.Hecomesoutofthehospitalcarryingacaneandlimpingallovertheplace,alloverLondon,notknowingwhothehellheis.He’sreallyaduke,buthedoesn’tknowit.Thenhemeetsthisnice,homey,sinceregirlgettingonabus.Hergoddamhatblowsoffandhecatchesit,andthentheygoupstairsandsitdownandstarttalkingaboutCharlesDickens.He’sboththeirfavoriteauthorandall.He’scarryingthiscopyofOliverTwistandso’sshe.Icould’vepuked.Anyway,theyfellinloverightaway,onaccountofthey’rebothsonutsaboutCharlesDickensandall,andhehelpsherrunherpublishingbusiness.She’sapublisher,thegirl.Only,she’snotdoingsohot,becauseherbrother’sadrunkardandhespendsalltheirdough.He’saverybitterguy,thebrother,becausehewasadoctorinthewarandnowhecan’toperateanymorebecausehisnervesareshot,soheboozesallthetime,buthe’sprettywittyandall.Anyway,oldAlecwritesabook,andthisgirlpublishesit,andtheybothmakeahatfulofdoughonit.They’reallsettogetmarriedwhenthisothergirl,oldMarcia,showsup.