Над пропастью во ржи

           "Mustwepursuethishorribletrendofthought?"

           Ididn’tsayanything.Iwassortofafraidhe’dgetupandleaveonmeifIdidn’tshutup.SoallIdidwas,Iorderedanotherdrink.Ifeltlikegettingstinkingdrunk.

           "Who’reyougoingaroundwithnow?"Iaskedhim."Youfeelliketellingme?"

           "Nobodyyouknow."

           "Yeah,butwho?Imightknowher."

           "GirllivesintheVillage.Sculptress.Ifyoumustknow."

           "Yeah?Nokidding?Howoldisshe?"

           "I’veneveraskedher,forGod’ssake."

           "Well,aroundhowold?"

           "Ishouldimagineshe’sinherlatethirties,"oldLucesaid.

           "Inherlatethirties?Yeah?Youlikethat?"Iaskedhim."Youlike‘emthatold?"ThereasonIwasaskingwasbecausehereallyknewquiteabitaboutsexandall.HewasoneofthefewguysIknewthatdid.Helosthisvirginitywhenhewasonlyfourteen,inNantucket.Hereallydid.

           "Ilikeamatureperson,ifthat’swhatyoumean.Certainly."

           "Youdo?Why?Nokidding,theybetterforsexandall?"

           "Listen.Let’sgetonethingstraight.IrefusetoansweranytypicalCaulfieldquestionstonight.Wheninhellareyougoingtogrowup?"