Над пропастью во ржи

           "SupposingIwenttoyourfatherandhadhimpsychoanalyzemeandall,"Isaid."Whatwouldhedotome?Imeanwhatwouldhedotome?"

           "Hewouldn’tdoagoddamthingtoyou.He’dsimplytalktoyou,andyou’dtalktohim,forGod’ssake.Foronething,he’dhelpyoutorecognizethepatternsofyourmind."

           "Thewhat?"

           "Thepatternsofyourmind.Yourmindrunsin—Listen.I’mnotgivinganelementarycourseinpsychoanalysis.Ifyou’reinterested,callhimupandmakeanappointment.Ifyou’renot,don’t.Icouldn’tcareless,frankly."

           Iputmyhandonhisshoulder.Boy,heamusedme."You’rearealfriendlybastard,"Itoldhim."Youknowthat?"

           Hewaslookingathiswristwatch."Ihavetotear,"hesaid,andstoodup."Niceseeingyou."Hegotthebartenderandtoldhimtobringhimhischeck.

           "Hey,"Isaid,justbeforehebeatit."Didyourfathereverpsychoanalyzeyou?"

           "Me?Whydoyouask?"

           "Noreason.Didhe,though?Hashe?"

           "Notexactly.He’shelpedmetoadjustmyselftoacertainextent,butanextensiveanalysishasn’tbeennecessary.Whydoyouask?"

           "Noreason.Iwasjustwondering."

           "Well.Takeiteasy,"hesaid.Hewasleavinghistipandallandhewasstartingtogo.