Над пропастью во ржи

           "Gohome,Mac,likeagoodguy.Gohomeandhitthesack."

           "Nohometogoto.Nokidding—youneedamanager?"

           Hedidn’tanswerme.Hejustwentout.Hewasallthroughcombinghishairandpattingitandall,soheleft.LikeStradlater.Allthesehandsomeguysarethesame.Whenthey’redonecombingtheirgoddamhair,theybeatitonyou.

           WhenIfinallygotdownofftheradiatorandwentouttothehat-checkroom,Iwascryingandall.Idon’tknowwhy,butIwas.IguessitwasbecauseIwasfeelingsodamndepressedandlonesome.Then,whenIwentouttothecheckroom,Icouldn’tfindmygoddamcheck.Thehat-checkgirlwasveryniceaboutit,though.Shegavememycoatanyway.Andmy"LittleShirleyBeans"record—Istillhaditwithmeandall.Igaveherabuckforbeingsonice,butshewouldn’ttakeit.Shekepttellingmetogohomeandgotobed.Isortoftriedtomakeadatewithherforwhenshegotthroughworking,butshewouldn’tdoit.Shesaidshewasoldenoughtobemymotherandall.IshowedhermygoddamgrayhairandtoldherIwasforty-two—Iwasonlyhorsingaround,naturally.Shewasnice,though.Ishowedhermygoddamredhuntinghat,andshelikedit.ShemademeputitonbeforeIwentout,becausemyhairwasstillprettywet.Shewasallright.

           Ididn’tfeeltoodrunkanymorewhenIwentoutside,butitwasgettingverycoldoutagain,andmyteethstartedchatteringlikehell.Icouldn’tmakethemstop.IwalkedovertoMadisonAvenueandstartedtowaitaroundforabusbecauseIdidn’thavehardlyanymoneyleftandIhadtostarteconomizingoncabsandall.ButIdidn’tfeellikegettingonadamnbus.Andbesides,Ididn’tevenknowwhereIwassupposedtogo.