Над пропастью во ржи

           "Listenasecond.Didn’ttheysaywhattimethey’d—"

           "Hefeelssorryforit,thedoctor.That’swhyhesticksthisblanketoverherfaceandeverythingandmakeshersuffocate.Thentheymakehimgotojailforlifeimprisonment,butthischildthathestucktheblanketoveritsheadcomestovisithimallthetimeandthankshimforwhathedid.Hewasamercykiller.Only,heknowshedeservestogotojailbecauseadoctorisn’tsupposedtotakethingsawayfromGod.Thisgirlinmyclass’smothertookus.AliceHolmborg,She’smybestfriend.She’stheonlygirlinthewhole—"

           "Waitasecond,willya?"Isaid."I’maskingyouaquestion.Didtheysaywhattimethey’dbeback,ordidn’tthey?"

           "No,butnottillverylate.Daddytookthecarandeverythingsotheywouldn’thavetoworryabouttrains.Wehavearadioinitnow!ExceptthatMothersaidnobodycanplayitwhenthecar’sintraffic."

           Ibegantorelax,sortof.ImeanIfinallyquitworryingaboutwhetherthey’dcatchmehomeornot.Ifiguredthehellwithit.Iftheydid,theydid.

           Youshould’veseenoldPhoebe.Shehadonthesebluepajamaswithredelephantsonthecollars.Elephantsknockherout.

           "Soitwasagoodpicture,huh?"Isaid.

           "Swell,exceptAlicehadacold,andhermotherkeptaskingherallthetimeifshefeltgrippy.Rightinthemiddleofthepicture.Alwaysinthemiddleofsomethingimportant,hermother’dleanallovermeandeverythingandaskAliceifshefeltgrippy.Itgotonmynerves."