Над пропастью во ржи

           Hewastellingusallaboutwhataswellguyhewas, whatahot-shotandall, thenallofasuddenthisguysittingintherowinfrontofme,EdgarMarsalla, laidthisterrificfart. Itwasaverycrudethingtodo,inchapelandall, butitwasalsoquiteamusing. OldMarsalla. Hedamnnearblewtheroofoff. Hardlyanybodylaughedoutloud,andoldOssenburgermadeoutlikehedidn’tevenhearit, butoldThurmer,theheadmaster,wassittingrightnexttohimontherostrumandall,andyoucouldtellheheardit. Boy,washesore. Hedidn’tsayanythingthen,butthenextnighthemadeushavecompulsorystudyhallintheacademicbuildingandhecameupandmadeaspeech. Hesaidthattheboythathadcreatedthedisturbanceinchapelwasn’tfittogotoPencey. WetriedtogetoldMarsallatoripoffanotherone,rightwhileoldThurmerwasmakinghisspeech, buthewasn’tintherightmood. Anyway,that’swhereIlivedatPencey.OldOssenburgerMemorialWing,inthenewdorms. 

           Itwasprettynicetogetbacktomyroom,afterIleftoldSpencer, becauseeverybodywasdownatthegame,andtheheatwasoninourroom,forachange. Itfeltsortofcosy. Itookoffmycoatandmytieandunbuttonedmyshirtcollar; andthenIputonthishatthatI’dboughtinNewYorkthatmorning. Itwasthisredhuntinghat,withoneofthosevery,verylongpeaks. Isawitinthewindowofthissportsstorewhenwegotoutofthesubway, justafterInoticedI’dlostallthegoddamfoils. Itonlycostmeabuck. ThewayIworeit,Iswungtheoldpeakwayaroundtotheback—verycorny,I’lladmit,butIlikeditthatway.Ilookedgoodinitthatway. ThenIgotthisbookIwasreadingandsatdowninmychair. Thereweretwochairsineveryroom. Ihadoneandmyroommate,WardStradlater,hadone. Thearmswereinsadshape,becauseeverybodywasalwayssittingonthem,buttheywereprettycomfortablechairs.