Над пропастью во ржи

           "Noneofyourbusiness,"shesaid.Shecanbeverysnottysometimes.Shecanbequitesnotty."Isupposeyoufailedineverysinglesubjectagain,"shesaid—verysnotty.Itwassortoffunny,too,inaway.Shesoundslikeagoddamschoolteachersometimes,andshe’sonlyalittlechild.

           "No,Ididn’t,"Isaid."IpassedEnglish."Then,justforthehellofit,Igaveherapinchonthebehind.Itwasstickingwayoutinthebreeze,thewayshewaslayingonherside.Shehashardlyanybehind.Ididn’tdoithard,butshetriedtohitmyhandanyway,butshemissed.

           Thenallofasudden,shesaid,"Oh,whydidyoudoit?"ShemeantwhydidIgettheaxagain.Itmademesortofsad,thewayshesaidit.

           "Oh,God,Phoebe,don’taskme.I’msickofeverybodyaskingmethat,"Isaid."Amillionreasonswhy.ItwasoneoftheworstschoolsIeverwentto.Itwasfullofphonies.Andmeanguys.Youneversawsomanymeanguysinyourlife.Forinstance,ifyouwerehavingabullsessioninsomebody’sroom,andsomebodywantedtocomein,nobody’dlettheminiftheyweresomedopey,pimplyguy.Everybodywasalwayslockingtheirdoorwhensomebodywantedtocomein.AndtheyhadthisgoddamsecretfraternitythatIwastooyellownottojoin.Therewasthisonepimply,boringguy,RobertAckley,thatwantedtogetin.Hekepttryingtojoin,andtheywouldn’tlethim.Justbecausehewasboringandpimply.Idon’tevenfeelliketalkingaboutit.Itwasastinkingschool.Takemyword."

           OldPhoebedidn’tsayanything,butshewaslistening.Icouldtellbythebackofherneckthatshewaslistening.Shealwayslistenswhenyoutellhersomething.Andthefunnypartissheknows,halfthetime,whatthehellyou’retalkingabout.Shereallydoes.