Над пропастью во ржи

           Iwasintheshowerandall,andevenIcouldhearhimlandoutside.ButIjustthoughtsomethingfelloutthewindow,aradiooradeskorsomething,notaboyoranything.ThenIheardeverybodyrunningthroughthecorridoranddownthestairs,soIputonmybathrobeandIrandownstairstoo,andtherewasoldJamesCastlelayingrightonthestonestepsandall.Hewasdead,andhisteeth,andblood,wereallovertheplace,andnobodywouldevengonearhim.HehadonthisturtlenecksweaterI’dlenthim.Alltheydidwiththeguysthatwereintheroomwithhimwasexpelthem.Theydidn’tevengotojail.

           ThatwasaboutallIcouldthinkof,though.ThosetwonunsIsawatbreakfastandthisboyJamesCastleIknewatElktonHills.Thefunnypartis,IhardlyevenknowJamesCastle,ifyouwanttoknowthetruth.Hewasoneoftheseveryquietguys.Hewasinmymathclass,buthewaswayoverontheothersideoftheroom,andhehardlyevergotuptoreciteorgototheblackboardoranything.Someguysinschoolhardlyevergetuptoreciteorgototheblackboard.IthinktheonlytimeIeverevenhadaconversationwithhimwasthattimeheaskedmeifhecouldborrowthisturtlenecksweaterIhad.Idamnneardroppeddeadwhenheaskedme,Iwassosurprisedandall.IrememberIwasbrushingmyteeth,inthecan,whenheaskedme.Hesaidhiscousinwascomingintotakehimforadriveandall.Ididn’tevenknowheknewIhadaturtlenecksweater.AllIknewabouthimwasthathisnamewasalwaysrightaheadofmeatrollcall.Cabel,R.,Cabel,W.,Castle,Caulfield—Icanstillrememberit.Ifyouwanttoknowthetruth,Ialmostdidn’tlendhimmysweater.JustbecauseIdidn’tknowhimtoowell.