Над пропастью во ржи

           Youdidn’tknowthisguy,Mr.Vinson.Imeanhewasveryintelligentandall,butyoucouldtellhedidn’thavetoomuchbrains."

           "Coffee,gentlemen,finally,"Mrs.Antolinisaid.Shecameincarryingthistraywithcoffeeandcakesandstuffonit."Holden,don’tyouevenpeekatme.I’mamess."

           "Hello,Mrs.Antolini,"Isaid.Istartedtogetupandall,butMr.Antolinigotholdofmyjacketandpulledmebackdown.OldMrs.Antolini’shairwasfullofthoseironcurlerjobs,andshedidn’thaveanylipstickoranythingon.Shedidn’tlooktoogorgeous.Shelookedprettyoldandall.

           "I’llleavethisrighthere.Justdivein,youtwo,"shesaid.Sheputthetraydownonthecigarettetable,pushingalltheseglassesoutoftheway."How’syourmother,Holden?"

           "She’sfine,thanks.Ihaven’tseenhertoorecently,butthelastI—"

           "Darling,ifHoldenneedsanything,everything’sinthelinencloset.Thetopshelf.I’mgoingtobed.I’mexhausted,"Mrs.Antolinisaid.Shelookedit,too."Canyouboysmakeupthecouchbyyourselves?"

           "We’lltakecareofeverything.Yourunalongtobed,"Mr.Antolinisaid.HegaveMrs.Antoliniakissandshesaidgood-bytomeandwentinthebedroom.Theywerealwayskissingeachotheralotinpublic.

           Ihadpartofacupofcoffeeandabouthalfofsomecakethatwasashardasarock.AlloldMr.Antolinihadwasanotherhighball,though.Hemakesthemstrong,too,youcouldtell.Hemaygettobeanalcoholicifhedoesn’twatchhisstep.