Над пропастью во ржи

           "Ihadlunchwithyourdadacoupleofweeksago,"hesaidallofasudden."Didyouknowthat?"

           "No,Ididn’t."

           "You’reaware,ofcourse,thathe’sterriblyconcernedaboutyou."

           "Iknowit.Iknowheis,"Isaid.

           "Apparentlybeforehephonedmehe’djusthadalong,ratherharrowingletterfromyourlatestheadmaster,totheeffectthatyouweremakingabsolutelynoeffortatall.Cuttingclasses.Comingunpreparedtoallyourclasses.Ingeneral,beinganall-around—"

           "Ididn’tcutanyclasses.Youweren’tallowedtocutany.TherewereacoupleofthemIdidn’tattendonceinawhile,likethatOralExpressionItoldyouabout,butIdidn’tcutany."

           Ididn’tfeelatalllikediscussingit.Thecoffeemademystomachfeelalittlebetter,butIstillhadthisawfulheadache.

           Mr.Antolinilitanothercigarette.Hesmokedlikeafiend.Thenhesaid,"Frankly,Idon’tknowwhatthehelltosaytoyou,Holden."

           "Iknow.I’mveryhardtotalkto.Irealizethat."

           "Ihaveafeelingthatyou’reridingforsomekindofaterrible,terriblefall.ButIdon’thonestlyknowwhatkind...Areyoulisteningtome?"

           "Yes."

           Youcouldtellhewastryingtoconcentrateandall.