Над пропастью во ржи

           WithaguylikeAckley,ifyoulookedupfromyourbookyouwereagoner.Youwereagoneranyway,butnotasquickifyoudidn’tlookuprightaway. 

           Hestartedwalkingaroundtheroom,veryslowandall,thewayhealwaysdid,pickingupyourpersonalstuffoffyourdeskandchiffonier.Healwayspickedupyourpersonalstuffandlookedatit.Boy,couldhegetonyournervessometimes. "Howwasthefencing?"hesaid.Hejustwantedmetoquitreadingandenjoyingmyself.Hedidn’tgiveadamnaboutthefencing."Wewin,orwhat?"hesaid. 

           "Nobodywon,"Isaid.Withoutlookingup,though. 

           "What?"hesaid.Healwaysmadeyousayeverythingtwice. 

           "Nobodywon,"Isaid.Isneakedalooktoseewhathewasfiddlingaroundwithonmychiffonier.HewaslookingatthispictureofthisgirlIusedtogoaroundwithinNewYork,SallyHayes. Hemust’vepickedupthatgoddampictureandlookedatitatleastfivethousandtimessinceIgotit.Healwaysputitbackinthewrongplace,too,whenhewasfinished.Hediditonpurpose.Youcouldtell. 

           "Nobodywon,"hesaid."Howcome?" 

           "Ileftthegoddamfoilsandstuffonthesubway."Istilldidn’tlookupathim. 

           "Onthesubway,forChrissake!Yalostthem,yamean?" 

           "Wegotonthewrongsubway.Ihadtokeepgettinguptolookatagoddammaponthewall." 

           Hecameoverandstoodrightinmylight. "Hey,"Isaid."I’vereadthissamesentenceabouttwentytimessinceyoucamein."