Над пропастью во ржи

           I’daskthemalltovisitmesometimeiftheywantedto,butIwouldn’tinsistoranything.WhatI’ddo,I’dletoldPhoebecomeoutandvisitmeinthesummertimeandonChristmasvacationandEastervacation.AndI’dletD.B.comeoutandvisitmeforawhileifhewantedanice,quietplaceforhiswriting,buthecouldn’twriteanymoviesinmycabin,onlystoriesandbooks.I’dhavethisrulethatnobodycoulddoanythingphonywhentheyvisitedme.Ifanybodytriedtodoanythingphony,theycouldn’tstay.

           AllofasuddenIlookedattheclockinthecheckroomanditwastwenty-fiveofone.IbegantogetscaredthatmaybethatoldladyintheschoolhadtoldthatotherladynottogiveoldPhoebemymessage.Ibegantogetscaredthatmaybeshe’dtoldhertoburnitorsomething.Itreallyscaredhelloutofme.IreallywantedtoseeoldPhoebebeforeIhittheroad.ImeanIhadherChristmasdoughandall.

           Finally,Isawher.Isawherthroughtheglasspartofthedoor.ThereasonIsawher,shehadmycrazyhuntinghaton—youcouldseethathatabouttenmilesaway.

           Iwentoutthedoorsandstarteddownthesestonestairstomeether.ThethingIcouldn’tunderstand,shehadthisbigsuitcasewithher.ShewasjustcomingacrossFifthAvenue,andshewasdraggingthisgoddambigsuitcasewithher.Shecouldhardlydragit.WhenIgotupcloser,Isawitwasmyoldsuitcase,theoneIusedtousewhenIwasatWhooton.Icouldn’tfigureoutwhatthehellshewasdoingwithit."Hi,"shesaidwhenshegotupclose.Shewasalloutofbreathfromthatcrazysuitcase.

           "Ithoughtmaybeyouweren’tcoming,"Isaid."Whatthehell’sinthatbag?Idon’tneedanything.I’mjustgoingthewayIam.I’mnoteventakingthebagsIgotatthestation.Whatthehellyagotinthere?"