Над пропастью во ржи

           Itnearlykilledme,butIdidn’tsayanything.Ijustpickeditupandstuckitinmycoatpocket.

           "Comeon,hey.I’llwalkyoubacktoschool,"Isaid.

           "I’mnotgoingbacktoschool."

           Ididn’tknowwhattosaywhenshesaidthat.Ijuststoodthereforacoupleofminutes.

           "Youhavetogobacktoschool.Youwanttobeinthatplay,don’tyou?YouwanttobeBenedictArnold,don’tyou?"

           "No."

           "Sureyoudo.Certainlyyoudo.C’mon,now,let’sgo,"Isaid."Inthefirstplace,I’mnotgoingawayanywhere,Itoldyou.I’mgoinghome.I’mgoinghomeassoonasyougobacktoschool.FirstI’mgonnagodowntothestationandgetmybags,andthenI’mgonnagostraight—"

           "IsaidI’mnotgoingbacktoschool.Youcandowhatyouwanttodo,butI’mnotgoingbacktoschool,"shesaid."Soshutup."Itwasthefirsttimesheevertoldmetoshutup.Itsoundedterrible.God,itsoundedterrible.Itsoundedworsethanswearing.Shestillwouldn’tlookatmeeither,andeverytimeIsortofputmyhandonhershoulderorsomething,shewouldn’tletme.

           "Listen,doyouwanttogoforawalk?"Iaskedher."Doyouwanttotakeawalkdowntothezoo?IfIletyounotgobacktoschoolthisafternoonandgoforwalk,willyoucutoutthiscrazystuff?"