Над пропастью во ржи

           ShekeptstandingtherewhilethesealionsweregettingfedandIstoodrightbehindher.Ididn’tputmyhandsonhershouldersagainoranythingbecauseifIhadshereallywould’vebeatitonme.Kidsarefunny.Youhavetowatchwhatyou’redoing.

           Shewouldn’twalkrightnexttomewhenweleftthesealions,butshedidn’twalktoofaraway.ShesortofwalkedononesideofthesidewalkandIwalkedontheotherside.Itwasn’ttoogorgeous,butitwasbetterthanhavingherwalkaboutamileawayfromme,likebefore.Wewentupandwatchedthebears,onthatlittlehill,forawhile,buttherewasn’tmuchtowatch.Onlyoneofthebearswasout,thepolarbear.Theotherone,thebrownone,wasinhisgoddamcaveandwouldn’tcomeout.Allyoucouldseewashisrearend.Therewasalittlekidstandingnexttome,withacowboyhatonpracticallyoverhisears,andhekepttellinghisfather,"Makehimcomeout,Daddy.Makehimcomeout."IlookedatoldPhoebe,butshewouldn’tlaugh.Youknowkidswhenthey’resoreatyou.Theywon’tlaughoranything.

           Afterweleftthebears,weleftthezooandcrossedoverthislittlestreetinthepark,andthenwewentthroughoneofthoselittletunnelsthatalwayssmellfromsomebody’stakingaleak.Itwasonthewaytothecarrousel.OldPhoebestillwouldn’ttalktomeoranything,butshewassortofwalkingnexttomenow.Itookaholdofthebeltatthebackofhercoat,justforthehellofit,butshewouldn’tletme.Shesaid,"Keepyourhandstoyourself,ifyoudon’tmind."Shewasstillsoreatme.Butnotassoreasshewasbefore.Anyway,wekeptgettingcloserandclosertothecarrouselandyoucouldstarttohearthatnuttymusicitalwaysplays.Itwasplaying"Oh,Marie!"ItplayedthatsamesongaboutfiftyyearsagowhenIwasalittlekid.That’sonenicethingaboutcarrousels,theyalwaysplaythesamesongs.