Над пропастью во ржи

           "Ithoughtthecarrouselwasclosedinthewintertime,"oldPhoebesaid.Itwasthefirsttimeshepracticallysaidanything.Sheprobablyforgotshewassupposedtobesoreatme.

           "Maybebecauseit’saroundChristmas,"Isaid.

           Shedidn’tsayanythingwhenIsaidthat.Sheprobablyrememberedshewassupposedtobesoreatme.

           "Doyouwanttogoforarideonit?"Isaid.Iknewsheprobablydid.Whenshewasatinylittlekid,andAllieandD.B.andIusedtogototheparkwithher,shewasmadaboutthecarrousel.Youcouldn’tgetheroffthegoddamthing.

           "I’mtoobig."shesaid.Ithoughtshewasn’tgoingtoanswerme,butshedid.

           "No,you’renot.Goon.I’llwaitforya.Goon,"Isaid.Wewererighttherethen.Therewereafewkidsridingonit,mostlyverylittlekids,andafewparentswerewaitingaroundoutside,sittingonthebenchesandall.WhatIdidwas,IwentuptothewindowwheretheyselltheticketsandboughtoldPhoebeaticket.ThenIgaveittoher.Shewasstandingrightnexttome."Here,"Isaid."Waitasecond—taketherestofyourdough,too."Istartedgivinghertherestofthedoughshe’dlentme.

           "Youkeepit.Keepitforme,"shesaid.Thenshesaidrightafterward—"Please."

           That’sdepressing,whensomebodysays"please"toyou.Imeanifit’sPhoebeorsomebody.Thatdepressedthehelloutofme.ButIputthedoughbackinmypocket.