Над пропастью во ржи

           "Aren’tyougonnaride,too?"sheaskedme.Shewaslookingatmesortoffunny.Youcouldtellshewasn’ttoosoreatmeanymore.

           "MaybeIwillthenexttime.I’llwatchya,"Isaid."Gotyourticket?"

           "Yes."

           "Goahead,then—I’llbeonthisbenchrightoverhere.I’llwatchya."Iwentoverandsatdownonthisbench,andshewentandgotonthecarrousel.Shewalkedallaroundit.Imeanshewalkedonceallthewayaroundit.Thenshesatdownonthisbig,brown,beat-up-lookingoldhorse.Thenthecarrouselstarted,andIwatchedhergoaroundandaround.Therewereonlyaboutfiveorsixotherkidsontheride,andthesongthecarrouselwasplayingwas"SmokeGetsinYourEyes."Itwasplayingitveryjazzyandfunny.Allthekidskepttryingtograbforthegoldring,andsowasoldPhoebe,andIwassortofafraidshe’dfalloffthegoddamhorse,butIdidn’tsayanythingordoanything.Thethingwithkidsis,iftheywanttograbthegoldring,youhavetoletthemdoit,andnotsayanything.Iftheyfallofftheyfalloff,butit’sbadifyousayanythingtothem.

           Whentheridewasovershegotoffherhorseandcameovertome."Yourideonce,too,thistime,"shesaid.

           "No,I’lljustwatchya.IthinkI’lljustwatch,"Isaid.Igavehersomemoreofherdough."Here.Getsomemoretickets."

           Shetookthedoughoffme."I’mnotmadatyouanymore,"shesaid.

           "Iknow.Hurryup—thething’sgonnastartagain."

           Thenallofasuddenshegavemeakiss.Thensheheldherhandout,andsaid,"It’sraining.It’sstartingtorain."