Над пропастью во ржи

           OldSelmaThurmer—shewastheheadmaster’sdaughter —showedupatthegamesquiteoften, butshewasn’texactlythetypethatdroveyoumadwithdesire. Shewasaprettynicegirl,though. IsatnexttoheronceinthebusfromAgerstownandwesortofstruckupaconversation. Ilikedher. Shehadabignoseandhernailswereallbittendownandbleedy-looking andshehadonthosedamnfalsiesthatpointallovertheplace, butyoufeltsortofsorryforher. WhatIlikedabouther,shedidn’tgiveyoualotofhorsemanureaboutwhatagreatguyherfatherwas. Sheprobablyknewwhataphonyslobhewas. 

           ThereasonIwasstandingwayuponThomsenHill,insteadofdownatthegame, wasbecauseI’djustgotbackfromNewYorkwiththefencingteam. Iwasthegoddammanagerofthefencingteam. Verybigdeal. We’dgoneintoNewYorkthatmorningforthisfencingmeetwithMcBurneySchool. Only,wedidn’thavethemeet. Ileftallthefoilsandequipmentandstuffonthegoddamsubway. Itwasn’tallmyfault. Ihadtokeepgettinguptolookatthismap,sowe’dknowwheretogetoff. SowegotbacktoPenceyaroundtwo-thirtyinsteadofarounddinnertime. Thewholeteamostracizedmethewholewaybackonthetrain. Itwasprettyfunny,inaway. 

           TheotherreasonIwasn’tdownatthegame wasbecauseIwasonmywaytosaygood-bytooldSpencer,myhistoryteacher. Hehadthegrippe,andIfiguredIprobablywouldn’tseehimagaintillChristmasvacationstarted. HewrotemethisnotesayinghewantedtoseemebeforeIwenthome. HeknewIwasn’tcomingbacktoPencey. 

           Iforgottotellyouaboutthat. Theykickedmeout. Iwasn’tsupposedtocomebackafterChristmasvacationonaccountofIwasflunkingfoursubjects andnotapplyingmyselfandall.