Над пропастью во ржи

           They’dlookliketheyhadbignosesortheirearsstuckout. I’vehadthatexperiencefrequently. 

           Anyway,IwassittingonthewashbowlnexttowhereStradlaterwasshaving,sortofturningthewateronandoff. Istillhadmyredhuntinghaton,withthepeakaroundtothebackandall. Ireallygotabangoutofthathat. 

           "Hey,"Stradlatersaid. "Wannadomeabigfavor?" 

           "What?"Isaid. Nottooenthusiastic. Hewasalwaysaskingyoutodohimabigfavor. Youtakeaveryhandsomeguy,oraguythatthinkshe’sarealhot-shot,andthey’realwaysaskingyoutodothemabigfavor. Justbecausethey’recrazyaboutthemseif,theythinkyou’recrazyaboutthem,too,andthatyou’rejustdyingtodothemafavor. It’ssortoffunny,inaway. 

           "Yougoin’outtonight? "hesaid. 

           "Imight.Imightnot.Idon’tknow. Why?" 

           "IgotaboutahundredpagestoreadforhistoryforMonday,"hesaid. "How‘boutwritingacompositionforme,forEnglish? I’llbeupthecreekifIdon’tgetthegoddamthinginbyMonday,thereasonIask. How‘boutit?" 

           Itwasveryironical. Itreallywas. 

           "I’mtheonethat’sflunkingoutofthegoddamplace,andyou’reaskingmetowriteyouagoddamcomposition,"Isaid. 

           "Yeah,Iknow. Thethingis,though,I’llbeupthecreekifIdon’tgetitin. Beabuddy. Beabuddyroo. Okay?"