Над пропастью во ржи

           Hestoodthere,readingit,andsortofstrokinghisbarechestandstomach,withthisverystupidexpressiononhisface.Hewasalwaysstrokinghisstomachorhischest.Hewasmadabouthimself. 

           Allofasudden,hesaid, "ForChrissake,Holden.Thisisaboutagoddambaseballglove." 

           "Sowhat?"Isaid.Coldashell. 

           "Wuddayameansowhat?Itoldyaithadtobeaboutagoddamroomorahouseorsomething." 

           "Yousaidithadtobedescriptive.Whatthehell’sthedifferenceifit’saboutabaseballglove?" 

           "Goddamnit."Hewassoreashell.Hewasreallyfurious."Youalwaysdoeverythingbackasswards."Helookedatme. "Nowonderyou’reflunkingthehelloutofhere,"hesaid."Youdon’tdoonedamnthingthewayyou’resupposedto.Imeanit.Notonedamnthing." 

           "Allright,giveitbacktome,then,"Isaid.Iwentoverandpulleditrightoutofhisgoddamhand.ThenItoreitup. 

           "Whatthehelljadothatfor?"hesaid. 

           Ididn’tevenanswerhim.Ijustthrewthepiecesinthewastebasket.ThenIlaydownonmybed,andwebothdidn’tsayanythingforalongtime.Hegotallundressed,downtohisshorts,andIlayonmybedandlitacigarette. Youweren’tallowedtosmokeinthedorm,butyoucoulddoitlateatnightwheneverybodywasasleeporoutandnobodycouldsmellthesmoke.