Над пропастью во ржи

           Stradlaterkepttakingtheseshadowpunchesdownatmyshoulder.Hehadhistoothbrushinhishand,andheputitinhismouth. "What’dyoudo?"Isaid."GiveherthetimeinEdBanky’sgoddamcar?"Myvoicewasshakingsomethingawful. 

           "Whatathingtosay.Wantmetowashyourmouthoutwithsoap?" 

           "Didyou?" 

           "That’saprofessionalsecret,buddy." 

           ThisnextpartIdon’tremembersohot.AllIknowisIgotupfromthebed,likeIwasgoingdowntothecanorsomething,andthenItriedtosockhim,withallmymight,rightsmackinthetoothbrush,soitwouldsplithisgoddamthroatopen. Only,Imissed.Ididn’tconnect.AllIdidwassortofgethimonthesideoftheheadorsomething.Itprobablyhurthimalittlebit,butnotasmuchasIwanted. Itprobablywould’vehurthimalot,butIdiditwithmyrighthand,andIcan’tmakeagoodfistwiththathand.OnaccountofthatinjuryItoldyouabout. 

           Anyway,thenextthingIknew,Iwasonthegoddamfloorandhewassittingonmychest,withhisfaceallred.Thatis,hehadhisgoddamkneesonmychest,andheweighedaboutaton.Hehadholdofmywrists,too,soIcouldn’ttakeanothersockathim.I’d’vekilledhim. 

           "Whatthehell’sthematterwithyou?"hekeptsaying,andhisstupidracekeptgettingredderandredder. 

           "Getyourlousykneesoffmychest,"Itoldhim.Iwasalmostbawling.Ireallywas."Goon,getoffame,yacrumbybastard."