Над пропастью во ржи

           "Wesometimesfeelhe’snotaterriblygoodmixer." 

           "Howdoyoumean?" 

           "Well.He’saverysensitiveboy.He’sreallyneverbeenaterriblygoodmixerwithotherboys.Perhapshetakesthingsalittlemoreseriouslythanheshouldathisage." 

           Sensitive.Thatkilledme.ThatguyMorrowwasaboutassensitiveasagoddamtoiletseat. 

           Igaveheragoodlook.Shedidn’tlooklikeanydopetome.Shelookedlikeshemighthaveaprettydamngoodideawhatabastardshewasthemotherof. Butyoucan’talwaystell—withsomebody’smother,Imean.Mothersareallslightlyinsane.Thethingis,though,IlikedoldMorrow’smother.Shewasallright. "Wouldyoucareforacigarette?"Iaskedher. 

           Shelookedallaround. "Idon’tbelievethisisasmoker,Rudolf,"shesaid.Rudolf.Thatkilledme. 

           "That’sallright.Wecansmoketilltheystartscreamingatus,"Isaid. Shetookacigaretteoffme,andIgaveheralight. 

           Shelookednice,smoking.Sheinhaledandall,butshedidn’twolfthesmokedown,thewaymostwomenaroundheragedo.Shehadalotofcharm.Shehadquitealotofsexappeal,too,ifyoureallywanttoknow. 

           Shewaslookingatmesortoffunny. ImaybewrongbutIbelieveyournoseisbleeding,dear,shesaid,allofasudden. 

           Inoddedandtookoutmyhandkerchief. "Igothitwithasnowball,"Isaid."Oneofthoseveryicyones."