Над пропастью во ржи

           Iprobablywould’vetoldherwhatreallyhappened,butitwould’vetakentoolong.Ilikedher,though.IwasbeginningtofeelsortofsorryI’dtoldhermynamewasRudolfSchmidt. "OldErnie,"Isaid."He’soneofthemostpopularboysatPencey.Didyouknowthat?" 

           "No,Ididn’t." 

           Inodded. "Itreallytookeverybodyquitealongtimetogettoknowhim.He’safunnyguy.Astrangeguy,inlotsofways—knowwhatImean?LikewhenIfirstmethim. WhenIfirstmethim,Ithoughthewaskindofasnobbishperson.That’swhatIthought.Butheisn’t.He’sjustgotthisveryoriginalpersonalitythattakesyoualittlewhiletogettoknowhim." 

           OldMrs.Morrowdidn’tsayanything,butboy,youshould’veseenher.Ihadhergluedtoherseat.Youtakesomebody’smother,alltheywanttohearaboutiswhatahot-shottheirsonis. 

           ThenIreallystartedchuckingtheoldcraparound. "Didhetellyouabouttheelections?"Iaskedher."Theclasselections?" 

           Sheshookherhead.Ihadherinatrance,like.Ireallydid. 

           "Well,abunchofuswantedoldErnietobepresidentoftheclass.Imeanhewastheunanimouschoice.Imeanhewastheonlyboythatcouldreallyhandlethejob,"Isaid—boy,wasIchuckingit. "Butthisotherboy—HarryFencer—waselected.Andthereasonhewaselected,thesimpleandobviousreason,wasbecauseErniewouldn’tletusnominatehim.Becausehe’ssodarnshyandmodestandall.Herefused...Boy,he’sreallyshy.