Над пропастью во ржи

           Shewasright.I’dforgottenallaboutwhattimeitwas. 

           ThenshelookedatmeandaskedmewhatIwasafraidshewasgoingtoaskme. "Ernestwrotethathe’dbehomeonWednesday,thatChristmasvacationwouldstartonWednesday,"shesaid."Ihopeyouweren’tcalledhomesuddenlybecauseofillnessinthefamily." Shereallylookedworriedaboutit.Shewasn’tjustbeingnosy,youcouldtell. 

           "No,everybody’sfineathome,"Isaid."It’sme.Ihavetohavethisoperation." 

           "Oh!I’msosorry,"shesaid.Shereallywas,too.IwasrightawaysorryI’dsaidit,butitwastoolate. 

           "Itisn’tveryserious.Ihavethistinylittletumoronthebrain." 

           "Oh,no!"Sheputherhanduptohermouthandall. "Oh,I’llbeallrightandeverything!It’srightneartheoutside.Andit’saverytinyone.Theycantakeitoutinabouttwominutes." 

           ThenIstartedreadingthistimetableIhadinmypocket.Justtostoplying.OnceIgetstarted,IcangoonforhoursifIfeellikeit.Nokidding.Hours. 

           Wedidn’ttalktoomuchafterthat.ShestartedreadingthisVogueshehadwithher,andIlookedoutthewindowforawhile.ShegotoffatNewark.Shewishedmealotofluckwiththeoperationandall. ShekeptcallingmeRudolf.ThensheinvitedmetovisitErnieduringthesummer,atGloucester,Massachusetts. Shesaidtheirhousewasrightonthebeach,andtheyhadatenniscourtandall,butIjustthankedherandtoldherIwasgoingtoSouthAmericawithmygrandmother.