Над пропастью во ржи

           IwatchedheroncefromthewindowwhenshewascrossingoverFifthAvenuetogotothepark,andthat’swhatsheis,roller-skateskinny. You’dlikeher. ImeanifyoutelloldPhoebesomething,sheknowsexactlywhatthehellyou’retalkingabout. Imeanyoucaneventakeheranywherewithyou. Ifyoutakehertoalousymovie,forinstance,sheknowsit’salousymovie. Ifyoutakehertoaprettygoodmovie,sheknowsit’saprettygoodmovie. D.B.andItookhertoseethisFrenchmovie,TheBaker’sWife,withRaimuinit. Itkilledher. HerfavoriteisThe39Steps,though,withRobertDonat. Sheknowsthewholegoddammoviebyheart,becauseI’vetakenhertoseeitabouttentimes. WhenoldDonatcomesuptothisScotchfarmhouse,forinstance,whenhe’srunningawayfromthecopsandall,Phoebe’llsayrightoutloudinthemovie—rightwhentheScotchguyinthepicturesaysit —"Canyoueattheherring? "Sheknowsallthetalkbyheart. Andwhenthisprofessorinthepicture,that’sreallyaGermanspy,sticksuphislittlefingerwithpartofthemiddlejointmissing,toshowRobertDonat,oldPhoebebeatshimtoit—sheholdsupherlittlefingeratmeinthedark,rightinfrontofmyface. She’sallright. You’dlikeher. Theonlytroubleis,she’salittletooaffectionatesometimes. She’sveryemotional,forachild. Shereallyis. Somethingelseshedoes,shewritesbooksallthetime. Only,shedoesn’tfinishthem. They’reallaboutsomekidnamedHazelWeatherfield—onlyoldPhoebespellsit"Hazle. "OldHazleWeatherfieldisagirldetective. She’ssupposedtobeanorphan,butheroldmankeepsshowingup. Heroldman’salwaysa"tallattractivegentlemanabout20yearsofage. "Thatkillsme. OldPhoebe. IsweartoGodyou’dlikeher. Shewassmartevenwhenshewasaverytinylittlekid. Whenshewasaverytinylittlekid,IandAllieusedtotakehertotheparkwithus,especiallyonSundays.