Над пропастью во ржи

           AlliehadthissailboatheusedtoliketofoolaroundwithonSundays,andweusedtotakeoldPhoebewithus. She’dwearwhiteglovesandwalkrightbetweenus,likealadyandall. AndwhenAllieandIwerehavingsomeconversationaboutthingsingeneral,oldPhoebe’dbelistening. Sometimesyou’dforgetshewasaround,becauseshewassuchalittlekid,butshe’dletyouknow. She’dinterruptyouallthetime. She’dgiveAllieorIapushorsomething,andsay,"Who? Whosaidthat? Bobbyorthelady? "Andwe’dtellherwhosaidit,andshe’dsay,"Oh,"andgorightonlisteningandall. ShekilledAllie,too. Imeanhelikedher,too. She’stennow,andnotsuchatinylittlekidanymore,butshestillkillseverybody—everybodywithanysense,anyway. 

           Anyway,shewassomebodyyoualwaysfeltliketalkingtoonthephone. ButIwastooafraidmyparentswouldanswer,andthenthey’dfindoutIwasinNewYorkandkickedoutofPenceyandall. SoIjustfinishedputtingonmyshirt. ThenIgotallreadyandwentdownintheelevatortothelobbytoseewhatwasgoingon. 

           Exceptforafewpimpy-lookingguys,andafewwhory-lookingblondes,thelobbywasprettyempty. ButyoucouldhearthebandplayingintheLavenderRoom,andsoIwentinthere. Itwasn’tverycrowded,buttheygavemealousytableanyway—wayintheback. Ishould’vewavedabuckunderthehead-waiter’snose. InNewYork,boy,moneyreallytalks—I’mnotkidding. 

           Thebandwasputrid.BuddySinger. Verybrassy,butnotgoodbrassy—cornybrassy. Also,therewereveryfewpeoplearoundmyageintheplace. Infact,nobodywasaroundmyage. Theyweremostlyold,show-offy-lookingguyswiththeirdates. Exceptatthetablerightnexttome. Atthetablerightnexttome,therewerethesethreegirlsaroundthirtyorso.