Над пропастью во ржи

           TheyprobablythoughtIwastooyoungtogiveanybodytheonce-over. Thatannoyedhelloutofme—you’d’vethoughtIwantedtomarrythemorsomething. Ishould’vegiventhemthefreeze,aftertheydidthat,butthetroublewas,Ireallyfeltlikedancing. I’mveryfondofdancing,sometimes,andthatwasoneofthetimes. Soallofasudden,Isortofleanedoverandsaid, "Wouldanyofyougirlscaretodance?" Ididn’taskthemcrudelyoranything.Verysuave,infact. ButGoddamnit,theythoughtthatwasapanic,too. Theystartedgigglingsomemore. I’mnotkidding,theywerethreerealmorons. "C’mon,"Isaid."I’lldancewithyouoneatatime.Allright?How‘boutit?C’mon!" Ireallyfeltlikedancing. 

           Finally,theblondeonegotuptodancewithme,becauseyoucouldtellIwasreallytalkingtoher,andwewalkedouttothedancefloor. Theothertwogroolsnearlyhadhystericswhenwedid. Icertainlymust’vebeenveryharduptoevenbotherwithanyofthem. 

           Butitwasworthit. Theblondewassomedancer. ShewasoneofthebestdancersIeverdancedwith. I’mnotkidding,someoftheseverystupidgirlscanreallyknockyououtonadancefloor. Youtakeareallysmartgirl,andhalfthetimeshe’stryingtoleadyouaroundthedancefloor,orelseshe’ssuchalousydancer,thebestthingtodoisstayatthetableandjustgetdrunkwithher. 

           "Youreallycandance,"Itoldtheblondeone. "Yououghtabeapro. Imeanit. Idancedwithaproonce,andyou’retwiceasgoodasshewas. DidyoueverhearofMarcoandMiranda?" 

           "What?"shesaid. Shewasn’tevenlisteningtome. Shewaslookingallaroundtheplace.