Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

Chapter 25Chapter 25

When I got outside, it was just When I got outside, it was just getting light out.getting light out.

It  was pretty cold, too, but it felt It  was pretty cold, too, but it felt good because I was sweating so good because I was sweating so much. much.

I didn't know where the hell to go. I didn't know where the hell to go. I didn't want to go to another hotel I didn't want to go to another hotel

and spend all Phoebe's dough. and spend all Phoebe's dough.

So finally all I did was I walked over to So finally all I did was I walked over to Lexington and took the subway down to Grand Lexington and took the subway down to Grand Central. Central.

My bags were there and all, and I figured I'd My bags were there and all, and I figured I'd sleep in that crazy waiting room where all the sleep in that crazy waiting room where all the benches are.benches are.

Holden wakes around nine, as the Holden wakes around nine, as the hustle and bustle of the working day hustle and bustle of the working day begins. begins.

He thinks about the night before and He thinks about the night before and the incident with Mr. Antolini; he the incident with Mr. Antolini; he wonders if he has misinterpreted wonders if he has misinterpreted Antolini’s touch. Antolini’s touch.

Disturbed by these thoughts, he tries Disturbed by these thoughts, he tries to think of something else.to think of something else.

There was this magazine that somebody'd left There was this magazine that somebody'd left on the bench next to me, so I started reading it, on the bench next to me, so I started reading it, thinking it'd make me stop thinking about Mr. thinking it'd make me stop thinking about Mr. Antolini and a million other things for at least Antolini and a million other things for at least a little while. a little while.

Laurence Olivier in Hamlet

But this damn article I started reading made But this damn article I started reading made me feel almost worse. me feel almost worse.

It was all about hormones. It was all about hormones. It described how you should look, your face It described how you should look, your face

and eyes and all, if your hormones were in and eyes and all, if your hormones were in good shape, and I didn't look that way at all. good shape, and I didn't look that way at all.

I looked exactly like the guy in the article I looked exactly like the guy in the article with lousy hormones. with lousy hormones.

So I started getting worried about my So I started getting worried about my hormones. hormones.

Then I read this other article about Then I read this other article about how you can tell if you have cancer or how you can tell if you have cancer or not. not.

It said if you had any sores in your It said if you had any sores in your mouth that didn't heal pretty quickly, mouth that didn't heal pretty quickly, it was a sign that you probably had it was a sign that you probably had cancer. cancer.

I'd had this sore on the inside of my I'd had this sore on the inside of my lip for about two weeks. lip for about two weeks.

So figured I was getting cancer. So figured I was getting cancer. That magazine was some little That magazine was some little

cheerer upper. cheerer upper. I finally quit reading it and went I finally quit reading it and went

outside for a walk. outside for a walk. I figured I'd be dead in a couple of I figured I'd be dead in a couple of

months because I had cancer.months because I had cancer.

Holden decides to go out and buy himself an Holden decides to go out and buy himself an inexpensive breakfast. inexpensive breakfast.

He does not want to spend too much of He does not want to spend too much of Phoebe’s money. Phoebe’s money.

Since his stomach is upset, he just drinks Since his stomach is upset, he just drinks coffee. coffee.

He leaves the train station and walks out to Fifth He leaves the train station and walks out to Fifth Avenue. Avenue.

All around him, people seem to be in the All around him, people seem to be in the Christmas spirit, which is depressing to Holden. Christmas spirit, which is depressing to Holden.

He begins to imagine he is disappearing, becoming He begins to imagine he is disappearing, becoming invisible. invisible.

Anyway, I kept walking and walking Anyway, I kept walking and walking up Fifth Avenue, without any tie on up Fifth Avenue, without any tie on or anything. or anything.

Then all of a sudden, something very Then all of a sudden, something very spooky started happening. spooky started happening.

Every time I came to the end of a Every time I came to the end of a block and stepped off the goddam block and stepped off the goddam curb, I had this feeling that I'd never curb, I had this feeling that I'd never get to the other side of the street. get to the other side of the street.

I thought I'd just go down, down, I thought I'd just go down, down, down, and nobody'd ever see me down, and nobody'd ever see me again. again.

Boy, did it scare me.Boy, did it scare me.

You can't imagine. You can't imagine. I started sweating like a bastard--my I started sweating like a bastard--my

whole shirt and underwear and whole shirt and underwear and everything. everything.

Then I started doing something else.  Then I started doing something else. 

Every time I'd get to the end of a block Every time I'd get to the end of a block I'd make believe I was talking to my I'd make believe I was talking to my brother Allie. brother Allie.

I'd say to him, "Allie, don't let me I'd say to him, "Allie, don't let me disappear.”disappear.”

Please, Allie." Please, Allie." And then when I'd reach the other side And then when I'd reach the other side

of the street without disappearing, I'd of the street without disappearing, I'd thank him. thank him.

Then it would start all over again as soon as I Then it would start all over again as soon as I got to the next corner. got to the next corner.

But I kept going and all. But I kept going and all. I was sort of afraid to stop, I think--I don't I was sort of afraid to stop, I think--I don't

remember, to tell you the truth. remember, to tell you the truth. I know I didn't stop till I was way up in the I know I didn't stop till I was way up in the

Sixties, past the zoo and all. Sixties, past the zoo and all.

Then I sat down on this bench. Then I sat down on this bench. I could hardly get my breath, and I I could hardly get my breath, and I

was still sweating like a bastard. was still sweating like a bastard. I sat there, I guess, for about an hour.I sat there, I guess, for about an hour.

He decides he will hitchhike "way He decides he will hitchhike "way out west".out west".

However, he decides to meet Phoebe one last However, he decides to meet Phoebe one last time and say good-bye. time and say good-bye.

He goes to her school and delivers a note He goes to her school and delivers a note asking her to meet him in the Metropolitan asking her to meet him in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for lunch.Museum of Art for lunch.

While I was walking up the While I was walking up the stairs, though, all of a stairs, though, all of a sudden I thought I was sudden I thought I was going to puke again. going to puke again.

Only, I didn't. Only, I didn't. I sat down for a second, and I sat down for a second, and

then I felt better. then I felt better. But while I was sitting But while I was sitting

down, I saw something that down, I saw something that drove me crazy. drove me crazy.

Somebody'd written "Fuck you" on the Somebody'd written "Fuck you" on the wall. wall.

It drove me damn near crazy. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other I thought how Phoebe and all the other

little kids would see it, and how they'd little kids would see it, and how they'd wonder what the hell it meant, and then wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them--all finally some dirty kid would tell them--all cockeyed, naturally--what it meant, and cockeyed, naturally--what it meant, and how they'd all think about it and maybe how they'd all think about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of days. even worry about it for a couple of days.

I kept wanting to kill whoever'd written it. I kept wanting to kill whoever'd written it. I figured it was some perverty bum that'd I figured it was some perverty bum that'd

sneaked in the school late at night to take a sneaked in the school late at night to take a leak or something and then wrote it on the leak or something and then wrote it on the wall. wall.

I kept picturing myself catching him at it, and I kept picturing myself catching him at it, and how I'd smash his head on the stone steps till how I'd smash his head on the stone steps till he was good and goddam dead and bloody. he was good and goddam dead and bloody.

But I knew, too, I wouldn't have the But I knew, too, I wouldn't have the guts to do it. guts to do it.

I knew that. I knew that. That made me even more depressed. That made me even more depressed. I hardly even had the guts to rub it I hardly even had the guts to rub it

off the wall with my hand, if you off the wall with my hand, if you want to know the truth. want to know the truth.

I was afraid some teacher would catch me I was afraid some teacher would catch me rubbing it off and would think I'd written rubbing it off and would think I'd written it.it.

But I rubbed it out anyway, finally.But I rubbed it out anyway, finally. Holden leaves the note with a secretary Holden leaves the note with a secretary

and makes his way out of the school.and makes his way out of the school.

I went down by a different staircase, I went down by a different staircase, and I saw another "Fuck you" on the and I saw another "Fuck you" on the wall. wall.

I tried to rub it off with my hand I tried to rub it off with my hand again, but this one was scratched on, again, but this one was scratched on, with a knife or something. with a knife or something.

It wouldn't come off. It wouldn't come off.

It's hopeless, anyway. It's hopeless, anyway. If you had a million years to do it in, If you had a million years to do it in,

you couldn't rub out even half the you couldn't rub out even half the "Fuck you" signs in the world. "Fuck you" signs in the world.

It's impossible.It's impossible.

Since Holden has nothing else to do, he goes Since Holden has nothing else to do, he goes to the museum to wait. to the museum to wait.

While Holden waits, he meets two young boys While Holden waits, he meets two young boys and helps them locate the display of Egyptian and helps them locate the display of Egyptian mummies. mummies.

The tomb-like structure makes Holden ill, and The tomb-like structure makes Holden ill, and he goes to the bathroom and faints.he goes to the bathroom and faints.

Once he revives, he goes out to wait for Once he revives, he goes out to wait for Phoebe. Phoebe.

She is twenty minutes late, but she is no longer She is twenty minutes late, but she is no longer mad. mad.

In fact, she shows up with a suitcase, In fact, she shows up with a suitcase, announcing her intention to go with Holden.announcing her intention to go with Holden.

He scolds her and tells her no, which makes He scolds her and tells her no, which makes

her sulk. her sulk.

Finally, Holden convinces her he will not Finally, Holden convinces her he will not leave. leave.

He takes her to the zoo, and they end up at the He takes her to the zoo, and they end up at the carousel. carousel.

"Do you want to go for a ride on it?" I said."Do you want to go for a ride on it?" I said. I knew she probably did. I knew she probably did. When she was a tiny little kid, and Allie When she was a tiny little kid, and Allie

and D.B. and I used to go to the park with and D.B. and I used to go to the park with her, she was mad about the carrousel.her, she was mad about the carrousel.

You couldn't get her off the goddam thing.You couldn't get her off the goddam thing. "I'm too big." she said. "I'm too big." she said. I thought she wasn't going to answer me, I thought she wasn't going to answer me,

but she did.but she did.

"No, you're not. Go on. I'll wait for ya. Go on," "No, you're not. Go on. I'll wait for ya. Go on," I said. I said.

We were right there then. We were right there then. There were a few kids riding on it, mostly very There were a few kids riding on it, mostly very

little kids, and a few parents were waiting little kids, and a few parents were waiting around outside, sitting on the benches and all.around outside, sitting on the benches and all.

What I did was, I went up to the window What I did was, I went up to the window where they sell the tickets and bought old where they sell the tickets and bought old Phoebe a ticket. Phoebe a ticket.

Then I gave it to her. Then I gave it to her. She was standing right next to me. She was standing right next to me. "Here," I said. "Wait a second--take the "Here," I said. "Wait a second--take the

rest of your dough, too." rest of your dough, too." I started giving her the rest of the dough I started giving her the rest of the dough

she'd lent me.she'd lent me.

"You keep it. Keep it for me," she said. "You keep it. Keep it for me," she said. Then she said right afterward--"Please."Then she said right afterward--"Please."

That's depressing, when somebody says That's depressing, when somebody says "please" to you. "please" to you.

I mean if it's Phoebe or somebody. I mean if it's Phoebe or somebody. That depressed the hell out of me. That depressed the hell out of me. But I put the dough back in my pocket.But I put the dough back in my pocket.

"Aren't you gonna ride, too?" she asked "Aren't you gonna ride, too?" she asked me. me.

She was looking at me sort of funny. She was looking at me sort of funny. You could tell she wasn't  too sore at me You could tell she wasn't  too sore at me

any more.any more. "Maybe I will the next time. I'll watch ya," "Maybe I will the next time. I'll watch ya,"

I said.  "Got your ticket?"I said.  "Got your ticket?" "Yes.“"Yes.“ "Go ahead, then--I'll be on this bench right "Go ahead, then--I'll be on this bench right

over here. I'll watch ya."over here. I'll watch ya."

I went over and sat down on this I went over and sat down on this bench, and she went and got on the bench, and she went and got on the carousel.carousel.

She walked all around it. She walked all around it. I mean she walked once all the way I mean she walked once all the way

around it. around it. Then she sat down on this big, Then she sat down on this big,

brown, beat-up-looking old horse. brown, beat-up-looking old horse.

Then the carousel started, and I Then the carousel started, and I watched her go around and around. watched her go around and around.

When the ride was over she got off her When the ride was over she got off her horse and came over to me. "You ride horse and came over to me. "You ride once, too, this time," she said.once, too, this time," she said.

"No, I'll just watch ya. I think I'll just "No, I'll just watch ya. I think I'll just watch," I said. watch," I said.

I gave her some more of her dough. I gave her some more of her dough. "Here. Get some more tickets.""Here. Get some more tickets."

              

She took the dough off me. "I'm not She took the dough off me. "I'm not mad at you any more," she said.mad at you any more," she said.

"I know. Hurry up--the thing's gonna "I know. Hurry up--the thing's gonna start again." start again."

Then all of a sudden she gave me a Then all of a sudden she gave me a kiss. kiss.

Then she held her hand out, and said, Then she held her hand out, and said, "It's raining. It's starting to rain.""It's raining. It's starting to rain."

"I know.""I know."

Then what she did--it damn near killed Then what she did--it damn near killed me--she reached in my coat pocket and me--she reached in my coat pocket and took out my red hunting hat and put it on took out my red hunting hat and put it on my head.my head.

Boy, it began to rain like a bastard. Boy, it began to rain like a bastard. I got pretty soaking wet, especially my I got pretty soaking wet, especially my

neck and my pants. neck and my pants. My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot

of protection, in a way; but I got soaked of protection, in a way; but I got soaked anyway.anyway.

I didn't care, though. I didn't care, though. I felt so damn happy all of sudden, I felt so damn happy all of sudden,

the way old Phoebe kept going the way old Phoebe kept going around and around.around and around.

I was damn near bawling.I was damn near bawling.

I felt so damn happy, if you want to I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. know the truth.

I don't know why. It was just that she I don't know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice, the way she looked so damn nice, the way she kept going around and around, in her kept going around and around, in her blue coat  and all. blue coat  and all.

God, I wish you could've been there.God, I wish you could've been there.

Chapter 26Chapter 26

The “Rest Home”The “Rest Home” Holden is speaking to an analyst (psychiatrist) Holden is speaking to an analyst (psychiatrist)

in the “rest home”, saying that he cannot say in the “rest home”, saying that he cannot say much more because it is irrelevant. much more because it is irrelevant.

That's all I'm going to tell about. That's all I'm going to tell about. I could probably tell you what I did I could probably tell you what I did

after I went home, and how I got sick after I went home, and how I got sick and all, and what school I'm supposed and all, and what school I'm supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I don't feel like it. here, but I don't feel like it.

I really don't. I really don't. That stuff doesn't interest me too That stuff doesn't interest me too

much right now.much right now.

Holden predicts he will be discharged Holden predicts he will be discharged soon, and he will be attending a soon, and he will be attending a different school next September. different school next September.

He somewhat regrets having He somewhat regrets having discussed his private experiences discussed his private experiences with so many people, because in a with so many people, because in a way he misses these people now.way he misses these people now.

If you want to know the truth, I don't If you want to know the truth, I don't know what I think about it. know what I think about it.

I'm sorry I told so many people about I'm sorry I told so many people about it. it.

About all I know is, I sort of miss About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about. everybody I told about.

Even old Stradlater Even old Stradlater

and Ackley. and Ackley.

I think I even miss that goddam Maurice. I think I even miss that goddam Maurice.

It's funny. It's funny. Don't ever tell anybody anything. Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing If you do, you start missing

everybody.everybody.