Catcher in the Catcher in the RyeRye

Chapters 6-8Chapters 6-8

Chapter 6Chapter 6

►When Stradlater returns from his date When Stradlater returns from his date with Jane Gallagher, he is in a terrible with Jane Gallagher, he is in a terrible mood. mood.

►He asks about the essay, and Holden He asks about the essay, and Holden gives it to him. gives it to him.

►When he reads about Allie’s baseball When he reads about Allie’s baseball mitt, Stradlater freaks out and tells mitt, Stradlater freaks out and tells Holden he does not do anything right. Holden he does not do anything right.

The EssayThe Essay

►All of a sudden, he said, All of a sudden, he said, "For Chrissake, Holden. "For Chrissake, Holden. This is about a goddam This is about a goddam baseball glove."baseball glove."

►"So what?" I said. Cold as "So what?" I said. Cold as hell.hell.

►"Wuddaya mean so what? I "Wuddaya mean so what? I told ya it had to be about a told ya it had to be about a goddam room or a house or goddam room or a house or something."something."

►"You said it had to be "You said it had to be descriptive. What the hell's descriptive. What the hell's the difference if it's about a the difference if it's about a baseball glove?"baseball glove?"

►"God damn it." He was sore as hell. He "God damn it." He was sore as hell. He was really furious. "You always do was really furious. "You always do everything backasswards." He looked at everything backasswards." He looked at me. "No wonder you're flunking the hell me. "No wonder you're flunking the hell out of here," he said. "You don't do one out of here," he said. "You don't do one damn thing the way you're supposed to. damn thing the way you're supposed to. I mean it. Not one damn thing."I mean it. Not one damn thing."

►Holden, who had been very pleased Holden, who had been very pleased with the composition, takes it from with the composition, takes it from Stradlater and rips it up.Stradlater and rips it up.

Stradlater’s DateStradlater’s Date►"Did you go to New York?" I said."Did you go to New York?" I said.►"Ya crazy? How the hell could we go to New "Ya crazy? How the hell could we go to New

York if she only signed out for nine-thirty?"York if she only signed out for nine-thirty?"►"That's tough.""That's tough."►"Did you give her my regards?" I asked "Did you give her my regards?" I asked

him.him.►"Yeah.""Yeah."►The hell he did, the bastard.The hell he did, the bastard.

►"If you didn't go to New York, where'd ya go "If you didn't go to New York, where'd ya go with her?" I asked him, after a little while. I with her?" I asked him, after a little while. I could hardly keep my voice from shaking all could hardly keep my voice from shaking all over the place. Boy, was I getting nervous. I over the place. Boy, was I getting nervous. I just had a feeling something had gone funny.just had a feeling something had gone funny.

►"Nowhere. We just sat in the goddam car." "Nowhere. We just sat in the goddam car." He gave me another one of those playful He gave me another one of those playful stupid little socks on the shoulder.stupid little socks on the shoulder.

►"Cut it out," I said. "Whose car?""Cut it out," I said. "Whose car?"►"Ed Banky's.""Ed Banky's."

The FightThe Fight►This next part I don't remember so hot. This next part I don't remember so hot.

All I know is I got up from the bed, like All I know is I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock something, and then I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open. goddam throat open.

►Only, I missed. I didn't connect. All I Only, I missed. I didn't connect. All I did was sort of get him on the side of did was sort of get him on the side of the head or something. the head or something.

► It probably hurt him a little bit, but not It probably hurt him a little bit, but not as much as I wanted. as much as I wanted.

► It probably would've hurt him a lot, but It probably would've hurt him a lot, but I did it with my right hand, and I can't I did it with my right hand, and I can't make a good fist with that hand. On make a good fist with that hand. On account of that injury I told you about.account of that injury I told you about.

►Anyway, the next thing I knew, I was Anyway, the next thing I knew, I was on the goddam floor and he was sitting on the goddam floor and he was sitting on my chest, with his face all red. on my chest, with his face all red.

►That is, he had his goddam knees on That is, he had his goddam knees on my chest, and he weighed about a ton. my chest, and he weighed about a ton.

►He had hold of my wrists, too, so I He had hold of my wrists, too, so I couldn't take another sock at him. couldn't take another sock at him.

► I'd've killed him.I'd've killed him.

MoronsMorons►When Stradlater finally lets When Stradlater finally lets

Holden up, Holden calls him a Holden up, Holden calls him a “stupid sonuvabitch of a “stupid sonuvabitch of a moron.”moron.”

►““That's just the trouble with That's just the trouble with all you morons. You never all you morons. You never want to discuss anything. want to discuss anything.

►That's the way you can always That's the way you can always tell a moron. They never want tell a moron. They never want to discuss anything intellig—”to discuss anything intellig—”

►Then he really let one go at me, and Then he really let one go at me, and the next thing I knew I was on the the next thing I knew I was on the goddam floor again. goddam floor again.

► I don't remember if he knocked me out I don't remember if he knocked me out or not, but I don't think so. It's pretty or not, but I don't think so. It's pretty hard to knock a guy out, except in the hard to knock a guy out, except in the goddam movies. goddam movies.

►But my nose was bleeding all over the But my nose was bleeding all over the place.place.

► I kept sitting there on the I kept sitting there on the floor till I heard old Stradlater floor till I heard old Stradlater close the door and go down close the door and go down the corridor to the can. the corridor to the can.

►Then I got up. Then I got up. ► I couldn't find my goddam I couldn't find my goddam

hunting hat anywhere. Finally hunting hat anywhere. Finally I found it. It was under the I found it. It was under the bed. I put it on, and turned bed. I put it on, and turned the old peak around to the the old peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and back, the way I liked it, and then I went over and took a then I went over and took a look at my stupid face in the look at my stupid face in the mirror. mirror.

►You never saw such gore in your life. You never saw such gore in your life. ► I had blood all over my mouth and I had blood all over my mouth and

chin and even on my pajamas and chin and even on my pajamas and bath robe. bath robe.

► It partly scared me and it partly It partly scared me and it partly fascinated me. fascinated me.

►All that blood and all sort of made All that blood and all sort of made me look tough. me look tough.

► I'd only been in about two fights in I'd only been in about two fights in my life, and I lost both of them. my life, and I lost both of them.

► I'm not too tough. I'm not too tough. ► I'm a pacifist, if you want to know I'm a pacifist, if you want to know

the truth.the truth.

►I had a feeling old Ackley'd I had a feeling old Ackley'd probably heard all the racket and probably heard all the racket and was awake. was awake.

►So I went through the shower So I went through the shower curtains into his room, just to see curtains into his room, just to see what the hell he was doing. what the hell he was doing.

►I hardly ever went over to his room. I hardly ever went over to his room. ►It always had a funny stink in it, It always had a funny stink in it,

because he was so crumby in his because he was so crumby in his personal habits.personal habits.

Chapter 7Chapter 7

►Holden retreats to Ackley’s Holden retreats to Ackley’s room and asks if he can room and asks if he can spend the night in his room. spend the night in his room. “Listen, what the hell was “Listen, what the hell was the fight about?"the fight about?"

► I didn't answer him. All I did I didn't answer him. All I did was, I got up and went over was, I got up and went over and looked out the window. and looked out the window. I felt so lonesome, all of a I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I sudden. I almost wished I was dead.was dead.

►"What the hell was the fight about, "What the hell was the fight about, anyhow?" Ackley said, for about the fiftieth anyhow?" Ackley said, for about the fiftieth time. He certainly was a bore about that.time. He certainly was a bore about that.

►"About you," I said."About you," I said.►"About me, for Chrissake?""About me, for Chrissake?"►"Yeah. I was defending your goddam "Yeah. I was defending your goddam

honor. Stradlater said you had a lousy honor. Stradlater said you had a lousy personality. I couldn't let him get away personality. I couldn't let him get away with that stuff."with that stuff."

►That got him excited. "He did? No kidding? That got him excited. "He did? No kidding? He did?"He did?"

► I told him I was only kidding, and then I I told him I was only kidding, and then I went over and laid down on Ely's bed. Boy, went over and laid down on Ely's bed. Boy, did I feel rotten. I felt so damn lonesome.did I feel rotten. I felt so damn lonesome.

LeavingLeaving►Holden persists, wanting Holden persists, wanting

to talk; this time Ackley to talk; this time Ackley ignores him, so Holden ignores him, so Holden finally leaves.finally leaves.

►Feeling isolated and Feeling isolated and alone, he makes up his alone, he makes up his mind he will leave mind he will leave Pencey Prep immediately Pencey Prep immediately and go to New York, and go to New York, without telling anyone. without telling anyone.

►All of a sudden, I decided what I'd really All of a sudden, I decided what I'd really do, I'd get the hell out of Pencey--right do, I'd get the hell out of Pencey--right that same night and all. I mean not wait that same night and all. I mean not wait till Wednesday or anything. till Wednesday or anything.

► I just didn't want to hang around any I just didn't want to hang around any more. It made me too sad and more. It made me too sad and lonesome. lonesome.

►So what I decided to do, I decided I'd So what I decided to do, I decided I'd take a room in a hotel in New York--take a room in a hotel in New York--some very inexpensive hotel and all--some very inexpensive hotel and all--and just take it easy till Wednesday.and just take it easy till Wednesday.

►Then, on Wednesday, I'd go home all Then, on Wednesday, I'd go home all rested up and feeling swell. rested up and feeling swell.

► I figured my parents probably wouldn't I figured my parents probably wouldn't get old Thurmer's letter saying I'd been get old Thurmer's letter saying I'd been given the ax till maybe Tuesday or given the ax till maybe Tuesday or Wednesday. Wednesday.

► I didn't want to go home or anything till I didn't want to go home or anything till they got it and thoroughly digested it they got it and thoroughly digested it and all. and all.

► I didn't want to be around when they I didn't want to be around when they first got it. My mother gets very first got it. My mother gets very hysterical. She's not too bad after she hysterical. She's not too bad after she gets something thoroughly digested, gets something thoroughly digested, though. though.

►Besides, I sort of needed a little Besides, I sort of needed a little vacation. My nerves were shot. They vacation. My nerves were shot. They really were.really were.

Chapter 8Chapter 8

►Since it is too late to call for a taxi, Since it is too late to call for a taxi, Holden walks to the train station. Holden walks to the train station.

►““Usually I like riding on trains, Usually I like riding on trains, especially at night, with the lights on especially at night, with the lights on and the windows so black, and one of and the windows so black, and one of those guys coming up the aisle selling those guys coming up the aisle selling coffee and sandwiches and magazines. coffee and sandwiches and magazines. I usually buy a ham sandwich and I usually buy a ham sandwich and about four magazines. about four magazines.

Mrs. MorrowMrs. Morrow►At Trenton station, a lady At Trenton station, a lady

boards the train and strikes boards the train and strikes up a conversation with up a conversation with Holden, recognizing his Holden, recognizing his school’s insignia on one of school’s insignia on one of his suitcases. his suitcases.

► It turns out that she is the It turns out that she is the mother of one of Holden’s mother of one of Holden’s classmates, a boy named classmates, a boy named Ernest Morrow.Ernest Morrow.

Ernest MorrowErnest Morrow►Her son was doubtless the Her son was doubtless the

biggest bastard that ever went biggest bastard that ever went to Pencey, in the whole to Pencey, in the whole crumby history of the school. crumby history of the school.

►He was always going down the He was always going down the corridor, after he'd had a corridor, after he'd had a shower, snapping his soggy shower, snapping his soggy old wet towel at people's old wet towel at people's asses. That's exactly the kind asses. That's exactly the kind of a guy he was.of a guy he was.

►““Oh, how nice!” the Oh, how nice!” the lady said. But not corny. lady said. But not corny. She was just nice and She was just nice and all. “I must tell Ernest all. “I must tell Ernest we met," she said. "May we met," she said. "May I ask your name, dear?”I ask your name, dear?”

►““Rudolf Schmidt,” I told Rudolf Schmidt,” I told her. I didn't feel like her. I didn't feel like giving her my whole life giving her my whole life history. history.

►Rudolf Schmidt was the Rudolf Schmidt was the name of the janitor of name of the janitor of our dorm.our dorm.

► Then I started shooting the old crap around Then I started shooting the old crap around a little bit. "He adapts himself very well to a little bit. "He adapts himself very well to things. He really does. I mean he really things. He really does. I mean he really knows how to adapt himself."knows how to adapt himself."

► "Do you think so?" she asked me. She "Do you think so?" she asked me. She sounded interested as hell.sounded interested as hell.

► "Ernest's father and I sometimes worry "Ernest's father and I sometimes worry about him," she said. "We sometimes feel about him," she said. "We sometimes feel he's not a terribly good mixer."he's not a terribly good mixer."

► "How do you mean?""How do you mean?"► "Well. He's a very sensitive boy. He's really "Well. He's a very sensitive boy. He's really

never been a terribly good mixer with other never been a terribly good mixer with other boys. Perhaps he takes things a little more boys. Perhaps he takes things a little more seriously than he should at his age."seriously than he should at his age."

► Sensitive. That killed me. That guy Morrow Sensitive. That killed me. That guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a goddam toilet was about as sensitive as a goddam toilet seat.seat.

►Then she looked at me and asked Then she looked at me and asked me what I was afraid she was going me what I was afraid she was going to ask me. "Ernest wrote that he'd to ask me. "Ernest wrote that he'd be home on Wednesday, that be home on Wednesday, that Christmas vacation would start on Christmas vacation would start on Wednesday," she said. Wednesday," she said.

►"I hope you weren't called home "I hope you weren't called home suddenly because of illness in the suddenly because of illness in the family." family."

►She really looked worried about it. She really looked worried about it. She wasn't just being nosy, you She wasn't just being nosy, you could tell.could tell.

More LiesMore Lies► "No, everybody's fine at home," I said. "No, everybody's fine at home," I said.

"It's me. I have to have this operation.""It's me. I have to have this operation."► "Oh! I'm so sorry," she said. She really "Oh! I'm so sorry," she said. She really

was, too. I was right away sorry I'd was, too. I was right away sorry I'd said it, but it was too late.said it, but it was too late.

► "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."little tumor on the brain."

► "Oh, no!" She put her hand up to her "Oh, no!" She put her hand up to her mouth and all. "Oh, I'll be all right and mouth and all. "Oh, I'll be all right and everything! It's right near the outside. everything! It's right near the outside. And it's a very tiny one. They can take And it's a very tiny one. They can take it out in about two minutes."it out in about two minutes."

►Then I started reading this timetable I Then I started reading this timetable I had in my pocket. Just to stop lying. Once had in my pocket. Just to stop lying. Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it. No kidding. Hours.like it. No kidding. Hours.

►We didn't talk too much after that. She We didn't talk too much after that. She started reading this Vogue she had with started reading this Vogue she had with her, and I looked out the window for a her, and I looked out the window for a while. She got off at Newark. She wished while. She got off at Newark. She wished me a lot of luck with the operation and me a lot of luck with the operation and all. all.

►She kept calling me Rudolf. She kept calling me Rudolf.

►Then she invited me to visit Ernie during Then she invited me to visit Ernie during the summer, at Gloucester, the summer, at Gloucester, Massachusetts. Massachusetts.

►She said their house was right on the She said their house was right on the beach, and they had a tennis court and beach, and they had a tennis court and all, but I just thanked her and told her I all, but I just thanked her and told her I was going to South America with my was going to South America with my grandmother. grandmother.

►Which was really a hot one, because my Which was really a hot one, because my grandmother hardly ever even goes out grandmother hardly ever even goes out of the house, except maybe to go to a of the house, except maybe to go to a goddam matinee or something. goddam matinee or something.

►But I wouldn't visit that sonuvabitch But I wouldn't visit that sonuvabitch Morrow for all the dough in the world, Morrow for all the dough in the world, even if I was desperate.even if I was desperate.