Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

Chapter 21Chapter 21

Holden arrives at the apartment building Holden arrives at the apartment building and believes he has had "the best break in and believes he has had "the best break in years" because the elevator boy is a years" because the elevator boy is a substitute who does not recognize him.substitute who does not recognize him.

Holden makes up a silly lie, which ends up Holden makes up a silly lie, which ends up confusing the elevator boy enough that he confusing the elevator boy enough that he lets Holden up without asking too many lets Holden up without asking too many questions. questions.

I told him, in this very casual I told him, in this very casual voice, to take me up to the voice, to take me up to the Dicksteins'.Dicksteins'.

The Dicksteins were these The Dicksteins were these people that had the other people that had the other apartment on our floor. apartment on our floor.

He had the elevator doors all He had the elevator doors all shut and all, and was all set to shut and all, and was all set to take me up, and then he turned take me up, and then he turned around and said, "They ain't in. around and said, "They ain't in. They're at a party on the They're at a party on the fourteenth floor." fourteenth floor."

"That's all right," I said. "I'm supposed to wait "That's all right," I said. "I'm supposed to wait for them. I'm their nephew."for them. I'm their nephew."

He gave me this sort of stupid, suspicious He gave me this sort of stupid, suspicious look. "You better wait in the lobby, fella," he look. "You better wait in the lobby, fella," he said.said.

"I'd like to--I really would," I said. "But I have a "I'd like to--I really would," I said. "But I have a bad leg. I have to hold it in a certain position. I bad leg. I have to hold it in a certain position. I think I'd better sit down in the chair outside think I'd better sit down in the chair outside their door."their door."

I got off at our floor--limping like a I got off at our floor--limping like a bastard--and started walking over toward bastard--and started walking over toward the Dicksteins' side. the Dicksteins' side.

Then, when I heard the elevator doors Then, when I heard the elevator doors shut, I turned around and went over to our shut, I turned around and went over to our side. side.

I was doing all right. I didn't even feel I was doing all right. I didn't even feel drunk anymore. drunk anymore.

Then I took out my door key and opened Then I took out my door key and opened our door, quiet as hell. our door, quiet as hell.

Then, very, very carefully and all, I went Then, very, very carefully and all, I went inside and closed the door. inside and closed the door.

I really should've been a crook.I really should've been a crook.

Holden makes a tiptoed journey through Holden makes a tiptoed journey through the apartment to Phoebe’s room. the apartment to Phoebe’s room.

When she is not in her bed, Holden When she is not in her bed, Holden remembers that she sometimes sleeps in remembers that she sometimes sleeps in D.B.’s room. D.B.’s room.

She doesn't like her own room because it's She doesn't like her own room because it's too little, she says. too little, she says.

She says she likes to spread out. That kills She says she likes to spread out. That kills me.me.

He finds her sleeping soundly and He finds her sleeping soundly and watches for awhile. watches for awhile.

Before he wakes her, Holden sits down at Before he wakes her, Holden sits down at the desk and reads one of her school the desk and reads one of her school notebooks. notebooks.

Then, finally, I woke her up. Then, finally, I woke her up. I mean I couldn't sit there on that desk for I mean I couldn't sit there on that desk for

the rest of my life, and besides, I was the rest of my life, and besides, I was afraid my parents might barge in on me all afraid my parents might barge in on me all of a sudden and I wanted to at least say of a sudden and I wanted to at least say hello to her before they did. hello to her before they did.

So I woke her up.So I woke her up.

As expected, Phoebe is thrilled to see him. As expected, Phoebe is thrilled to see him. She tells him about all the recent She tells him about all the recent

happenings in her life. happenings in her life. Holden listens with a great deal of care Holden listens with a great deal of care

and affection and is happy just to be with and affection and is happy just to be with her. her.

She tells Holden their parents are at a She tells Holden their parents are at a party in Connecticut and will not be home party in Connecticut and will not be home until late. until late.

Suddenly she realizes Holden is home Suddenly she realizes Holden is home from Pencey earlier than he should be and from Pencey earlier than he should be and asks if he has been kicked out again. asks if he has been kicked out again.

Holden tries to lie his way out of the Holden tries to lie his way out of the situation, but Phoebe sees through him situation, but Phoebe sees through him and gets upset. She covers her head with and gets upset. She covers her head with a pillow and refuses to talk to him. a pillow and refuses to talk to him.