I had to get out of that hotel. It was hell sitting in there by myself, it really was. I couldn't take another minute staring at that lousy wallpaper that was peeling off and had stains all over it. Anyways, I just had to get out of there. I didn't know where I was going but I put my hunting hat on backwards and made my way down the sidewalk none the less. I got myself to thinking about old Jane again. I couldn't stand thinking about her and Stradlater together. It killed me. The Jane I know would never let some phony like Stradlater give her the time.
I decided as soon as I saw a phone booth I would give her a ring. It felt like days had passed by the time I found one. I was just so anxious to call. I hadn't felt excited for anything in such a long time, and all. When I called, her mother answered of course, and I had to take a deep breath to find my voice and ask to speak to Jane. It'd been awhile since I heard from her and as soon as she answered it took me right back to that summer, sitting on her porch playing checkers and stuff. She repeated herself and asked who was calling. I almost hung up before I could tell her it was just me, Holden Caulfield.
"Holden, why are you calling at such an hour? Do you know what time it is?" she asked me in a real tired voice.
"Jane, I just miss you. I really do. Won't you come see me? Have a drink maybe? I've just missed you so much."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, like she didn't know how to respond.
"Oh Holden, that sounds so terrific but my mother would never let me leave the house this late."
The way she said that, you could tell she didn't mean it. She was just making it up to please me, like some phony would. She wasn't the real Jane that I remembered. She was the Jane that would let some phony like Stradlater give her the time.
"How are you anyway? I haven't heard from you in so long and all."
"I'm doing fine, Holden."
She sounded bored with me all of a sudden, and I remembered again her date with Stradlater.
"So I heard you had a date with my buddy Stradlater. How was that?" I asked in a real casual voice.
"It was fine I guess. Can we talk about something else Holden?"
I don't know why she was so quick to dismiss it.
"Old Stradlater, he's pretty perfect isn't he? Just a real top notch guy. I'm sure you had a great time fooling around with him, didn't you?" I asked in a real casual voice again.
"Holden please don't get upset with me over the phone. I said I didn't want to talk about it."
She was real sore now.
"Well fine then. I guess giving the time to any old guy is just how you are now." I said calmly to her.
"Holden don't yell at me over the phone. I told you not to get upset. I don't think you're really angry at me. I can tell that something else must be bothering you, and I'm not going to let you take it out on me. I'm just going to go now."
Before I could apologize for taking my anger out on her, the line went dead and the dull tone that went through the receiver went through my whole body. Leaving me more lonesome and depressed than ever.