Chapter 1

You know I'm just staying here for a little while, at least until she comes to take me out of here and then we can move to Colorado or something. I'm fine really, they just think I need help but I don't, they're crazy, not me. Goddam phonies, they think they know everything about me just cause' they have an education but they don't really. Besides, I won't be in here for long, she'll come and get me.

How I got in here is a wild story and it was certainly a wild ride. Don't worry, I won't bore you, this story is a lot better than watching a goddam Hollywood film and it won't turn your brain into mush. You know my brother DB is writing for Hollywood now, I hate him for that, he had so much talent you know? Now he's just like everyone else. God, he used to write such good stories. I don't even think I told you my name yet, I'm Holden Caulfield. Well, until I bust out of this place I guess I'll tell you how I got here.

I'm bored out of my mind, everyone else has a date except me. It really bites to be stuck here at Pencey on a Friday night and it really bites that I'm with Ackley of all people. I guess I'll just read until old Stradlater gets back from his date, it's kind of become my new hobby to give Stradlater hell. Stradlater's my roommate, he's very conceited.

So I just sat there reading my National Geographic magazine until Ackley came in. When he came in the goddam bastard kept picking up my stuff and putting it back in the wrong place. Ackley's this gross guy and he's kind of mean too. He has pimples all over his face, he never brushes his teeth, he barely showers, but yet, his fingernails are always clean.

"How's it going Ackley Kid?" He hated it when you called him a kid.

"Ok," he said, still picking up things and putting it back in the wrong place.

"You know Ackley Kid, you have a certain charm about you, how come you never go out on dates?"

"Don't know, guess I just don't like going on dates," Ackley responded. I know what the real case is though, girls just never ask the poor bastard out, I don't blame em' either. "I have to go," Ackley said.

"Yeah, I know you have a very demanding social life," I said.

"See you Holden," he said as he left the room. The good news is that I now had something to do, reorganize my desk. Just as I was about to start old Stradlater came in.

"So Stradlater, how was the date? Who'd you go out with?" I asked.

"Oh same old, same old," Stradlater answered. He was a very deep guy.

"Who'd you go out with?"

"Oh um, Jean, Jean Gallagher."

"Gallagher? Oh Jane! Jane Gallagher!"

"Yeah that's her name," Stradlater said.

"I used to know her, how is she? Did she mention me? I oughta go down and say hello."

"So go down there."

"Nah," I said. "Well maybe I'll go down."

"Ok see you," Stradlater said. I watched him go into the bathroom and then I went down to see Jane.

"Jane! Jane!" I called out to her.

"Holden? Holden!" Jane said.

"Hey how's it going?" I asked.

"Oh it's going good. Holden Caulfield, I never thought I'd see you again."

"Yeah same here, I'd never thought I'd see you again."

Jane looked real pretty with her shoulder length blonde hair and big blue eyes. She had on a real nice blue dress too. Well, her big mouth may have shrunken a bit but it was still old Jane.

"You know Holden, I really miss you, you were a great friend," Jane said.

"I missed you too Jane." I said. "How was your date with Stradlater?"

"It was ok, kind of boring though."

"Would you like to get some dinner sometime?" I asked her.

"Sure Holden, after Christmas break?"

"No, I was thinking soon."

"That would be hard considering I live in Maine now," she told me.

I kind of got to thinking after she said that. I was probably going to get an expulsion note soon since I left the goddam foils on the subway in a fencing tournament in New York. I was the manager of the fencing team but I'm not anymore. I also kind of failed every single class except English. So, I could probably leave school early.

"When do you get off?" I asked.

"Tomorrow," Jane answered.

"Me too!" I actually got off in a week but like I said, I'm getting expelled anytime now.

"Really? Stradlater said you guys don't get off for another week or so."

"Stradlater's a dope," I said.
"You're mean but I have to agree, he is. But anyway, listen, I don't have to go to Maine until Tuesday so I have four days," Jane said with a smile on her face.

"Ok, how about we go to New York?" I asked her. I think four days would be a perfect amount of time for my parents to digest my expulsion.

"New York? Well Holden don't you think that that's a little well, crazy?"

"Hell no!" I exclaimed.

"You seem confident," Jane said.

"I am! Pack your bags Jane! We're going to New York!"

"Ok, I'll meet you back here in about an hour," Jane said, leaving me behind. I'll tell you, after she left, I felt so goddam depressed. I can't put my finger on it, I don't really know why but man was I sad.