The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

Chapter 13Chapter 13

Holden walks back towards his hotel Holden walks back towards his hotel in the cold, lamenting the loss of his in the cold, lamenting the loss of his gloves, which he thinks were stolen gloves, which he thinks were stolen by someone at Pencey. He explains by someone at Pencey. He explains that he is “yellow.”that he is “yellow.”

To regain some of his warmth, Holden To regain some of his warmth, Holden puts on his hunting hat and decides puts on his hunting hat and decides to stop in another bar. to stop in another bar.

He changes his mind when he sees He changes his mind when he sees two tough looking guys emerging two tough looking guys emerging from the bar and goes back to his from the bar and goes back to his hotel.hotel.

The first thing when I got in the The first thing when I got in the elevator, the elevator guy said to me, elevator, the elevator guy said to me, "Innarested in having a good time, "Innarested in having a good time, fella? Or is it too late for you?"fella? Or is it too late for you?"

"How do you mean?" I said. I didn't "How do you mean?" I said. I didn't know what he was driving at or know what he was driving at or anything.anything.

"Innarested in a little tail t'night?""Innarested in a little tail t'night?" "Me?" I said. Which was a very dumb "Me?" I said. Which was a very dumb

answer, but it's quite embarrassing answer, but it's quite embarrassing when somebody comes right up and when somebody comes right up and asks you a question like that.asks you a question like that.

    

"How old are you, chief?" the "How old are you, chief?" the elevator guy said.elevator guy said.

"Why?" I said. "Twenty-two.""Why?" I said. "Twenty-two." "Uh huh. Well, how 'bout it? "Uh huh. Well, how 'bout it?

Y'innarested?Y'innarested? Five bucks a throw. Fifteen bucks the Five bucks a throw. Fifteen bucks the

whole night." whole night." He looked at his wrist watch. "Till He looked at his wrist watch. "Till

noon. Five bucks a throw, fifteen noon. Five bucks a throw, fifteen bucks till noon."bucks till noon."

Holden agrees to the offer, but Holden agrees to the offer, but regrets his decision almost regrets his decision almost immediately. He cleans up and then immediately. He cleans up and then paces nervously around the room, paces nervously around the room, waiting for the girl. waiting for the girl.

Sunny (the prostitute) soon Sunny (the prostitute) soon arrives, and Holden arrives, and Holden introduces himself as Jim introduces himself as Jim Steele. Steele.

He tries to act suave, but no He tries to act suave, but no matter how hard he tries, matter how hard he tries, Holden, still a virgin, is still Holden, still a virgin, is still extremely uncomfortable. extremely uncomfortable.

The girl’s businesslike The girl’s businesslike manner only makes him feel manner only makes him feel more awkward. more awkward.

When he tries to strike up a When he tries to strike up a conversation, Sunny wants conversation, Sunny wants to know what he is waiting to know what he is waiting for. for.

She came over to me, with this funny She came over to me, with this funny look on her face, like as if she didn't look on her face, like as if she didn't believe me. "What'sa matter?" she said.believe me. "What'sa matter?" she said.

"Nothing's the matter." Boy, was I "Nothing's the matter." Boy, was I getting nervous. "The thing is, I had an getting nervous. "The thing is, I had an operation very recently."operation very recently."

"Yeah? Where?""Yeah? Where?" "On my wuddayacallit--my clavichord.""On my wuddayacallit--my clavichord." "Yeah? Where the hell's that?""Yeah? Where the hell's that?" "The clavichord?" I said. "Well, actually, "The clavichord?" I said. "Well, actually,

it's in the spinal canal. I mean it's quite it's in the spinal canal. I mean it's quite a ways down in the spinal canal."a ways down in the spinal canal."

The ClavichordThe Clavichord An early keyboard instrument An early keyboard instrument

producing a soft sound by means of producing a soft sound by means of metal blades attached to the inner metal blades attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the ends of the keys gently striking the strings.strings.

She sits on his lap and tries to She sits on his lap and tries to seduce him. seduce him.

It is more than Holden can handle. It is more than Holden can handle. He apologizes, pays her five dollars, He apologizes, pays her five dollars,

and tells her to leave. Sunny tells and tells her to leave. Sunny tells Holden the price is ten dollars. Holden the price is ten dollars.

He refuses to pay her more than he He refuses to pay her more than he agreed on with Maurice, and she agreed on with Maurice, and she leaves with an insult and a veiled leaves with an insult and a veiled threat. threat.

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