The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

Chapter 18Chapter 18 After Sally leaves, Holden realizes he After Sally leaves, Holden realizes he

is hungry and goes into a drugstore is hungry and goes into a drugstore to buy a Swiss cheese sandwich and to buy a Swiss cheese sandwich and a malted milk.a malted milk.

While in the drugstore, he decides to While in the drugstore, he decides to give Jane Gallagher another call. give Jane Gallagher another call.

Anyway, I gave old Anyway, I gave old Jane a buzz again, Jane a buzz again, but her phone didn't but her phone didn't answer, so I had to answer, so I had to hang up. hang up.

Then I had to look Then I had to look through my address through my address book to see who the book to see who the hell might be hell might be available for the available for the evening. evening.

The trouble was, though, my address The trouble was, though, my address book only has about three people in book only has about three people in it.it.

Jane, and this man, Mr. Antolini, that Jane, and this man, Mr. Antolini, that was my teacher at Elkton Hills, and was my teacher at Elkton Hills, and my father's office number. my father's office number.

I keep forgetting to put people's I keep forgetting to put people's names in.names in.

Carl LuceCarl Luce So what I did finally, I gave old Carl Luce So what I did finally, I gave old Carl Luce

a buzz. a buzz. He graduated from the Whooton School He graduated from the Whooton School

after I left. after I left. He was about three years older than I He was about three years older than I

was, and I didn't like him too much, but was, and I didn't like him too much, but he was one of these very intellectual he was one of these very intellectual guys and I thought he might want to guys and I thought he might want to have dinner with me somewhere and have dinner with me somewhere and have a slightly intellectual conversation. have a slightly intellectual conversation.

He was very enlightening sometimes. So He was very enlightening sometimes. So I gave him a buzz. I gave him a buzz.

He went to Columbia now, but he He went to Columbia now, but he lived on 65th Street and all, and I lived on 65th Street and all, and I knew he'd be home. knew he'd be home.

When I got him on the phone, he said When I got him on the phone, he said he couldn't make it for dinner but he couldn't make it for dinner but that he'd meet me for a drink at ten that he'd meet me for a drink at ten o'clock at the Wicker Bar, on 54th. o'clock at the Wicker Bar, on 54th.

I think he was pretty surprised to I think he was pretty surprised to hear from me. hear from me.

I once called him a fat-assed phony.I once called him a fat-assed phony.

He arranges to meet Carl for a drink He arranges to meet Carl for a drink at ten o’clock. at ten o’clock.

Holden then decides to see a movie Holden then decides to see a movie to pass the time.    to pass the time.   

The RockettesThe Rockettes I came in when the goddam stage I came in when the goddam stage

show was on. show was on. The Rockettes were kicking their The Rockettes were kicking their

heads off, the way they do when heads off, the way they do when they're all in line with their arms they're all in line with their arms around each other's waist. around each other's waist.

The RockettesThe Rockettes

After the Christmas thing was over, After the Christmas thing was over, the goddam picture started. the goddam picture started.

It was so putrid I couldn't take my It was so putrid I couldn't take my eyes off it. eyes off it.

It was about this English guy, Alec It was about this English guy, Alec something, that was in the war and something, that was in the war and loses his memory in the hospital and loses his memory in the hospital and all.all.

After the movie was over, I started After the movie was over, I started walking down to the Wicker Bar, walking down to the Wicker Bar, where I was supposed to meet old where I was supposed to meet old Carl Luce, and while I walked I sort of Carl Luce, and while I walked I sort of thought about war and all. thought about war and all.

Those war movies always do that to Those war movies always do that to me. I don't think I could stand it if I me. I don't think I could stand it if I had to go to war.had to go to war.

My brother D.B. was in the Army for My brother D.B. was in the Army for four goddam years. He was in the four goddam years. He was in the war, too--he landed on D-Day and war, too--he landed on D-Day and all--but I really think he hated the all--but I really think he hated the Army worse than the war.Army worse than the war.

All he had to do was drive some All he had to do was drive some cowboy general around all day in a cowboy general around all day in a command car.command car.

What gets me about D.B., though, he What gets me about D.B., though, he hated the war so much, and yet he hated the war so much, and yet he got me to read this book A Farewell got me to read this book A Farewell to Arms last summer. to Arms last summer.

He said it was so terrific. That's what He said it was so terrific. That's what I can't understand. I can't understand.

It had this guy in it named Lieutenant It had this guy in it named Lieutenant Henry that was supposed to be a Henry that was supposed to be a nice guy and all. nice guy and all.

I don't see how D.B. could hate the I don't see how D.B. could hate the Army and war and all so much and Army and war and all so much and still like a phony like that. still like a phony like that.

I mean, for instance, I don't see how I mean, for instance, I don't see how he could like a phony book like that he could like a phony book like that and still like that one by Ring and still like that one by Ring Lardner, or that other one he's so Lardner, or that other one he's so crazy about, The Great Gatsby. crazy about, The Great Gatsby.

D.B. got sore when I said that, and D.B. got sore when I said that, and said I was too young and all to said I was too young and all to appreciate it, but I don't think so. appreciate it, but I don't think so.

I told him I liked Ring Lardner and I told him I liked Ring Lardner and The Great Gatsby and all. I did, too. The Great Gatsby and all. I did, too.

I was crazy about The Great Gatsby. I was crazy about The Great Gatsby. Old Gatsby. Old Gatsby. Old sport. Old sport. That killed me. That killed me.

Anyway, I'm sort of Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the glad they've got the atomic bomb atomic bomb invented. invented.

If there's ever If there's ever another war, I'm another war, I'm going to sit right the going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.swear to God I will.