Ackley

After Holden moved out, things have been a lot different 'round here. He's the only one of those guys that ever talked to me and things 've been awful lonely since he went insane. I tried to make a good impression on the new kid, Stradlater's new roomie, but that didn't turn out well. Here's how it went:

I was in Stradlater's room cutting my toenails. I swear I have to cut 'em every three seconds or they start gettin' uncomfortable. Anyway, I was just cuttin' in there outta force of habit. I used to talk to Holden but when he got nixed I just stayed outta force 'a habit. There was some new kid there that day though. Scared me half to death when he came through the door, all silent and such. I nearly cut off my toe thanks to him. But he was a new guy so I had a chance at him becomin' my friend. I mean, he wouldn't know the things 'bout me that most find repulsive.

Anyway, I kinda struck up a conversation tryin' to make a good impression. I like to look at people's stuff and I can't sit still for my life, so I got up and started lookin' through his stuff while I talked.

"I'm Ackley," I said, tryin' to sound tough and all, not givin' him any details. I looked through his clothes. All of 'em were like six size too big. Maybe he was one 'a those guys that wear their clothes real loose. "You know the guy your replacin' went insane. He was crazy in general, but one day he just snapped like a twig. Now he's in one 'a those whatchamacall'em crazy-houses."

"I'm James." he said. He sounded like one 'a those total snob guys who think they're better than you. He seemed a lot like Stradlater. He had a fancy brush and all. Stradlater spends more time gettin' fancy than all 'a us combined.

I went to the mirror so I could see my pimples. I swear I could fry somethin' on my face 'cause 'a all the grease. Anyway, I kept on talking, trying to get some details.

"Where'd ya come from? And have you met Stradlater yet? He's your roomie ya know."

"I'm from Boston. Yeah, I met Stradlater. I'm sure he appreciates you looking through his stuff."

I gulped. I swear my Adam's apple went down into my stomach and then came back out twice as big. Stradlater doen't like people goin' through what's his, and he has enough fight in him to beat you up. Before he went insane, Holden got in a fight with Stradlater and he got the tar beaten outta him.

"Now don't rat on me to Stradlater, now." I said. "Just be a good guy and let it drop." I heard footsteps in the hallway and ran outta that room faster than I ever ran before.

So that's my story. Maybe I'm destined to be an outcast. Maybe I'll never make a friend. I'd tell you the end but I don't want to depress the life outta you. It sure depressed the life outta me.