After Holden's messy date, he calls up an intellectual friend and arranges for drinks later that night. Then, another insight into Holden's psyche that helps us to empathize with him.
Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.
(Salinger 141)
This internal dialogue comes right after Holden reveals that his older brother was in the army "for four goddam years." Poor kid.
Holden and his friend meet up for drinks. They talk. Holden gets mad. They part ways. Spotting a pattern, anyone?
Holden gets extremely drunk and reminisces about his dead younger brother. Holden suddenly decides to go visit home and see his little sister, Phoebe. He wakes her up, and they have a conversation, which turns to why Holden is home so early. His sister finds out he was kicked out and refuses to talk to Holden. He coaxes her back into the conversation, and they discuss various heavy issues. They bond for a while, when their parents show up and Holden bolts out of the house. Without a place to stay, Holden turns to old friends, Mr. and Mrs. Antolini. Holden falls asleep, and wakes up a few hours later with Mr. Antolini patting his head. This is deemed "perverty", and Holden freaks out and bolts again.
I have to agree with Holden, something about this event feels a little rapey. This reminds me of a similar scene, albeit from a totally different angle and perspective, in the book The Art of Racing in the Rain. The scene where the younger niece comes on to the older male protagonist leaves just as bad a taste in this reader's mouth.
I tend to take life at a high speed, and often fail to appreciate the present. Holden has a similar problem. His wild and crazy antics are a reflection of his need to appear adult-like, just like myself. I, like Holden, need to slow down and appreciate the small things. Adulthood ain't easy.
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