Holden's reply

For a school exercise we had to write a letter to Holden Caulfield, and imagine a response. Here is what I wrote.

Dear FT,

Thank you very much for saying that my book was that good. It makes me really proud to hear someone say that. Anyway so I should answer your questions. Yeah so I did go back to old Mr.Antolini’s house after all because I was really feeling sour leaving the old guy all of a sudden like that; but it sure was freaky him touching me like that. I thought that he was a goddam pervert or something! Anyway so I went down there and I asked him why he did that and he came up with all this bull about being lonely and all and he thought that I looked to peaceful when I was asleep. Sometimes that Mr.Antolini can be real neat, but sometimes he sure can be a real bore. I mean we’re all lonely for chrissake. I mean every now and then I feel lonely as hell all alone in my room. Sometimes I think back to old Jane, or Sally and what life would be like now if she had agreed to come to Vermont with me. I would have done it you know. Seriously, at times I can be really crazy and even amaze myself.  Old Sally would never have agreed though; I mean she’s one of the biggest phonies I’ve even met. I probably would have hit her if she weren’t so damn good-looking. I wish that I could marry her. She’s got this loud incredibly annoying laugh that just gets on my nerves. It actually reminds me of old Phoebe’s laugh. She’s over the thing about me not letting her come with me to the West. She is probably the one person that keeps me sane, that girl. Whenever I’m really down she just comes and makes me feel better. She’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met, along with those nuns that I met at the station. 

What to talk about now? Oh my father; he was okay about the whole thing I suppose. I mean he grounded me and stuff and said that I wouldn’t be allowed all these privileges until I learned to be an adult and bla bla. I feel sorry for my father, I really do. I mean he goes and works really hard (he’s this big shot lawyer) and then I go and blow all his hopes and all of me becoming something. This is making me feel really depressed. I hope this letter is enough for you.

Yours Truly

Holden Caulfield