Properties
- end_line
- 645
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-27T17:13:25.100Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 588
- text
- 563 He started cutting his nails over the table, for a change. The only way he ever did
564 anything was if you yelled at him.
565 I watched him for a while. Then I said, "The reason you're sore at Stradlater is
566 because he said that stuff about brushing your teeth once in a while. He didn't mean to
567 insult you, for cryin' out loud. He didn't say it right or anything, but he didn't mean
568 anything insulting. All he meant was you'd look better and feel better if you sort of
569 brushed your teeth once in a while."
570 "I brush my teeth. Don't gimme that."
571 "No, you don't. I've seen you, and you don't," I said. I didn't say it nasty, though. I
572 felt sort of sorry for him, in a way. I mean it isn't too nice, naturally, if somebody tells
573 you you don't brush your teeth. "Stradlater's all right He's not too bad," I said. "You don't
574 know him, thats the trouble."
575 "I still say he's a sonuvabitch. He's a conceited sonuvabitch."
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576 "He's conceited, but he's very generous in some things. He really is," I said.
577 "Look. Suppose, for instance, Stradlater was wearing a tie or something that you liked.
578 Say he had a tie on that you liked a helluva lot--I'm just giving you an example, now.
579 You know what he'd do? He'd probably take it off and give it ta you. He really would.
580 Or--you know what he'd do? He'd leave it on your bed or something. But he'd give you
581 the goddam tie. Most guys would probably just--"
582 "Hell," Ackley said. "If I had his dough, I would, too."
583 "No, you wouldn't." I shook my head. "No, you wouldn't, Ackley kid. If you had
584 his dough, you'd be one of the biggest--"
585 "Stop calling me 'Ackley kid,' God damn it. I'm old enough to be your lousy
586 father."
587 "No, you're not." Boy, he could really be aggravating sometimes. He never missed
588 a chance to let you know you were sixteen and he was eighteen. "In the first place, I
589 wouldn't let you in my goddam family," I said.
590 "Well, just cut out calling me--"
591 All of a sudden the door opened, and old Stradlater barged in, in a big hurry. He
592 was always in a big hurry. Everything was a very big deal. He came over to me and gave
593 me these two playful as hell slaps on both cheeks--which is something that can be very
594 annoying. 'Listen," he said. "You going out anywheres special tonight?"
595 "I don't know. I might. What the hell's it doing out--snowing?" He had snow all
596 over his coat.
597 "Yeah. Listen. If you're not going out anyplace special, how 'bout lending me
598 your hound's-tooth jacket?"
599 "Who won the game?" I said.
600 "It's only the half. We're leaving," Stradlater said. "No kidding, you gonna use
601 your hound's-tooth tonight or not? I spilled some crap all over my gray flannel."
602 "No, but I don't want you stretching it with your goddam shoulders and all," I
603 said. We were practically the same heighth, but he weighed about twice as much as I did.
604 He had these very broad shoulders.
605 "I won't stretch it." He went over to the closet in a big hurry. "How'sa boy,
606 Ackley?" he said to Ackley. He was at least a pretty friendly guy, Stradlater. It was partly
607 a phony kind of friendly, but at least he always said hello to Ackley and all.
608 Ackley just sort of grunted when he said "How'sa boy?" He wouldn't answer him,
609 but he didn't have guts enough not to at least grunt. Then he said to me, "I think I'll get
610 going. See ya later."
611 "Okay," I said. He never exactly broke your heart when he went back to his own
612 room.
613 Old Stradlater started taking off his coat and tie and all. "I think maybe I'll take a
614 fast shave," he said. He had a pretty heavy beard. He really did.
615 "Where's your date?" I asked him.
616 "She's waiting in the Annex." He went out of the room with his toilet kit and
617 towel under his arm. No shirt on or anything. He always walked around in his bare torso
618 because he thought he had a damn good build. He did, too. I have to admit it.
- title
- Chunk 6