Anyway, I really did go home after the carrousel.

             walked out of the park onto the east side, and took the bus to Grand Central,.

             to get my goddam Gladstones out of the strong box there. Though it had.

             stopped pouring out, I was still pretty wet. Boy, it really came down like a.

             madman. I still had Phoebe's red hunting hat on, it was soaking wet though. I.

             didn't care. Phoebe was much more cheerful now.

             "I'm glad we're both going home now, Holden", she said.

             "I'm just ready to get this over with", I said, "Mom and dad will cry.

             and yell. I don't care.".

             "Don't worry, Holden. It'll be okay", Phoebe said. She squeezed my.

             hand-she was holding my hand-and smiled the cutest smile at me. It just about.

             killed me.

             We walked into the huge lobby in Grand Central. As we walked over.

             to where the lockers were, we passed the bench where I'd sort of slept for a.

             few hours after I had to leave Mr. Antolini's. I'd never tell Phoebe about.

             it, of course. It seemed like so long ago, but it was actually just this.

             morning.

             We just had most of Phoebe's Christmas dough, so we got my.

             Gladstones, and took the Madison Avenue bus to 72nd street. There were a.

             bunch of kids around Phoebe's age in the back of the bus. They were all.

             horsing around, laughing like madmen at something. We sat next to them, on.

             those three seats between the back door and the back row. We took up a lot of.

             room, since we had my two suitcases, plus my old suitcase with Phoebe's stuff.

             in it.

             I heard some kid say, "Phoebe, your brother found you!" I looked.

             across the bus. It was that little girl I met in the park yesterday, whose.

             roller skates I'd tightened and all, that I told you about. I guess she and.

             Phoebe were friends, because they immediately started talking and laughing up.

             a storm.

             "Holden's coming to see me in the play", she said to the girl. She.

             tugged my arm, "This is my brother Holden, Holden, this is Susie. She's in.

             the play too.".

             "Yes", Susie said, "It should be really great". She was so polite.