Why Holden Again?

When I saw Holden, he was walking through Central Park. At first, I didn’t have an inkling of who he was. Then I remembered him, he used to go around with a friend of mine. I probably only saw him two or three times after that, but his irascible temper and abhorrent manners were recognizable. He still looked despondent, just like I remembered him, and his hair fell in a slovenly manner across his face. It looked like he had a very rough night.

I was looking after my sister while she played with her friends. Then, I saw him come my way. Oh no! I thought. I wasn’t in the mood for his interminable and pointless talks. I tried to cover my face somehow so he wouldn’t come. He didn’t take the hint, he never does. Instead, he sat down next to me. He remembered me, which was obvious. He greeted me and immediately he started a tirade about how he wishes kids would remain innocent, but they never do. It was very spontaneous and it startled me. He kept talking about children and how they should never become adults in an imperative tone. I don’t know how extricate myself from the conversation.

Clearly, he wasn’t in his five senses, he smelled like cigarettes and Scotch. Also, he kept on putting this red, hunting hat on his head and then shoving it back in his pocket repeatedly. Then Holden invited me to go out for a drink. I thought that he was a reclusive person, but he was lonely, and looking for company, this impelled him to invite me. I tried to pay no attention to his entreaties.

Then, a friend of mine showed up. I couldn’t have been any happier to see Carl Luce. His affability always lifted someone’s mood. He too, wasn’t electrified with Holden’s presence. Carl made a cursory examination of Holden’s appearance, from the abrasion on his face, his head again clad with the red hunting hat, to his dirty clothes before turning away with a grimace spread across his features.

“Holden,” Luce said “If I didn’t know better I would say you are homeless. I derive that you didn’t spend your night at your house. Am I right?”

Holden answered in a tremulous voice. “No, I was at a friend’s house, but I left early. I am in terrific shape. Really, I swear. I’m a little tired but it doesn’t bother me too much” He tried making his answer concise to avoid any more questions.

“Please don’t take amiss in the suggestion, but did you consider going to the psychoanalyst?” Luce asked. You never knew with Holden’s disposition; almost instantly, he started to get angry, as if he was falling into some guile. Then he left, he said he didn’t want to be around phony people who thought they knew everything.

It was a strange episode, as for Holden, he is a peculiar guy. This is something that I really hope doesn’t recur.