Chapter 4 - Stradlater and Jane

Everybody was still down at the game, and I had nothing on so I followed Stradlater into the can whilst he had a shave. Boy, it was hot as hell in that place, the windows had all steamed up. There was 10 washbowls against the walls, Stradlater took the middle and I sat down on the one next to him, and fiddled with the taps turning them on and off - its a nervous habit I have. Stradlater was whistling 'Song of India' while he was shaving. He had one of those goddam piercing whistles that are practically never in tune, he could really mess up any song.
Stradlater was one of those secret slobs, he always looked alright when he'd gotten ready, but if you seen the things he used, for instance his razor. His gpddam crappy little razor. He never cleaned it, it was full of lather and hairs and all that crap. He thought he was the most handsome guy in the Western Hemisphere, he was quite handsome I must admit. He was the type that when your parents opened the yearbook they'd say 'Who's this boy?'.

Anyway, we was still sat at the washbowl and Stradlater was stil shaving, I was sort of turning the water on and off still. I was still wearing the red hunting hat, with the peak at the back. Stradlater asked me for a big favour, he wanted me to right him a composition for English, which was quite ironical, as I was the one who was flunking out of the place. He said just do a descriptive as hell peice about anything. I didnt answer.

I got bored sat at the washbowl, so I got up and started tap dancing, just for the hell of it. It was quite amusing. I cant really tap dance or anything, but the stone floor in the can was good for a try. I started to immitate one of the guys from the movies, you know those phoney musicals. I hate movies, their like poison, but I get a huge bang out of imitating them. Old Stradlater was laughing at me, he had quite a good sense of humour. I was getting out of breathe so I quit horsing around. I took my hat off and looked at it for about the nineteenth time. He asked me again, will do this goddam composition for him. I said if I have time I will, and if I don’t I won’t.

I asked him who his date was. He wouldnt tell me at first, but he said she told him she knew me. I asked him what her name is, he said 'Uh. Jean Gallagher' Boy I nearly dropped dead when he said those words. He actually ment Jane Gallagher. I liked her alot, she was one of the very few that wasnt phoney. I wanted to go and say hi, but I get very nervous and shy. So I told Stradlater to give me regards. I knew he wouldnt.

He put my hounds-tooth jacket on, I warned him not to stretch, 'cos I'd only worn it a few times. He put his cigs in his coat pocket - my coat pocket. Then he left.

I sat there for about half an hour after he left. I mean I just sat in my chair, not doing anything. i kept thinking about Jane, and about Stradlater having a date with her and all. It made me so goddam nervous, I nearly went crazy. I already told you what a sexy bastard Stradlater was.
Ackley barged back in again throught the shower curtain, Boy i'd never been so glad to see him in all my life, he took my mind of everything else. He stayed 'til around dinner time, moaning about the guys at Pencey, and how much he hated their guts. He was squeezing a pimple on his chin. He wasnt even using a handkerchief, I dont even think the dirty bastard even owned one, and if he did I never saw him using it.