Diary,

    Phoebe, my little sister, bought me a journal because she said it would help me get my ducks in a row. I guess I will sum up the past year so that I can re-note everything that happened. Let me tell you, it is a whole lot.

    It all started back at Pencey, the boy’s prep school I went to. Yeah, went to, I flunked out. Well, when I went there I was the manager of the fencing team. It was ok, something to do I guess. But one time I forgot all the equipment on the subway. The team was pretty mad at me for that one. My roommate’s name was Stradlater. Boy, he was a character. He and I got in a fight one because of this girl I knew. Stradlater wanted to "get her in the backseat" and I did not appreciate that. He can be a jerk sometimes.

    Ok, so Christmas break was coming up and I did not want to go home yet. So instead, I went and stayed in a hotel in New York City. This hotel was something else. It was full of cross dressers and stuff like that, just weird stuff. The guy in the elevator asked me what room I was in and said he would send me up a girl. Little did I know she was a prostitute? I gave her five dollars for coming to my room but in the end she robbed me ten. I don’t know, after that I tried to call up some friends to hang out but a lot of them were not home or their parents would find out that I was in New York City. Then, my parents would find out that I was not in school still. I sat in a bar for a while, went to a museum and I went to the movies and ice-skating with Sally, an old friend. We got into a fight, so I did what every guy does.  I went to the bar for some alcohol.  I don't remember really what happened after that, but I decided it was time to go home. 

    When I went home I decided to talk to Phoebe, my little sister.  I had to sneak into her room so that mom and dad would not catch me.  I could not believe how mad Phoebe was at me for getting kicked out of school.   She would not talk to me forever.  She gave me some money but I told her that I was going to pay her back in a couple of days.  Wouldnt you feel bad if you took your little sister's Christmas money?  Then, I decided to stay at my old professor, Mr. Antolini's house.  We talked about my parents and why I got kicked out.  He kept telling me that I needed to get everything strait before I go downhill even farther.  Everyone is worried about me, except me.  I know I will be ok and that I will get out of this ok.  I always do!  I stayed on the couch for the night and I may be wrong but I felt like Mr. Antolini was trying to put some moves on me or something.  I don't know, I am not going to fuss.  At least I had a place to stay.  

    The next morning I decided that I had to go.  I didn't know where, but I had to leave.  I could not face my parents yet.  I felt bad for leaving my sister so I decided to go and tell her good-bye.  I knew she could keep it a secret.  I snuck back into the house so that I could give her the money she loaned me and then we decided that we were going to hang out.  We went to the zoo and then I took her to the carousel.  I think she had a fun time, but she made me feel like a lousy brother.  I kept thinking about old times and it made me think about my life.  I started to feel sick and I didn't know if it was because the memories were making me so sad or if I was catching a bug.  I decided that I was going home and that I couldn't leave my sister.  Right now, family is all I have.   Until next time,

                                                                                                Holden Caulfield