Chunk 3
chapters 5 - 7
Summary: (Explanation on next page >>)
Ackley, Holden, and a friend, Mal Brossard, take a bus to Agerstown for a Saturday night's entertainment. When they get back, Holden begins to write an essay on his younger brother's baseball glove for Stradlater's English Comp class. In doing so, he reminisces about his brother Allie: "terrifically intelligent," nice, and dead (from leukemia).
The memories of Allie bring out a sentimental side of Holden, and so when Stradlater returns from his date with Jane, Holden has little tolerance for Stradlater's evasive responses to his questions as whether he gave Jane "the time." A fight soon ensues, wherein Holden calls Stradlater a moron and begins bawling about how morons, and presumably everybody, "never want to discuss anything [intelligent]." In the end, Holden is left on the ground screaming with blood all over his face. He rejects Stradlater's offers of assistance, choosing instead to retreat to Ackley's room.
In Ackley's room Holden attempts to begin a half-hearted conversation, but merely annoys Ackley, who wishes to sleep. In the end, Holden leaves the room and makes a spontaneous decision to leave Pencey that night. Within moments, he is packed and out the door, but not without shouting his farewell: "Sleep tight, ya morons!"
Explanation on next page >>
