Chapter 9: Positioning the audience through 3rd person narration

Holden paced slowly dragging his feet against the concrete, with only the accompaniment of his shadow. Holden stepped out of Penn station into the blazing sun. His mind was working at 100 miles per hour. He wasn’t sure what he was here for, why he wouldn’t swallow his god dam pride and go home. Beyond the blinding light of the sun Holden made out a phone booth. Finally he could cure his overwhelming sense of loneliness. Holden decided to call someone; anyone at this point would do. Whilst Holden was contemplating who he could possibly call to avoid embarrassment or inconvenience anyone, he realised there was no perfect candidate. Agitated with his idea in the first place Holden hung up the phone. Stepping out of the phone booth, the only rational thing Holden thought of doing was taking a cab to dissolve his thoughts of loneliness. Holden hurled himself into the cab as it stopped by the curb. Separated from his thoughts and thinking about home, Holden blurted out his home address to the driver. The agenda of Holden’s heart was winning over that of his mind. Holden corrected himself in a hurry in fear of changing his mind about staying in New York. Holden turned to look at the miserable cab driver looking for the opportunity to strike up conversation. Holden’s urgency to talk was driven by his lingering question about the ducks. Where did the go in the winter when their lake was frozen over? When the comfort of their normal environment is not accessible to them any more? It wasn’t too long before Holden gave in to the temptation and asked. After all he was looking for some causal discussion. The cab driver shot Holden back a look of judgement after asking him. In an attempt to hide his embarrassment Holden began to fiddle with the hunting hat he had on. Holden began to think that he’d forever be the troubled teen dealing with his problems alone. Holden world, like the ducks’ was indeed frozen over; no direction, no security, just him and the big wide world. Holden’s thoughts encouraged him even further to ask the cab driver for some company over cocktails. Although as anticipated the cab driver declined. Rejections seem to be a part of Holden’s daily life. As the cab driver pulled outside the Edmont Hotel, Holden was consumed with a potent feeling of uncertainty. He didn’t want to stay the night in a hotel full of phony screwballs. Holden took of his hat off and acted as if he knew exactly what his next move was. Holden’s’ facade of confidence and somewhat arrogance was always apparent when slightly intimidated. Soon after Holden was ushered into his hotel room, he was disgusted to see some crumby things a couple were engaging in. Squirting water on the person you loved or at least liked seemed almost incomprehensible to Holden. Wouldn’t you want to preserve the beauty of your girl? Despite the level of disturbance of what Holden just witnessed, it brought the idea of sex to the forefront of his mind. Holden toyed with idea of sex and came to the conclusion that he didn’t understand sex. Holden was always too concerned about destroying a young girls’ innocence. It just seemed a little selfish on the mans’ behalf in his eyes. After further contemplation Holden decided that the he’d give into temptation and call a girl he was told ‘didn’t mind doing it once in a while’. He figured that her innocence was long gone and he was feeling pretty horny anyway. Holden picked up the hotel phone immediately. If this was the only way he wouldn’t be alone, it seemed like a good plan to him. Holden waited in anticipation for the dial tone to be interrupted with the voice of Faith Cavendish. Once she’d finally picked up, Holden was surprised to hear the confusion in her voice when he told Faith that he was a friend of Eddie Birdsell. Holden was beginning to think that Eddie was just another one of those phonies making up stories about how many horny women he’s had the time with. When Faith remembered to whom Holden was referring to, she turned to conversation to discussing Eddie. Holden’s impatience for small talk led him to interrupt Faith by asking her if she’s like to join him for some drinks. For once Holden just wanted to get what he intended in the first place. Faith’s very sweet but resistant approach to Holden’s suggestion causes Holden to reject any of the alternatives she suggests. He hung up in frustration. Holden knew he had blown his chance, he was once again alone; with no one to talk to or have sex with or even argue with. Just him and the crumby hotel guests he could still see from his window.