Jane Gallagher

I wasn't doing anything special that night so I went and chewed the rag with Stradlater whist he was shaving. I sat in the Washbowl right next to him and watched him. I kept turning the cold water on and off, I dunno' why, nervous habit I guess. Stradlater was a right slob if you thought about it. I mean, he was a clean looking sort of guy, unlike Ackley. Now there's a crumby guy for ya'! He had really mossy teeth and loadsa' pimples, all over his face! Anyway, Stradlater was different . You should of seen his razor! It was as rusty as hell and was full of lather and hairs and crap. He always looked well groomed though. But by looking at his razor, you wouldn't have thought it.

"Hey!" said Stradlater suddenly taking me out of my daydream about his razor. "Wonna' do me a big favor?" he asked. Nice as hell, damn phoney.

It turns out he wanted me to do this goddam composition for him of English. Can you beleive the cheek! I mean he was asking me and I was the one who was failing at absolutly everything! It wasn't much, well, not for me. It was just a composition about something descriptive.

"Who's your date tonight?" I asked. Just to be nosey.

"Jane Gallagher. ' He said.

I nearly dropped dead when he said that name. He used to live next door to me. I really exited that remembered me. I really was. I used to play checkers with Old Jane. She used to keep all her kings in the back row and just leave 'em there. She never moved them. I liked her. I really did. I guess I kinda' missed her in a way. I was pretty glad that she'd remebered me. Stradlater started putting on his tie and jacket. We were beack in out dorm room now.

"Do that compesition for me will ya'?" He said. "Don't knock yourself out or anything, just make it as descriptive as hell Okay?"

I didn't answer. I didn't feel like it. But I'll tell you what I did ask him. I asked him to askes Old Jane if she still kept all her kings in the back row, I knew she'd know what I meant. Stradlater said he would. But I doubt it. I sat in my chair for about half an hour after he'd gone. I couldn't get Jane out of my head. I kept thinking about her and Stradlater together. It made me so nervous I nearly went crazy.