Interview with Mrs Murrow

Yes, I was on the train quite late, on my way to New York I was. Going to visit my sister she’s not very well at the moment, and this was the only ticket I was able to lay my hands on. The train was quite empty except for this one dear young man. You mentioned it was, well, Holden Caulfield? Sorry, I don’t recall anyone by that name. But on the train, the only person I did meet was Rudolf Schmidt—a bit strange to my liking, though he went to Pencey Prep, I thought that was nice anyway. Well dear, that sounds like that could have been him, did he really have a brain tumour removed, poor thing. Yes, well, he was a bit touched in the head, anyway. I mean… he offered me a cigarette; he must smoke a lot because the case was almost empty. Yes yes, he was a strange boy, he also asked me if I wanted to get a cocktail with him in the club car—I don’t even think he was old enough and it was about 3 in the morning, it would be closed for goodness sake. He was saying that he would be able to get in on account of his “grey hair”, really. (Disappointed face). Tut tut . (shakeshead).
One funny thing about him was he started to talk about my boy, Ernest, but Rudolf...um I mean ,what was it …Holden, started to talk about this nonsense that he was running for class president, but surely my boy Ernest, would have told me about it, he writes me every Sunday, yes that’s him. Mmm.(nodding head)
Bit cheeky though…ermm Holden he was, mind you, my son can be as well sometimes probably picked it up from some of those kids at Pencey, though the boy couldn’t have made up all those stories he told to me about Ernest…could he?
He told me he lots of pretend things (shakes head) I’m mean there was so many of them. About my Ernie being shy n’ modest and all, he’s not that shy, is he? Well then, poor dear (looks into space)
If you ask me the boy Holden, could have been a total nutcase, if you ask me, he kept looking at me as if I was 16 again, boy, he was strange. Now I come to think of it, I don’t think he had a brain tumour after all, on account he was most surely lying about everything else. Thank goodness. Then what was he doing out of school before they let you out for the Christmas holidays. Oh! He didn’t get thrown out did he, poor thing. I feel terrible for him, his parents too. I wonder what they’ll have t’ do. I wonder what I’d do if my Ernie got the ax.
D’y’know what I remember that his nose was bleeding, I don’t know why but it makes me feel a bit funny so I told him in the end. I guess that anyone would have anyway. Bit peculiar if you ask me though.