Boy, was I happy to see her old Dóra! I figured she was the only one I wanted to bump into that night. I almost wanted to kiss her and all but instead I just said „Hey! Nice to see you! Watcha doin’?” „We were having some fun with the girls together you know. Now I’m just about to get home. How ’bout you Mr. Caulfield?” – and that lovely smile upon her face. I didn’t mind though. I was smiling too I remember „Yeah just hanging out I guess.. Home already? It’s not that late yet! C’mon let’s have a drink somewhere!” „Well okay, I don’t mind drinking with the head of the English Literature Department..” – she said, still in that funny voice. „Oh cut it out!” – I was laughing.
We went into this fine bar called Dante, not too far away from the square. This place was much better than the other was, maybe just a bit too swanky but I liked it anyway. We both had enough booze for the day so we decided to order two coffees. There weren’t too many customers that late, only the regulars I guess.
We had a helluva good time, we really did! I mean we could have gone on talking for the whole night or something, we had such a nice conversation and all, her English is pretty good you know, I truly liked that. She was telling me how they got too damn loud with her friends at a place so the waiter practically threw them out, I was telling her how I ended up with the two girls that night and all, it was really fun, we kind of laughed our heads off or something. Funny thing is, she truly liked my stories! She was laughing like a madman sometimes! That just made me feel so overjoyed that I already forgot how depressed I was.
After we drank our coffee, we went for a taxi because no more busses were running that late and she told me that she lives quite close to the hostel. She did too. I sort of went with her to the door. „Well, that was one helluva good time we had. Thanks!” „Thank you for the Coffee” – she said smiling, but her smile was a bit different now. She had this sort of an embarrased smile. I was also a bit nervous I have to admit. „So.. Good night then!.. Will see you at the university, right?” „Sure! Good night you too!” – she answered and slowly went inside. I sort of stood there for a while, just couldn’t start my legs which were still shaking if you want to know. God, I like that girl! Now I like her even more!
On my way down to the hostel I still couldn’t get old Dóra out of my mind. She’s so smart if you know what I mean and you don’t just meet smart girls every day or something. I actually started to blame myself for not asking her to meet me again sometimes. Just why didn’t I?
Anyway, I suddenly stopped thinking about her, for I was already at our room. There I felt sorry for good old Ezio and what I said to him came to my mind there. I was a moron to say someting like that. And now I know. I decided to say sorry to him and discuss the whole thing but when I went inside, I saw that he’s already sleeping. So I went to my bed as well, leaving this for tomorrow and thinking again about old Dóra. Maybe I’ll call her. Maybe tomorrow. I certainly will!
2008. március 5., szerda
Catcher in the University #2
I haven’t met her since last time, old Dóra, but I figured I wouldn’t even have much to say to her anyway. Boy, was I a phony! I screwd up right at the beginning. Worst thing is, I don’t even know why I did that stuff. Hell! I thought I’ve at least gave up this crumby habit of mine, lieing my stupid head off. I don’t know, I sort of felt like I had to be some hot shot to get her attention, for you always have to be a hot shot to get the girls and all. Well, one thing I surely did: I had her attention now.
While having such thoughts I suddenly started to feel very depressed in a way. We were in the hostel room with good old Ezio and it was already about to get damn dark outside. He was lieing on his stomach. You could see he was working hard on some corny masterpiece. „You drawing?” – I asked him anyway. I just felt like talking to him. Or anyone. He’s a good guy and all it’s just that he’s not a man of words you know. „Yup..” – answered Ezio without even looking up, just chewing on his pencil for a tick. He always chews on his pencils. He kills me with that. „You feel like going out tonight?” – I asked in a childish voice. I felt terribly lonesome, I really did. „Nope..” – said Ezio still with that stupid pencil in his mouth and got down to sketching again. That made me really mad. „You’re wasting your time on those snotty drawings instead of making something useful! You think you can make a living out of this anyway?” – I sort of shouted at him. Old Ezio looked up at me for a while. He didn’t sware or anything, but you could tell he was pretty sore about it. These artist guys are touchy as hell when it comes to their work or something. „What are YOU doing?” – was all he said in a calm voice and went back to drawing. He was right. He was goddam right and I already felt sorry about what I’ve said but I just didn’t feel like saying sorry. So what I did, I just grabbed my jacket and headed out of the room. I sort of slammed the door actually. I decided to get out of the hostel and find some good spot in town just to clear my thoughts. On my way down the stairs I was thinkin about old Ezio and that crumby thing I said to him. I couldn’t figure out why I did it, I didn’t even mean it! I truly like his drawings, they are the smartest I’ve ever seen.
As I got out of the building I gave a buzz to Attila, asking him if he cared for a drink or two. He told me that he’s going to write an exam the next day and that he had to prepare for it. But he told me to have a fun time anyway. Fun time my ass. I knew some of the other Erasmus students at the hostel but I didn’t feel like hanging out with them. What would I do with them anyway? Drink some vodka with the Russian girl Natasha who’s neck is twice as thick as mine? Or hang out with the Spanish guys who are hugging and kissing each other in every minute?
Anyway, I got on the bus and headed downtown. I dropped myself on a seat and wanted to get back to my thoughts and all when I noticed these two girls in the back of the bus. They were sort of gossiping I guess and sometimes looking at me. They seemed pretty young and one of them had those helluva lumpy legs, but the other seemd pretty allright though, so I gave ’em the old eye. Then they started giggling like a madman. I stood up and went over, asking in this really corny voice: „Do the ladies speak English?” After some more giggling they told me that they do but believe me they spoke the lousiest English you’ve ever heard in your life. I’m not kidding! After a few lines of speaking we got off the bus and made our way up to the Széchenyi square, which is the main square of town. As it turned out, they planned to go to a party and dance and all but I just didn’t feel like dancing so I asked if they would have a drink with me before the party and they were in.
We went into this lousy bar they suggested. It was kind of small, dumpy and goddam dark. I didn’t like it at all but if the girls want to drink here, let them drink here. We sat down at one of those small tables in the corner and the waiter showed up. At least they had a waiter. I let the girls order what they wished then I ordered a Scotch and soda like I always do. Luckily I don’t have the problem with them waiters anymore, I’m old enough to get my drinks you know. I tried to make up a meaningful conversation with them girls but it just couldn’t work out. Every time I asked some boring question like where they study and all, they could hardly understand me. They always had to ask „what?” two or three times and that made me damn nervous. Not to mantion that giggling they made after each sentence. Hell, I hate that! So I decided not to put questions anymore. If they want to communicate, they will ask. But they didn’t. All they did was, they stood up and explained that they had to go to the ladies’ room. I nodded and orderd another drink. Then I was sitting around, waiting for them about an hour or so. If you think they ever came back, you are crazy. They never came back the giggling bastards! I guess they’ve already left a long time ago, maybe right after standing up from the table. Now I really felt upset and the waiter even sort of laughed at me as I paid the check, he really did! On my way out I got this feeling that the waiter knew the gigglers very well and maybe even saw them going out of the dumpy bar.
Anyway I walked back to the square just to calm down and all, ’cuz I was still kind of mad about what happened. I didn’t mind the girls though, they were stupid anyway, but that laughing waiter! That was what killed me!
I stopped in the middle of the square just to take a look around. The downtown lights looked pretty nice and all, just there were no people on the streets for it was already about to get damn late in the night. Then all of a sudden I felt this horrible deja vou feeling. I felt just like some yers ago, when I was walking the streets alone in the long, bitter night back at home. I’ve already told you about that, haven’t I. The case was all the same now, as I was desperately running around for someone or something that would make me feel allright. God, what a lousy night I had back then! I tried to get my mind of the track so that I won’t get damn depressed about it. I was running through my address book to give someone a buzz as this hand tapped my shoulder from behind saying „Hey!”. I turned around. It was old Dóra’s.
While having such thoughts I suddenly started to feel very depressed in a way. We were in the hostel room with good old Ezio and it was already about to get damn dark outside. He was lieing on his stomach. You could see he was working hard on some corny masterpiece. „You drawing?” – I asked him anyway. I just felt like talking to him. Or anyone. He’s a good guy and all it’s just that he’s not a man of words you know. „Yup..” – answered Ezio without even looking up, just chewing on his pencil for a tick. He always chews on his pencils. He kills me with that. „You feel like going out tonight?” – I asked in a childish voice. I felt terribly lonesome, I really did. „Nope..” – said Ezio still with that stupid pencil in his mouth and got down to sketching again. That made me really mad. „You’re wasting your time on those snotty drawings instead of making something useful! You think you can make a living out of this anyway?” – I sort of shouted at him. Old Ezio looked up at me for a while. He didn’t sware or anything, but you could tell he was pretty sore about it. These artist guys are touchy as hell when it comes to their work or something. „What are YOU doing?” – was all he said in a calm voice and went back to drawing. He was right. He was goddam right and I already felt sorry about what I’ve said but I just didn’t feel like saying sorry. So what I did, I just grabbed my jacket and headed out of the room. I sort of slammed the door actually. I decided to get out of the hostel and find some good spot in town just to clear my thoughts. On my way down the stairs I was thinkin about old Ezio and that crumby thing I said to him. I couldn’t figure out why I did it, I didn’t even mean it! I truly like his drawings, they are the smartest I’ve ever seen.
As I got out of the building I gave a buzz to Attila, asking him if he cared for a drink or two. He told me that he’s going to write an exam the next day and that he had to prepare for it. But he told me to have a fun time anyway. Fun time my ass. I knew some of the other Erasmus students at the hostel but I didn’t feel like hanging out with them. What would I do with them anyway? Drink some vodka with the Russian girl Natasha who’s neck is twice as thick as mine? Or hang out with the Spanish guys who are hugging and kissing each other in every minute?
Anyway, I got on the bus and headed downtown. I dropped myself on a seat and wanted to get back to my thoughts and all when I noticed these two girls in the back of the bus. They were sort of gossiping I guess and sometimes looking at me. They seemed pretty young and one of them had those helluva lumpy legs, but the other seemd pretty allright though, so I gave ’em the old eye. Then they started giggling like a madman. I stood up and went over, asking in this really corny voice: „Do the ladies speak English?” After some more giggling they told me that they do but believe me they spoke the lousiest English you’ve ever heard in your life. I’m not kidding! After a few lines of speaking we got off the bus and made our way up to the Széchenyi square, which is the main square of town. As it turned out, they planned to go to a party and dance and all but I just didn’t feel like dancing so I asked if they would have a drink with me before the party and they were in.
We went into this lousy bar they suggested. It was kind of small, dumpy and goddam dark. I didn’t like it at all but if the girls want to drink here, let them drink here. We sat down at one of those small tables in the corner and the waiter showed up. At least they had a waiter. I let the girls order what they wished then I ordered a Scotch and soda like I always do. Luckily I don’t have the problem with them waiters anymore, I’m old enough to get my drinks you know. I tried to make up a meaningful conversation with them girls but it just couldn’t work out. Every time I asked some boring question like where they study and all, they could hardly understand me. They always had to ask „what?” two or three times and that made me damn nervous. Not to mantion that giggling they made after each sentence. Hell, I hate that! So I decided not to put questions anymore. If they want to communicate, they will ask. But they didn’t. All they did was, they stood up and explained that they had to go to the ladies’ room. I nodded and orderd another drink. Then I was sitting around, waiting for them about an hour or so. If you think they ever came back, you are crazy. They never came back the giggling bastards! I guess they’ve already left a long time ago, maybe right after standing up from the table. Now I really felt upset and the waiter even sort of laughed at me as I paid the check, he really did! On my way out I got this feeling that the waiter knew the gigglers very well and maybe even saw them going out of the dumpy bar.
Anyway I walked back to the square just to calm down and all, ’cuz I was still kind of mad about what happened. I didn’t mind the girls though, they were stupid anyway, but that laughing waiter! That was what killed me!
I stopped in the middle of the square just to take a look around. The downtown lights looked pretty nice and all, just there were no people on the streets for it was already about to get damn late in the night. Then all of a sudden I felt this horrible deja vou feeling. I felt just like some yers ago, when I was walking the streets alone in the long, bitter night back at home. I’ve already told you about that, haven’t I. The case was all the same now, as I was desperately running around for someone or something that would make me feel allright. God, what a lousy night I had back then! I tried to get my mind of the track so that I won’t get damn depressed about it. I was running through my address book to give someone a buzz as this hand tapped my shoulder from behind saying „Hey!”. I turned around. It was old Dóra’s.
Catcher in the University #1
I’m staying at Pécs for a half year now. A nice little town in southern Hungary. I applied for this abroad scholarship and all and I got it! Pretty big deal huh?
I’ve already been here for a couple of weeks now and I sort of start to like it you know. I mean the town and the university are pretty allright and there are some helluva nice folks to horse around with. Like good old Ezio! He’s my roommate now, a Greek scolarship student. Boy, is he a crazy one! He’s at the art department. He can draw like a bastard! He really can! I mean not just like any of those phony artist morons, creating something pretty good then getting stuck-up with themselves. Those guys just give me the pain in the ass. But Ezio is different. We make a lot of fun together, like always kidding each other and all. He has his funny little artist habbit of his though: he sort of lifts his little finger whenever he’drinks something. God I hate that! I mean why do you have to do that? It’s like needlessly making fun of yourself or something. Actually a lot of people do that kind of stuff.
Anyway, our dorm is not too far away from the university, which is a good thing for I don’t feel like walking down my goddam feet just to get to those dumpy German classes! I started to learn German here. It’s not that I like German or anything, in fact I kind of hate it, but we – scholarship students – had to choose what we will study while being here and still, I figured this would be the best among the other lousy subjects. Truly, there was no other thing on that damn list that I would have prefered. No kidding! Now I can run around at the German department with all the Hans, Rudolf, and Eric type of guys. Great.
Anyways, when it comes to lunch time, or I just get hungry and all, I can easily satisfy my needs at the shop in front of the university. Told you it’s a good place. Only problem is: the lack of knowledge in language: the dopey shop assistants just cannot understand a word from me, no matter how hard I try! That drives me crazy! Moreover they are so touchy that they start to freking shout at you, just because they don’t understand you! People always shout at you if they don’t understand something. Luckily, there are some English department guys hanging around everywhere near the university and they are happy to help in such lousy situations. One of them was this Attila guy I’ve met the other day. He's a pretty good fellow! - a bit muckle-mouthed though, which sometimes knocks me out, but otherwise he’s okay. We have some nice conversations every now and then. He once even told me about this one teacher of him, called Joe, which was funny, because for good old Joe's lesson, you have to write a blog and all, he said. Boy! It would kill me if I had such a task!
Old Attila was the one that introduced me this girl lately called Dóra. They were classmates in secondary school. We just kind of bumped into her in a corridor of the university. I have to tell you about this girl! Boy, I wish you could see her! She has this blond hair and all, with shiny blue eyes looking at you and she’s smiling like a phony! I mean she’s not a phony or something, you just get the feeling that she’s one, because of that steady smile on her face. God I love that! I decided to give her a good impression, so what I did, I introduced myself as the senior lecturer of the English Literature Department. She gave me a funny look and said: „Really? Well that’s nice, I’ve just been at your lecture then. Strange.. You looked a bit shorter in the classroom, not to mention the pony tale you were wearing..” God! I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t say a goddam word! I sort of strated to stammer: „Well.. I.. I..” Then she really started to laugh, old Dóra. „Well, I’m sorry guys, but I have to rush now for my next lecture, was nice meeting you anyway Mr. Caulfield, I hope we will meet again sometimes, maybe at your next lecture?” –she said in a funny way and left with that lovely wide smile on her face. I was still standing there, you know, shocked and all when I said to Attila: „Why on earth didn’t you tell me that she is also studying English for Chrissake?” „Probably ’cuz you never asked?..” –was his answer and I realized that I can’t get sore at him just because of that. How could he know that I’m a hopeless liar and all. So we just went on our way out of the building. Meanwhile I couldn’t get her out of my mind old Dóra for I really wanted to meet her again.
What if...
Have U read The Catcher in the Rye? Have U imagined how it would be if Holden was real, if he was the same age today as you are and if he was here in town? I did. The following 3 posts are the result of this wondering. They were written from Holden's aspect and I tried to copy this Holden-way of speaking too. Enjoy!
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