Stradlater was shaving, and I didn't have anything special to do so I went to the can and chewed the rag with him while he shaved. The whole place was hot and all the windows were steamy as hell. I sat down next to were Stradlater was and started to play with the hot and cold tap- it's one of the many nervous habits I have. Stradlater was whistling 'song of India'- he had one of those very piercing whistles that are never in tune and he always picked out a song that’s hard to whistle even if you are a good whistler. Stradlater thinks he is the most handsomest guy in the western hemisphere. He is pretty handsome- I’ll admit it. He was that sort of guy that if your parents saw his picture in the yearbook, they’d say right away ‘Who’s this boy?’

Anyway, I was sat on the washbowl next to where Stradlater was shaving sort of turning the water on and off. Of course I still had my hat on. He then asked about doing him this big favour. The favour being, me doing him a composition for English. I didn’t answer him straight away- suspension is good for some bastards like Stradlater. He wanted me to write a composition describing a thing....anything.

I got bored sitting on the washbowl, so I stood up and started to a tap dance, just for the hell of it. It was amusing. I can’t really tap dance but the floor was stone and it was good for tap dancing. I started imitating one of those guys from the movies. In one of those musicals. MOVIES ARE LIKE POISON- there deadly. But I get a bang imitating them. Old Stradlater was laughing at me; his sense of humour wasn’t that bad. I was getting out of breath so I stopped horsing around. I took my hat and looked at it for the ninetieth time. He asked me again, whether I will do this goddam composition for him. I said if I have time I will and if I don’t I won’t.

Stradlater was taking Jean Gallagher out on a date. I like Jean- she is one of the few that weren’t phoney , I wanted to go and see her, but I’m a very nervous guy, so I told Stradlater to give her my regards. I knew he wouldn’t though.

He put on my hound’s-tooth jacket, I’ve only worn it about twice and he was stretching it, he put his cigs in his pockets - my pockets then he left.

I sat there for about half an hour after he left. I mean I just sat in my chair, not doing anything. I kept thinking about Jane, and about Stradlater having a date with her and all. It made me so nervous I nearly went crazy. I’ve already told what a sexy bastard Stradlater is.

All of a sudden. Ackley barged back in again, through the shower curtains. For once in my stupid life I was glad to see him. He took my mind off the other stuff. He stuck around till dinner time, talking \bout how all the guys hate his guts... And he was squeezing this pimple on his chin.