Catcher in the rye

In Chapter 22 of J D Salinger's celebrated (1951) novel The Catcher in the Rye, Phoebe Caulfield asks her sixteen-year-old brother Holden what he wants to   do with  his life. Holden responds with this image:

“Anyway, I keep picturing  all  these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all.

Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. ”

Picture: Jon Hicks

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Underemployed father lacks food for his family; agitated brother-in-law begs for help

Bern (16:58:11): Hello Mel.

Mel [online] (16:58:30): Hi!

Bern (16:58:48): I'm surprised you're online.

Mel (17:00:10): I'm worried about you and me!

Bern (17:00:29): Please explain.

Mel (17:02:36): I want to mention again about help, bcoz I'm worried about my sister Anagel and I'm worried about you, you might have financial problem too.

Bern (17:04:20): It's true that many people ask me for help and my funds are limited. Please tell me more about Anagel's problems.

Mel (17:06:22): Robert is no job bcoz no tourist visit here, he was boatman. [It's] hard for him to work in other place bcoz they have four children to feed.

Bern (17:06:57): Oh.

Mel (17:07:24): Sometimes we shared but not enough, shared for food.

Bern (17:07:49): I see.

Mel (17:09:38): On Monday Angelica and Gilbert go to school again. I'm afraid they don't have food, too, after and before schooling.

Bern (17:10:01): I see. I hate going to Western Union. I want to stop doing it. You must know that it costs me $25 - that's 1,000 pesos - every time I go there, just for fees. That money is totally lost. And that's not counting, of course, the money for the beneficiary.

Mel (17:14:05): I see! And do understand that!

Bern (17:14:41): For the last week Ross in Paranaque has also been begging me for help for his family.

Bern (17:15:50): But there's something else that I've been worrying about a lot. I wonder whether you have really been selling cellphone loads.

Mel (17:17:07): Yes I do! my number when I selling load is this: 0918 . . . 355.

Bern (17:17:22): I think that is not your usual number.

Mel (17:17:54): Sorry, I forgot to tell you about that. Bcoz, Bern, if you register this number my load is automatically lost 2 pesos, that's every day. Like my other number.

Bern (17:19:51): I'm sorry Mel, I don't quite understand what you are saying.

Mel (17:20:47): It's [hard] for me to explain bcoz I'm not good in English. . . . I mean hard for me to explain.

Bern (17:21:31): That really does need some explanation but perhaps there's not time now.

Mel (17:22:12): I can't force you to believe me!

Bern (17:22:40): It's not a matter of being forced to believe something. It's a matter of understanding.

Mel (17:22:58): It's up to you. I'm upset your not believed in me and trust.

Angry husband allegedly denies food to children of indigent in-laws

Text received online at 09:32 GMT+10

Tina (09:02:11): Gud evening Bern, you know Bern since Sept. 14 nite I don't have slept coz of our family problem, I cannot give help for d kids in d front of Jovs coz he was angry, I can't give food from d salary of Jovs. He was angry? What I can do, I need to survive my store, think d best things to become successful, to help d kids. I hope you understand what I want to say? I really need to [have] additional capital for rice and other household need, for d sake of my customers and family.

Drunken man Jovs on violent rampage, wife says

Texts received online at 18:12 GMT+10

Tina (04:56:47): Gud a.m., how are you! If you ask me, we're now in big family problem, I cry in whole nite. I know it's not good to mention it to you, coz it [is] personal but you're part of my life, we have fight here, big scandal, Jov was drunk in Magdapio dat why I and little Bern follow him, to bring him at home, from Pagsanjan we're ride in motor [cycle] single [i.e. without a sidecar].

I thought it's our last moment, coz everyone see us, asking him to fight him, till we got home, when we got home everyone at home asking to fight him, even Lito and Roderic, even in police near da house he did not listen, dat why I call to Nanay Josie [his mother] to be here, but husband of Anagel came to bring him at home in Magdapio coz no one can stop him.

Tina (05:08:04): Jovs [is] now in da house in Magdapio with some bruises coz he hit himself, he handle a piece of iron and hit in different part of d house. We're so scare[d], also little Bern. I'm now suffer so much pain in my operation, I felt it [the incision] will be open again. Bern, please, give me your advice, I really need to continue dis relationship, he hit me in head, even I carry little Bern. He touch my head and push it [against] da wall.

Desperate aunt borrows money to pay for newborn screening of nephew

Tina (00:53 GMT+8): Gud a.m. Bern and Alice, we're been in Provincial dis p.m. [to] have a check up on d baby of Liza 1 week after birth, doktora required us to have new born screening, after know d history, to make sure der is no mental disorder, last chance to be done tomorrow, worth 1,500 in private hospital, I don't have money, to tell you d truth it's so hard for me support to mother while in breast feeding always hungry and want to eat, we [have a] lack of food to eat, but [I] feel OK while baby smiling at me. Liza can breast feed Laurice['s] baby when no milk. [Text received online via Yahoo Messenger at 09:18 GMT+10.]

Bern (09:22:41): Hello Mel, please advise me about the Western Union situation. [Yahoo: "Mel & Jester will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Bern (09:25:37): Hello Tina. Sorry, I don't know what a newborn screening is and I don't know why today is the last chance to have one.

Bern (09:26:43): Yesterday I sent Mel 4,000 but Western Union refused to pay him and said the transaction has been waiting in a "security queue" until this morning.

Tina (09:33:51): Newborn screening was a test for a baby which only done in 1 week old, it will be then only in dat grace period of time, it will know if d baby have mental disorder or have a problem in early age, in dis case it will be cure in right away.

Bern (09:35:22): Thanks for that information. It's still unclear what mental condition the doktora wants to screen for though. Please try to borrow 1,500 from Mel. [Yahoo: "Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Tina (09:37:09): Der [is] no available newborn screening in Provincial [hospital] only in private in Laguna Doctors hospital.

Bern (09:37:25): Tina, despite repeated enquiries and complaints, Western Union has kept Mel waiting all night for the 4,000. Please contact him and ask his help.

Bern (09:40:35): Tina, if I understand correctly, a Provincial doktora has referred the infant to the private hospital for a screening test. Sorry, I forget the baby's name.

Western Union (09:45:29): Status [of remittance] : Available for pick up by receiver. [Online confirmation.]

Tina (09:50:15): Yes you're right, doktora gave referral, d name of baby was KIAN . . .

Bern (09:51:33): Oh, yes. Mel mentioned that Kian was the name of a singer in a group of four. I forget their name. I've just been looking up genetic screening.

Bern (09:53:29): Mel has not replied to my text this morning. Probably his load is low. Please try to get in touch with him ASAP. His WU transfer is available for pick-up.

Tina (09:58:55): OK I will try to contact him.

Tina (10:28:19): Bern we call Mel, Jovs explain d situation, Mel agree to give 1,500, we just met in Sta. Cruz near in hospital, but he said we need to return it soon.

Bern (10:29:41): Thanks to you and Mel for that. Mel told me he helped Anagel and family because they had measles so he ran out of load. I want him to keep selling loads.

Bern (10:31:45): I sent Mel 4,000 at 4:45 p.m. yesterday but Western Union refused to pay, saying the transaction was in a "security queue." I'll ring and ask the situation.

Bern (10:32:38): Evidently Mel's money is "available for pickup" now but if I had enough money and tried to send you some now, the same delay might happen again.

Tina (10:50:06): Bern maybe today was not de same as WU yesterday, Mel was now going to Sta. Cruz.

Bern (10:51:26): This morning I spent 45 minutes at the WU sending agent's shop waiting for a response from WU. They claim the money is available now.

Mel (10:57:06): Good morning Bern. Tina phone me 8 a.m. dis morning and she forward d text from you to me. I'm going now to Sta. Cruz to try to received the money. Love.