In this coming-of-age story J. D. Salinger Salinger Ginnie, a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl’s outlook on life changes after visiting a controlling classmate’s home to collect money owed for shared cab fares. While waiting, she meets the girl’s older brother who appears bitter at the world after dropping out of college, being rejected for military service, and spurned in love by Ginnie’s sister. Later, she meets his effeminate, possibly gay best friend. After the visit, she no longer wants the money and asks if she can return that evening. Themes include alienation, rejection, resentment, connection, awakening.

The major theme of this J. D. Salinger story is an extension of another we have featured by the same author. In For Esmé with Love and Squalor, a teenager’s friendship and compassion help a young soldier recover from PTSD. Here, a returned soldier is suffering its long-term effects. He copes by trying to avoid the company of adults (including his vain, materialistic wife) and finds pleasure in music, poetry and spending time with young children. Major themes: the effects of war on mental health, alienation, loneliness, childhood innocence, vanity and materialism, suicide.

This J. D. Salinger story describes the relationship between members of a boy’s club (the Comanches), their youth leader (the Chief), and the imaginary hero of stories told by the Chief (The Laughing Man). One of the major themes is escape from reality through stories. In this context, the Laughing Man symbolizes the imaginary hero in all of us. Another important theme is change. Breaking up with girlfriend Mary results in the Chief “killing off” the Laughing Man, signalling to the boys that childhood pleasures (and life) don’t last forever. Other themes: appearance vs. ability, friendship, death, loss of innocence.