Laughing Man, I think you start some good q's and just wanted to color some in...I don't think Bascombe is at ease with himself, I just wanted to say I was at ease being in his world, guided by his point of view. BTW, Chekov is cited by Salinger as an influence and I have on my desk _The Essential Tales of Chekhov_ edited by Richard Ford...though I don't know this at all, I'd bet Ford was influened by Salinger's stories. will