OK...I've been reading everyone's posts about the Mr. Antonelli scene and have found them all to be interesting but I also don't agree with most of them. All of this talk about Mr. Antonelli's gesture not being sexual at all but just a misunderstood expression of affection doesn't sit well with me. I re-read most of the scene I'm reading now as I'm writing this) and I think that there is a lot of evidence that points to Mr. Antonelli's possible homosexuality. For instance, his marriage to Mrs. Antonelli is a little suspect, she is rich and much older than him (buying a younger and good-looking husband) , they kiss in public alot (I've always found that people who do that have something they are trying to prove), yet they are rarely in the same room. It sounds like a situation that a lot of closeted gay men are in...married to a woman they like very much but aren't really sexually attracted to. He is also a very heavy drinker...maybe trying to block out his feelings with alcohol. Also, he takes this extreme interest in Holden, which may be just a teacher making a personal connection with a student, but in light of what happens I think that is unlikely. I think Mr. Antonelli developed something of a crush on Holden which may have been fueled by echoes of his own loneliness, confusion and lost innocence that he sees in Holden. I will agree that Holden's reaction is extreme but not unexpected. All teenagers struggle with sexual identity and any little gesture can be misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. Mr. Antonelli clearly cares about Holden very much, and he let his feelings take over a little bit. What would have happened if Holden had woken up and not freaked out? Would they just have sat there like that, with Mr. Antonelli stroking his head? I don't thnk so. Just throwing my two cents in. Peggy