In a message dated 98-01-16 13:17:41 EST, you write: << So, for Teddy, this means that the story could push him in, the prediction could be heavy enough. Maybe. At least I think it's worth looking at. Salinger didn't tell us the "truth", exactly. >> So what you're saying is that due to the tone, languge, etc., by the end of the story Teddy dies because we want him to? Because we think 'that is what the story must have been building up to or why would it have been built up?' Noah "I'm not sure if I understand" Brewer