You know, if you hang around long enough the Seymour's Suicide thread always reappears, each time bringing a little more insight than the last (a reincarnation of sorts, no?). It has always struck me that the mechanics of ABDFB are so well crafted that it is almost criminal to ignore the smallest of details--it has always bothered me that the pistol Seymour fires is an Ortiges 7.65. Perhaps there is someone new to the list that knows something about this gun? After all, Chekov taught us never to hang a rifle over the fireplace if it isn't to be used during the play (somewhat applicable, I think. Salinger does name the gun.). Also regarding the mechanics, it seems to me that we are lead to believe that Seymour may/will harm Muriel right up to the final sentence of the story, when he turns the gun on himself. This scene to me (before/after/during the actual act) is sublime. It ends so suddenly I have never really entertained thoughts of Muriel and the possibility of blood on her face. Does Salinger not force the climax and ensuing denoument between the ears of the reader? I asked once about Salinger's experience in the Hurtgen (sp?) forest and was referred to TIF. I'm having trouble remembering now, but I'm sure someone somewhere cited Salinger declaring his experience in the Hurtgen forest sublime. Or war in general. Anyone?