A Catcher in the Rye

Please excuse my lack for a more creative title, but this inspiration just came to me and I don't want to lose it. I see my little 9-year-old sister scramble, counting her change trying to sum up all her saved coins. It dam near killed me. You see, she's trying to gather about $20 to buy all of us presents.

Now, the noble thing for me to do is to give her the money, but that's not the end of my story. She asked yesterday if I had any fundraising ideas. When I asked why, she was reluctant to tell me she wanted to raise the money for gifts. I then resorted to my innate journalistic instincts and got her to tell me.

"I want to use the money to buy people presents."

I reached for my wallet and gave her $20. She gently pushed my hand away. She told me she wanted to find a creative way to raise the money.

She's only 9-years old, but ever since she was very, very little she was always looking for ways to give people stuff. She loves Christmas not because she gets stuff, but because she gives stuff.

Every Christmas she hand-makes presents for all of us. And seeing her run around a month before anyone even thinks about toys, presents and gifts is unbelievable.

Then I remember...

When I was 12 I was with my family sitting in Shakey's Pizza. My mom and dad approached us with the age-old line, "We have something to tell you all, We are having another baby."

Everyone cheered and hugged.

SHIT!

I don't want another sibling.

But 9 months later my mom brought this foreign substance to the house. I asked if I could hold it.

My mom proceeded to handle this strange thing with care. She put her in my arms and as I sat there, I thought she was going to cry. But she didn't.

She didn't know what I felt. She just stared at me with the most innocent eyes you ever saw in your life.

I was stunned silent. Ever since that moment, I knew she was going to be different. All she wanted was to love and be loved. No prejudgment, no hatred. She let me wrap my arms around her without even crying.

And now...

She wants to give people the love that she gave me 9 years ago.

9-years ago I learned what Holden Caulfield felt when he saw the "Fuck You" sign on the bathroom stall.

Just like when I wrapped her in my arms for the first time. I want to shield her from all the violence and rudeness in the world. I want to be her catcher in the rye.

I can't!

"All the kids kept trying to grab for the gold ring, and so was old Phoebe, and I was sort of afraid she fall of the goddam horse, but I didn't say anything or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it... "(211)

Because somehow I know that she's something extraordinary.