The Catcher in the Rye Chapter 23 Summary

Holden calls up Mr. Antolini, who tells him he's welcome to come on over.
He then digresses, telling us Mr. Antolini is the greatest teacher he's ever had. He's a young guy (not much older than D.B.) and the kind of teacher you can kid around with a bunch.
When that James Castle jumped out of the window, Holden tell us, Mr. Antolini was the only one to actually do anything about it (check his pulse and carry the body over the infirmary), even though it meant his coat got all bloody in the process.
When Holden gets back to Phoebe's room, she's turned on the radio. The two of them dance for a bit. Phoebe, of course, is an awesome dancer.
She's busy demonstrating how she can make her forehead feel feverish when they hear the front door opening. Holden tries to fan the smoke away before jumping into the closet.
Their mother comes into the room, asking why Phoebe's awake at this hour and if she was smoking a cigarette.
Phoebe says she just took one puff and then threw it out the window. Her mother doesn't approve, but there's no crazed screaming since smoking wasn't that big of a deal back then.
There's some chit-chat over aspirins and lamb chops, and finally Mrs. Caulfield leaves for bed.
Holden comes out of the closet and asks Phoebe if she's got any money (he's broke, and leaving again).
All she's got is her Christmas money, for shopping, which Holden doesn't want to take from her. She insists that he take the eight dollars and eighty-five cents.
Then she clarifies – it's only eight dollars and sixty-five cents, since she spent some already.
This pretty much does it for Holden; he cries and cries. Phoebe just puts her arm around his neck and won't let go until stops. He gives her his red hunting hat before he goes.
Holden doesn't see the elevator boy on his way out. The guy probably thinks he's still up at the Dicksteins'.

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