“The Contest” · Grace Paley (Response)

Some of the phrasing sounds dated to me, but that's only partly the reason this reminds me of Catcher in the Rye. Freddy seems like a perhaps adult version of Holden Caulfield. He's generally aloof and uncaring, which leaves him isolated. I can't honestly say I feel sorry for Freddy when Dotty uses him & dumps him. I don't feel sorry for her either; it's clear she manipulated him.