Chapter 23

In Chapter 23 of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden and Phoebe's conversation is interrupted by the return of their parents which results in Holden hiding in the closet while Phoebe lies to their mother to cover up for Holden being there. After their mother leaves, Holden decides he has to go and Phoebe gives him her Christmas money which makes him cry. Holden cries because Phoebe is giving him all her money just to be nice and she's a child and there are adults who would not have given him even a little money no matter how much he needed it. Phoebe gets scared when she sees Holden start to cry because she already sees him as an adult and she does not like to think of people she looks up to crying. Before he leaves, Holden gives Phoebe the pieces of "Little Shirley Beans" because it is the only thing he has with him that would mean anything to her.