In this chapter, the reader is allowed to see what a strong bond Phoebe and Holden share. For the first part of the chapter, Holden is obviously enjoying his time with Phoebe and becoming more and more relaxed. They are dancing and having fun, jitterbugging and swirling around the D.B's room. After they finish, Phoebe jokes around and starts telling Holden to feel her forehead so he can see how she can get her temperature to go "over the thermometer"(176). Holden, playing along, whisks his hand away and asks her why she didn't tell him, as if she would have burnt his hand if he hadn't pulled away. Just as she was coming up with a reply, their parents come home. Instantly, Holden becomes very nervous, his heart pounding. While hiding in the closet while Phoebe talks to their mother and covers his back when their mother smells the smoke, Holden comments on how his mother obviously did not have a good time despite the fact that she had said she had a marvelous time. After waiting a few minutes, he sneaks out of the closet. He is very nervous by this time, and he knows he has to leave. He borrows money from Phoebe's Christmas "dough", although he thinks that she gave him too much. When he tries to give it back, she wouldn't let him. Then, Holden begins to cry, saying that he "couldn't help it"(179). Phoebe comforts him, although she was very scared at this sudden development. When he tries to get her to go back to bed, she wouldn't, and eventually he stopped crying. She told him that he could stay with her, but he replied that Mr. Antolini was waiting for him. He then proceeds to give her his hunting hat, and leaves, stating that he almost wished his parents had found him.
If you could put yourself into Phoebe's shoes during this chapter, what would you be feeling? Would you have done anything differently? Do you think that she understood what was happening, or was she just frightened and had not noticed her brother's mental state? Why do you think he gave her the red hunting hat?