By Jun Woo Kim

 (Introduction)

Adaptation of <The Catcher in the Rye> to KMLA: Holden is a student in KMLA. He is about to be kicked out of the school because of penalty points. He recalls his KMLA life, and he thinks of morning assembly and phoniness of KMS and HM.  

          I just cannot understand how this goddamn school works. I really don’t. This school is filled with phoniness. It is deeply interested only in things that it shows to outside world. My school is located in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by highways, cool buildings that resemble the Blue House welcome visitors. It looks like an oasis in the middle of desert. The school looks perfect on the outside, but the sad thing is, there is nothing at the core.

          Every Monday morning, students gather in the gym. Some girls chat with each other, some boys play basketball, and some nerds study on sides of the gym. Well, everyone is satisfied with what they are doing. But after less than 10 minutes of freedom, KMS comes up stage and starts yelling at students. 8:15. Still got 15 minutes before the morning assembly. But he never gives a shit. Students have so called responsibilities to be obedient and stay in order. We line up because we have to satisfy KMS and HM. We rehearse. We prepare. And the phony play begins.

          We sing the national anthem. We sing the school song in Minyo version. We recite the school model, without even thinking about the meaning of it. But nobody cares, as long as the voice and tone is large and nice enough. We listen to HM’s speech, which is a repeated version of the speech 3 months ago. During 40 minutes of patriotic morning assembly, only thing I know is that my legs hurt. But since we are the actors of the play, we clap at the end of the assembly and bow to HM and KMS. The scene 1 of play ends at the first period of Monday, but scene 2 starts immediately. There are 39 scenes left this week!

          I have accumulated 83 penalty points. I go out of school because I did not go to morning exercise several times, not obedient to teachers enough, and ate chickens time to time. And tomorrow, thank God, I get freedom. Freedom! Good bye phony school! Good bye phony world! Sorry for the kids who are left behind.