Why does Holden miss Allie's funeral?

• A. He is in the hospital after injuring his hand
• B. He is away at Pencey
• C. He refuses to attend
• D. He is out with Phoebe

Answer: (B)

Holding onto distance from painful family moments is a key pattern for Holden. When the story mentions his absence from Allie’s funeral, it points to him being away at Pencey Prep. That detail shows how he chooses physical separation to avoid confronting grief and the complications of family life, rather than facing the hurt directly. The funeral memory underscores his ongoing struggle to connect with his family and the adult world, a theme that runs throughout the novel. The other possibilities aren’t supported by the text: there’s no injury that keeps him hospital-bound at that moment, no scene where he’s out with Phoebe for the funeral, and no indication that he simply refuses to attend.