What does Holden do when he reaches Penn Station?

Answer 1

The first thing he does when he arrives at Penn Station is go into a phone booth, with the intent to call somebody. But he can't figure out who to call, so instead he takes a cab to the Edmont Hotel and gets a room:

"The first thing I did when I got off at Penn Station, I went into this phone booth. I felt like giving somebody a buzz...but as soon as I got inside, I couldn't think of anybody to call up...So I ended up not calling anybody. I came out of the booth, after about twenty minutes or so, and got my bags and walked over to that tunnel where the cabs are and got a cab...We got to the Edmont Hotel, and I checked in...They gave me this very crumby room..." (First Little Brown Books mass market paperback edition, pp59 - 61).

Answer 2

Holden goes to a phone booth and tries to call people he knows but doesn't get through to anyone. He then heads to a hotel instead of going home.