The Holden Caulfield story that appeared in Collier's on December 22, 1945, was “I'm Crazy.”
Written by J. D. Salinger, the story is an early version of material later developed into The Catcher in the Rye. It follows Holden after his expulsion from Pencey Prep, including his visit to his history teacher, Mr. Spencer, and his conversations with members of his family.
The story is especially important because it presents Holden in print before the 1951 novel. Its plot and details overlap with the novel's opening, including the school football game, Holden's academic failure, and his mother's gift of ice skates. However, the story ends differently: Holden returns home rather than beginning the extended New York episode of the novel.
A common mix-up is “Slight Rebellion off Madison,” another Holden story. That work was associated with The New Yorker and appeared in 1946, while “I'm Crazy” belongs to Collier's in 1945.