Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           JohnnyMorrisonturnedawayandwalkedtothewaitingroom.Dorothyfollowed,slumpedintotheplasticcouchandwatchedhimchain-smoke.SheguessedhewasstillwonderingifBillywasreallyhis.Billylookeddifferentfromdark-haired,dark-complexionedJim,who’dbeenbornalmostayearandahalfearlier.JohnnyhadbeensohappyaboutJimbohe’dtalkedoffindinghiswifeandgettingadivorce.Butheneverdid.Still,he’dboughtthepinkstuccohousewiththepalmtreeinthebackyardbecause,hesaid,itwasimportantforpeopleinshowbusinesstohaveahomelife.Itwasabetterhomelifethanshe’dhadwithherex-husband,DickJonas,inCircleville,Ohio.

           ButJohnnywasgoingthroughabadtimenow,sherealized.Hisjokesweren’tgettingacross.Theyoungercomediansweregettingthebookings,andJohnnywasgettingthedregs.Heusedtobeatop-notchM.C.andmusician,butnowinsteadofworkingonhisacthewasgamblinganddrinking.Ithadreachedthepointwherehewouldtakeonebeltbeforethefirstnightclubperformance,"forstarters,"andthenbeunabletogoonforthelastshow.Thoughhestillpublicizedhimselfas"halfmusicandhalfwit,"nowhecouldadd"andafifthofbourbon."

           HewasnotthesameJohnnyMorrisonwhousedtofixuphersingingarrangementsandsawherhomesafely,"toprotectmytwenty-year-old,rosy-cheekedOhiofarmgirl.