Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           OnOctober27,1963,DorothymarriedChalmerMilligan.

           Threeweeksaftertheirmarriage,onaSundayinmid-November,hetookthemouttovisithisfatherssmallfarminBremen,Ohio,justfifteenminutesaway.Itwasexcitingtothechildrentogothroughthewhitefarmhouse,swingontheporchswing,pokearoundthespringhouseoutbackandtheoldredbamalittlewaysdownthehill.Theboyswouldhavetocomeoutweekends,Chalmersaid,toworkontheplace.Therewasalottodotogetthesoilreadyforplantingvegetables.

           Billylookedattherottingpumpkinsinthefieldsandfixedthebamandthelandscapeinhismind.Hedecidedthatwhenhegothome,hewoulddrawapictureofitasapresentforhisnewDaddyChal.

           ***

           ThefollowingFriday,MotherSuperiorandFatherMasoncameintothethird-graderoomandwhisperedquietlytoSisterJaneStephens.

           "Willallyouchildrenpleasestandandbowyourheads?"SisterStephenssaid,tearsrunningdownherface.

           Thechildren,puzzledatthesolemnityinFatherMasonsvoice,listenedashespoke,hisvoicetrembling:"Children,youmaynotunderstandthewaytheworldsituationisgoing.Idon’texpectyouto.ButImusttellyouthatourPresident,JohnF.Kennedy,wasassassinatedthismorning.Wewillnowsayaprayer."

           AfterhesaidtheLordsPrayer,thechildrenweresentoutsidetowaitforthebusestotakethemhome