Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           HedidthisseveraltimeswithdifferentbeesuntilsuddenlyJimbofeltasharppinchonhisarm.

           "Ow!What’dyoudothatfor?"

           "Thatwasoneofthebeesstungyou.Nowyougottacatchit.Smackthatbeeorholditdownwithyourhand."

           SeveraltimesJimboslappedortrappedabeethatstunghim.Thenonce,ashetrappedone,thebuzzingfilledthedarkenedroom,becamelouderandangrier,andtheotherhandcameoutandpinchedhimharderandharder.

           "Ow!Ow!Hey,you’rehurtingme."

           "It’snotme,"Billysaid."YoutrappedLittleBee.Hisdaddyandhisbigbrothercamebuzzingaroundtopunishyou."JimboletgoofLittleBee,andBillyhadthewholefamilyofbeescirclingaroundLittleBeeonthepillow.

           "That’sagoodgame,"Jimbosaid."Let’splayitagaintomorrownight."

           Billylaythereinthedarkbeforefallingasleep,thinkingthatwasprobablytherealexplanationforthebuzzing.Hehadprobablybeeninventingthegameinhishead—makingthebuzzingsoundswithoutrealizingtheothersinthehousecouldhearhim.Thatprobablyhappenedtoalotofpeople.Justlikelosingtime.Hefiguredeverybodylosttime.He’doftenheardhismotheroroneoftheneighborssay,"God,Idon’tknowwherethetimewent"or"Isitthatlate?"or"Whereonearthdidthedaygo?"

           TheTeacherrememberedoneSundayvividly.ItwasaweekafterAprilFool’sDay.