Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Billy,whohadturnedninesevenweeksearlier,hadnoticedDaddyChalwatchinghimconstantly.Billypickedupamagazineandglancedthroughit,butwhenhelookeduphesawChalmerstaring,sittingstone-facedwithhishandtohischin,hisemptyblue-greeneyeswatchingeverythinghedid.Billygotup,putthemagazineneatlybackonthecoffeetableandsatonthecouchthewayhe’dbeentoldto,feetflatonthefloor,handsonhisknees.ButChalmerkeptlookingathim,sohegotupandwentoutonthebackporch.Restless,notknowingwhattodo,hethoughtofplayingwithBlackjack.EveryonesaidBlackjackwasaviciousdog,butBillygotalongwithhim.Whenhelookedup,hesawChalmerstaringathimthroughthebathroomwindow.

           Frightenednow,wantingtogetawayfromChalmersgaze,hewentaroundthehousetothefrontyardandsatthereshiveringalthoughitwasawarmevening.ThepaperboytossedtheGazettetohim,andhegotupandturnedtobringitintothehouse,buttherewasChalmerwatchinghimthroughthefrontwindow.

           AlltherestofthatSundayandthatevening,BillyfeltChalmerseyesboringintohim.Hebegantotremble,notknowingwhatChalmerwasgoingtodo.Chalmerdidn’tsayanything,didn’tspeak,buttheeyeswerethere,followingeverymove.

           ThefamilywatchedWaltDisneysWonderfulWorldofColor,andBillystretchedoutonthefloor.Fromtimetotime,hewouldlookbackandseeChalmerscold,emptystare.