Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Thenextmorninghegotupearlyandpaintedalandscapewiththemoonshowing,eventhoughitwasadayscene.

           Billylovedflowersandpoetryandhelpinghismotheraroundthehouse,butheknewthatChalmercalledhim"asissy"and"alittlequeer."Sohestoppedhelpinghismotherandwritingpoetry."Adalana"cametodothemforhiminsecret.

           OneeveningChalmersettleddowntowatchaWorldWarIImovieinwhichaGestapointerrogatorbeathisvictimwithahose.Whenthemoviewasover,Chalmerwentoutintotheyardandcutafour-footlengthofgardenhose,doubleditandwrappedthecutendstogetherwithblacktapeforahandle.WhenhecameinsidehesawBillywashingthedishes.

           Beforesheknewwhatwashappening,Adalanafeltablowinthesmallofherbackthatknockedhertothefloor

           Chalmerhungthehosebytheloopedendonhisbedroomdoorandwenttobed.

           Adalanalearnedthatmenwereviolentandhatefulandnevertobetrusted.ShewishedDorothyoroneofthegirls—KathyorChalla—wouldhugherandkissherandmakethefearandthebadfeelingsgoaway.Butsheknewthatwouldcausetrouble,soshewenttobedandcriedherselftosleep.

           Chalmerusedthathoseoften,mostlyonBilly.Dorothyrecalledhangingherrobeornightgownoveritonthebackofthebedroomdoor,hopingthatifChalmerdidn’tseeit,hewouldn’tuseit.Thenoneday,afterhehadn’tuseditforalongtime,shethrewitaway.