Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Whatdidtheygetyoufor?""Rape,"Tommysaid,"butIdidn’tdoit."

           Tommycouldtellbytheirsmilesthattheydidn’tbelievehim.Well,hedidn’treallygiveadamn."Who’sthebully?"heasked.

           "Jordan.Fromzonefour."

           "We’llgetevenwiththebastard,"Tommysaid.

           Tommywasonthespotmostofthetime,andhetalkedtoBilly’smotherwhenshevisited.Tommylikedandfeltsorryforher.Sowhenshetoldhimthatshe’ddivorcedChalmer,hewasglad.

           "Hehurtme,too,"Tommysaid.

           "Iknow.Healwayshaditinforyou,Billy.ButwhatcouldIdo?Ineededaroofoverourheads.Threechildrenofmyown,andChallajustlikemyowndaughtertoo.ButnowChalmersgone.Youbeagoodboyanddowhattheytellyou,andyou’llbeabletocomehomesoon."

           Tommywatchedherleaveanddecidedshewasthemostbeautifulmotherhe’deverseen.Hewishedshewashis.Hewonderedwhohisownmotherwasandwhatshelookedlike.

           DeanHughes,theyoungrecreationdirector,noticedthatMilliganlayaroundmostofthetime,readingorstaringinatrance.Oneafternoonheapproachedtheboydirectly.

           "You’rehere,"Hughestoldhim."You’regoingtohavetodothebestyoucan.Behappy.Getinvolvedinsomething.Whatdoyouliketodo?"

           "Iliketopaint,"Allensaid.