Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           DuringdinnerKathysensedthatBillylikedbothBevandSteve.WhenBevaskedhimaboutlifeinLebanon,hetoldthemaboutDr.SteinbergandMr.Reinert,andhowbeingabletopainthadfinallymadeprisonendurable.Afterdinnerhetoldaboutsomeofthethingsthathadgottenhimintotrouble,andKathyhadthefeelinghewasboasting.SuddenlyBillyjumpedupandsaid,"Letsgoforadrive."

           "Atthishour?"Kathysaid."Itsaftermidnight."

           "Greatidea,"Stevesaid.

           "I’llgetmyneighborsniecetobaby-sit,"Bevsaid."Shesitsformeatanyhour."

           "Where’llwego?"Kathyasked.

           "Letsfindaplaygroundsomewhere,"Billysaid."Ifeellikeswingingonaswing."

           Afterthebaby-sitterarrived,theycrowdedintotheVW,KathyandSteveLoveintheback,BevbesideBillyinthefront.

           Theydrovetoasmallschoolhouseplayground.Attwointhemorning,theyplayedtagandswungontheswings.KathywasgladBillywashavingsuchagoodtime.Itwasimportantforhimtohavenewfriendssohewouldn’tbecomeinvolvedwiththepeoplehe’dbeenassociatingwithbeforehewenttoprison.Thatwasoneofthethingshisparoleofficerhadtriedtoimpressuponthefamily.

           Atfourinthemorning,aftertheydroppedBevandStevebackatthetrailercourt,KathyaskedBillywhathethoughtoftheevening.

           "Realniceguys,"Billysaid.