Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Outonthestreet,severalstudents,recognizinghim,wavedandsmiled.Hewentbacktothehospitalfeelingterrific.NoneoftheterriblethingsDr.Caulhadpreparedhimforhadhappened.Everythingwasgoingtobeallright.

           OnFebruary19,Dorothyvisitedhersonalone.Billytapedtheirconversation.Hewantedtolearnmoreabouthischildhood,tounderstandwhyhisfather,JohnnyMorrison,hadcommittedsuicide.

           "Youbuiltyourownimageofyourfather,"Dorothysaid."SometimesyouwouldaskmequestionsandI’danswerthemtomybestability,butInevertorehimdown.Inevertoldthesadthings.Whyhurtyoukids?Youbuiltyourownimage,andthatwasyourdad."

           "Tellmeagain,"Billysaid."AboutthetimeinFloridawhenyougavehimeverybitofmoneyyouhadsohecouldgoontheroad,andtherewasnothinginthehousebutacanoftunaandaboxofmacaroni.Didhecomebackwiththemoney?"

           "No.Hewentontotheborschtcircuit.Idon’tknowwhathappenedthere.Hecamebackwithhis—"

           "Theborschtcircuit?Isthatashow?"

           "It’supinthemountains,thehotelsintheJewishsectionoftheCatskills.Hewentuptheretodohiswork—hisshowbusiness.ThatwaswhenIgottheletterfromhisagentsaying,‘Ineverbelievedyou’ddothisthing,Johnny.’Idon’tknowwhathappenedupthere.Whenhecameback,hewasmoredespondentthanever,anditwentonthisway.