Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           WandaPancakemetDannyforthefirsttimewhenshesawhimlyingonthecouchtryingtopullthebuttonsoffthetuftedvinylback.Sheaskedhimwhyhewasdoingthat.

           "Justtryin’topullthemoff,"hesaidinaboyishvoice."Well,stopit.Whoareyou,anyway?"

           Helaughedandpulledharder."I’mDanny."

           "Well,ifyoudon’tstop,Danny,I’mgonnaslapyourhands."

           Helookedupatherandgaveafewextratugstohavethelastlick,butwhenshecamecloser,hestopped.

           ThenexttimeshemetDanny,hewasthrowingclothesandsomeofhispersonalpossessionsintothetrashcan.

           "Whatareyoudoing?"

           "Throwingstuffaway."

           "Why?"

           "Ain’tmine.Idon’twant’em."

           "Now,you’vegottostopit.Takethatstuffbackintoyourroom,Danny."

           Hewalkedaway,leavingthethingsinthetrash,andWandahadtopullthemoutandputthembackinhisroom.

           Severaltimesshecaughthimthrowingawayclothesandcigarettes.Othertimespeoplewouldbringbackthingshehadthrownoutthewindow.Later,Billywouldalwaysaskwhohadbeentakinghisthings.

           Onedayshebroughthereighteen-month-oldniece,Misty,backtotherecreationroom,whereBillywaspainting.Whenheleanedoverandsmiled,thebabydrewbackandcried.