The minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes

Author:Daniel Keyes [Keyes, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crónica, Memorias
Publisher: ePubLibre
Published: 1980-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

(3)

One of the privileges of zone 4 was being allowed to go home on trial visit. Tommy looked forward to his furlough. When the time came, he packed his bag and waited for Dorothy to pick him up. But the more he thought about leaving, the more confused he felt. He liked the place, but he still wanted to be back at Spring Street, knowing that Chalmer would never be there again. Just him and Challa and Kathy. There would be good times at home for a change.

Dorothy picked him up and they drove back to Lancaster without talking very much. He was surprised .when, a few minutes after he got home, a man he had never seen before dropped in for a visit. He was a big, beefy-faced man with a barrel chest. And he chain-smoked.

Dorothy said, “Billy, this is Del Moore. He owns the bowling alley and lounge where I used to sing in Circleville. He’s staying for dinner.”

Tommy could tell by the way they were looking at each other that there was something between them. Shit! Chalmer out of the house not more than two months, and now there was another guy hanging around.

That evening at dinner Tommy announced, “I’m not going back to Zanesville.”

“What are you talking about?” Dorothy asked.

“I can’t take that place no more.”

“Now, that ain’t right, Billy,” Del Moore said. “Your ma tells me you only got about a month to go.”

“That’s my business.”

“Billy!” Dorothy said.

“Well, I’m a friend of the family now,” Del said. “It’s not right to be causing your ma so much worry. You got just a little time to serve. You stick it out or you’ll have to go over me.”

Tommy looked down at his plate and ate his dinner in silence.

Later he asked Kathy, “What’s with this guy?”

“Mom’s new boyfriend.”

“Well, Jesus, he’s acting like he thinks he can tell me what to do. He been coming around here a lot?”

“He’s got a room in town,” Kathy said, “so I guess no one can really say they’re living together. But I’ve got eyes.”

During the next weekend furlough, Tommy met Del Moore’s son, Stuart, and liked him right away. About Billy’s age, Stuart was a football player and an all-around athlete. But what Tommy liked most about Stuart was the way he handled his motorcycle. He could make that bike do things Tommy had never seen before.

Allen liked Stuart too, and Ragen respected him for his athletic ability and his skill and daring. It was an exciting weekend, and they all found themselves looking forward to spending more time with this new friend, who accepted them without questioning their strange behavior. Stuart never called any of them absent-minded or a liar. Tommy thought he would like to be like Stuart someday.

Tommy told Stuart that after he got out of the youth camp, he didn’t feel he could live at home anymore. He didn’t fhink it was right, with Del spending so much time there. Stuart told him that when the time came, they’d share an apartment together.

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