William.

Episode 2 : William goes for movies

William finally took a deep breath and, continuing to breathe, stood up with the crowd and passed out.

Once outside, he looked around carefully and slipped down the road towards the house. Then he suddenly turned and ran down an alley to throw his imaginary pursuers off their trail. He took a pencil from his pocket and, pointing it to space, made two turns. Two of his followers fell dead, the others doubled their strength. There was no time to lose. He ran for his life and ran the other way, leaving behind an old gentleman who stroked his leg and swore willingly. As he approached his door, William again drew his pencil from his pocket, and, still looking back towards the road and firing as he passed, hastened to his door.

William, bumping into his father without looking where he was going. WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND STARING AT THE SICK TIN, WILLIAM LOOKS AT HIS DOOR. William's father, who had been at home that day because of a severe headache and a liver attack, stood up from among a thicket of rhododendrons and grabbed William by the neck.

"You, young bandit," he cried, "what do you mean by that?"

William retreated slowly.

"I did not charge, father," he said humbly. I was right in the door, like everyone else. I just don't look in the direction it's coming from, but I can't look in all directions at once because…”

- Shut up, shouted Guglielmo's father! Like the rest of the family, he was amazed at William's eloquence.

"What's that in your language?" Stick out your tongue. »

William obeyed. The color of William's tongue would put the cooler shades of spring to shame.

"How many times must I tell you," cried William's father, "that I don't want to eat foul poison all day between meals?"

"It's not bad poison," said William. It's just a piece of candy that Aunt Susan gave me because I was good enough to go to the post office for it and…”

"Shut up! Do you have anything else dirty?"

"They are not bad things," said William, stubbornly. "I'm fine. Take one and try it. It's just a piece of candy that Aunt Susan kindly gave me and..."

"Yes! Where am I?"

Guglielmo, slowly and reluctantly, took out his bag. His father took him and threw him far into the bush. For the next ten minutes, William made a careful and systematic search among the trees, and for the rest of the day he consumed eggplant eyes and garden soil in almost equal proportions. He went into the back garden and climbed the wall.

- Good morning said the girl next door, who looked.

Something about the girl's head and her curls reminded William of the image of a simple country girl. There was a touch of the artistic temperament in William. He immediately felt like a simple peasant.

Hello, Giovanna, he said in a deep and hoarse voice that spoke of strong love. - Did I miss you when you left? »

"I didn't know you were gone," said Joan. Why do you talk so funny? »

"I don't talk funny," said William in the same hoarse voice, "I can't help talking like that."

"You have a cold, it's true. That's what mother said when she saw you splashing the basin with rainwater this morning. She said: "The next thing we hear about William Brown is that he is in bed with a cold."

"It's not cold," said William mysteriously. "That's how I feel."

"What are you eating?" »

"Eggplant eyes. You like them," he took the packet from his pocket and handed it to her "Go ahead, take two, three," he said with carefree generosity. "But they are…dirty." »

"Go ahead. It's just dirt. It comes out fast. They're really good."

"Hey," he said, reverting to his simple country-loving persona. "Are you saying you miss me?" I guess you didn't think about me as much as I thought about you. I bet not. » His voice had become deeper and deeper, until it almost died out.

"Say, William, does your throat hurt so terribly that you have to talk like that?" »

His blue eyes were concerned and compassionate.

Guglielmo put his hand to his throat and frowned. "A little," he agreed lightly.

"Oh William!" He shook her hand. "Does it hurt all the time?"

His concern was flattering.

"I don't talk about it much anyway, do I?" - he said in a manly tone.

She stood up and looked at him with big blue eyes. "Ah, William! Are these—are these—your lungs? I have an aunt who has pneumonia and she coughs and coughs," William coughed hard, "and it hurts and makes her very sick. Oh, William, I hope you don't have a lung."

Her pitiful, worried face turned towards him. "I think I have lungs," he said, "but don't make a big deal about it."

He coughed again.

"What does the doctor say?" »

William thought for a minute. "He says it's the lungs," he finally said. "He says I should be very careful."

"William, would you like my new paint box?" »

"I don't think so. Not now. THANKS."

"I have three balls and one is new. Wouldn't you like it, William?"