BILLY

During the year 1941, March in Moscow, Billy lived in a flat on his own with his mother in the front flat.
Mother: Billy. Billy where are you? (Sitting in front of the fire)
Billy: yes mother? I’m here. (Entering into his mother’s flat and going to her)
Mother: I’m going to the concert, I’ll be back before dawn (getting up to go and prepare for her outing)
Billy: okay mother, see you tomorrow. (Leaves for his room)
Next morning Billy goes out, on his way he meets Red( the street bully) and his three lieutenants talking to another boy.
Red: (looking at the boy and sneering at him he holds out his hand and points to the boy as if he were deaf) Money.
Boy: (afraid and sniffling) I don’t have any.
Red: (looks at his lieutenants and nods his head at the boy) search him.
His lieutenants make for the boy who tries to struggle with them but he is beaten up.
Red: next time you don’t struggle with red. (He says shoving his face into him)
Boy: (almost unconscious) you thief! Someone will get back at you one day. (Fall into unconsciousness)
Red leaves him there and goes on his way, while Billy rushes to the injured boy’s side.
Billy: hello, are you alright. (Kneels on his right knee and tries to lift the boy up). Are you badly hurt?
Boy: I don’t think so. Someone will get back at him someday somehow.
Billy: I’m Billy, what’s your name?
Boy: Smith (he says sitting up)
Billy: Okay smith let’s take you home.
Billy takes the boy by the hand and helps him to get to his home handing him over to his parents.
The next day Billy pastes a poem on the street notice board.
“He that thinks he is incapable of been beaten will one day be beaten.
We have among us rogues who steal and beat those they steal from.
They think they are wise but they are fools.
They feel they are winners but they are losers.
They are dead rats that pollute the house.
And unless they are put in their place they will continue to stink.”
Billy.
The title of the poem was Red the big bully. Four boys gathered at the board reading the poem and from the looks on their faces they were enjoying it.
1st boy: (turning to face the others) what do you think?
2nd boy: (laughing) it’s going to make him mad.
4th boy: (looking puzzled) but that’s the truth about him on the board.
3rd boy: it’s the truth but Red won’t accept that. (Smiles)
2nd boy: he’s going to kill Billy. (Shakes his head) poor thing, I sure pity him.
1st boy: yes he will, and I pity him too.
By noon everybody including Red had seen the poem almost all had even memorized it and could read it by rote.
About a week later Billy was walking along the street and then suddenly Red appears out of nowhere.
Red: Ah, the poet (smiling crookedly) so you write verses, eh. Do they rhyme?
Billy: Get out of my way big bully (afraid but unwilling to show it)
Red: Oh, see he can even talk. You want me out your way ehh.
Red reaches into his pocket and brings out his knuckle-duster.
Red: Ever seen me use this before (Billy doesn’t answer him) I’m going to use it on you (he laughs).
He hits Billy on the head blood came oozing out and he loses consciousness.

Billy on his bed at home.
Billy: (wakes) how many days have I been in bed. (He asks looking at his mother)
Mother: Almost a week. I don’t want to see or hear you have gone near that boy Red again. (shakes her head) how a mother can call her child Red I simply refuse to comprehend it.
Billy: Okay mother.
The next day when Billy saw Red on the street he took to his heels and ran home.
Billy: (in his mother’s apartment) can you give me some money please.
Mother: (surprised) What for?
Billy: I want to buy some books with it.
Mother: (counts out some money) Okay, here you go (and gives it to him)
Billy buys some books on ju-jitsu. He also trains himself with parallel bars and weights. He trained non-stop for three weeks before he was sure he could face Red. Three weeks after practicing with two boys Billy is able to go out again.
Red is outside on the lawn of Billy’s yard playing card with his lieutenants and absorbed in the game when Billy shows up.
Billy: (Afraid, kicks the card away) Hello Red, remember me.
Red: (surprised, after all Billy ran the last time he saw him). So, you are not satisfied with what you’ve got. Want more?
Billy: Of course I do.
By this time a crowd had gathered.
Red: (Dipping his hand into his pocket) I’ll give you some more.
Billy: (kicks off Red’s hand) give me now.
Red: (falls down hurt) You bastard you’ve overcome your fears, ehh. I’ll kill you. (Stands up with menace in his eyes)
Billy: Your days of ruling are over.
Red: (Brings out his knuckle-duster) I’ll kill you I say.
Billy grabs his hand and squeezes until the duster drops. And they start to fight.
Crowd: Go Billy, go
3rd lieutenant: Shut up.
Billy beats Red.
Red: (crying) You wicked son-of-a-bitch (and he leaves)
Billy: Au revoir.
Crowd: (carries Billy and throwing him around) Hey, he’s beaten the bully. The bully has fallen. (And they start to sing)
Crowd: For he’s a jolly god fellow¬……….
THE END.