Billy Bingo: A Different World
Previously Billy Bingo: Sexual Blackmail
Copyright 2010, 2018 Charles Thomas Peters Jr.
All Rights Reserved
This story takes place before Billy Bingo: The Forgotten Past and before Billy Bingo: When The Legman Comes & the rewrite may change dependent plot points.
Chapter 3
Ten year old Billy Bingo is playing with Jimmy Harris.
Jimmy says, “Man, I want a skateboard that I saw in the Sears Catalog. I want the skateboard so bad. But my parents think I will hurt myself on it.”
Billy says, “Hutch Cassidy has about ten skateboards in inventory at his father’s motorcycle shop. Hutch has set himself up a store within his father’s store. Do you want to go there?”
“Man, I don’t have any money. Besides, you know I am not allowed to leave the yard without first telling whoever is watching me and lately they haven’t been giving me permission.”
Jimmy’s older brother Tommy Harris walks up. “What is going on little dudes?”
Jimmy says, “I want a skateboard.”
Tommy says, “I told you that you can borrow mine. Learn and test your skills out on it, and without mom and dad knowing.”
Jimmy says, “I want my own. And besides, I want us to skateboard together.”
Tommy smiles. “I respect that.”
Billy says, “I told him that Hutch has some at his his father’s motorcycle shop.”
“Hutch treats me like shit.”
Billy says, “That is because he has a thing for your sister Clarice and she treats him like shit.”
“Yeah. Well. I am glad she treats him like shit. Clarice is a saint and I don’t want her dating a hoodlum cocksucker like Hutch.”
“He is better than that piece of shit my sister Bess is dating. I don’t know why Kane Bishop has him running the Skull Eagle Gang.”
“How in the hell do you even know about the Skull Eagles or Kane Bishop.”
“I have my sources. But you do know that Kane Bishop isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. And I don’t think he is that fucking tough.”
“He is tough enough and I totally dig his girlfriend. She kissed me on the cheek the other day, just the cheek, but still I was like fuck hell, kill me now, because I have already gone to heaven.”
Jimmy stared at Billy and Tommy.
Billy says, “You do know she is a Vampire Witch who is evil as shit and would just as soon kill you for breakfast as ride your dick.”
Tommy laughs. “My little brother’s best friend is insane. Vampire Witch. There is no such thing. And what the hell do you know about a woman riding a man’s dick. Is your mama raising you in a whorehouse?”
Jimmy says, “Man, Tommy, stop trying to steal my best friend. Go get your own damn friends.”
Billy says, “I want to take Jimmy to the Cassidy Motorcycle Shop and buy him a skateboard.”
“I will go with you two knuckleheads. I want to tell Hutch to stay the hell away from Clarice.”
Jimmy says, “No. Be nice so he will give Billy a discount on the skateboard and not jack the price up.”
“If he tries jacking the price up then I will tell him to jack me off.”
Billy says, “I am pretty sure to get a discount you would need to be the one jacking him off.”
“What is wrong with you?”
Billy asks, “What do you mean?”
“You sound different. You have actually quoted the bible to me. And today you are talking like a dirty bird. I am not sure you should be hanging out with my little brother.”
“Maybe you should not be hanging out with Jimmy. I mean man, you want to fuck a Vampire Witch because she glamoured you and you are too stupid to know it. The real you has a crush on Hutch. You don’t hate him. You are sexually attracted to him.”
“Are you calling me queer?”
“I would never call anyone that.” Billy suddenly transformed into a tough looking, muscular teenager. He grabbed Tommy up by the loose sleeves of Tommy’s black t-shirt.
Tommy grimaces. There is fear in his eyes. He isn’t sure what is happening. “What the fuck? Legman?” The Legman is someone Tommy knows from the Skull Cross Gang.
“Witches are real. Kane’s girlfriend Alicia Silver is dangerous. And your attraction for her is not real. Stop denying that you are attracted to Hutch. Now I am going to erase Jimmy’s memory of this and Billy will not remember it either.”
“I am attracted to Alicia. When she kissed me on the cheek, what I felt was real. I don’t know what I feel toward Hutch.”
“You know.”
The Legman transforms back into Billy. Jimmy’s memory was erased. Red and sweating with excitement, Tommy looks at Billy. He isn’t sure what to say.
Billy says, “I want to take Jimmy to buy him a skateboard.”
Nervously, Tommy says, “Sure. I guess. I will go with you.” Tommy looks at Billy. He wonders, “Did little Billy really just turn into the Legman. Am I losing my mind? That is the more probable answer. But if it did just happen, is what he said true? Is Alicia Silver a Vampire Witch? And what does glamoured mean?”
Jimmy says, “I will go tell mom and dad what we are about?”
After Jimmy runs inside, Tommy asks Billy. “Are you really the Legman?”
Billy says, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Tommy runs his hands through his long sandy blond hair. “Neither do I? I feel like I’ve been out in the heat too long.”
Billy says, “It does not feel that hot to me. It feels good here in the shade.”
Clarice comes outside. She walks up to Billy and Tommy. She pats Billy on the stomach. “Aren’t you the cutest thing? It is hard to believe such a know it all snob like Bess has such a sweet little brother.”
Tommy asks, “Where is Jimmy?”
Clarice says, “Look. Mom is planning on giving Jimmy a skateboard for his birthday. She ordered it from Sears and she has it hidden in the attic. Now neither of you tell Jimmy but mom wanted the two of you to know, especially Billy, that she is grateful you would buy Jimmy a board.”
Billy says, “No problem. I am sorry I caused an issue. So what if I buy myself a spare board and let Jimmy use it until his birthday party next month?”
Clarice says, “I will ask mom. And if it is okay, she will send Jimmy on out. Right now he is in his bedroom pitching a fit.”
Billy says, “The board he wanted is the one from Sears so the one I buy today will not diminish the gift.”
“Diminish. My. You are a smart one, aren’t you?” Clarice looks at her brother Tommy. She notices that Tommy is red and sweating. “What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You look sick.”
“I guess I got over heated but I am okay. Can you tell me something?”
“Sure. If I can.”
“Would you date a man like Hutch Cassidy?”
“Heavens no. I have my eye on someone rich. His father owns an oil company.”
“Who?”
“No one you know.”
“I might know someone rich.”
“Well. You might. Dirk Jenkins.”
“Sure.” Then Tommy says, “I don’t really know him, but I know of him.”
Billy says, “Sure. Dirk Jenkins. Bess is best friends with Rachel Aghar and her mother works for the Jenkins family.”
Clarice says, “Yeah.” Clarice laughs. “Her mother is a maid.”
Billy says, “Her mother is more than just a maid, but regardless, Rachel knows Dirk Jenkins. I’ve tossed the football with him once or twice when I was at the Jenkin’s Mansion with Bess and Rachel.”
Clarice opens her mouth in a gasp and a smile. “You have been inside the Jenkins Mansion. I am so jealous.”
Billy says, “My father and David Jenkins go way back. Dirk’s mother died in childbirth at the same time and at the same hospital when I was born and I think it was at the hospital where they first met. Father is working on one of his oil rigs in the gulf right now.”
Clarice says, “I thought your family is poor. Your father must make pretty good working on an oil rig.”
“No. His job doesn’t pay that well. We are poor.”
Tommy says, “As are we. But God, I wish I had money.”
Clarice punches Tommy in the arm. “We aren’t poor.”
Tommy says, “Next to Dirk Jenkins, yes we are.”
Billy continues. “We are poor but I’ve been to the Jenkins Mansion and I have swam in their pool and I have eaten with their rich friends.”
Clarice says, “Oh my God. I am so jealous.”
Tommy asks, “Clarice, have you ever even met Dirk.”
Clarice says, “No. I’ve never been able to get my nerve up to introduce myself. I have been to a couple of parties that he was at but I get all shy when I am near him. It is not just that his family has money, but he is so dreamy.”
Billy says, “I guess I could introduce you.”
“Oh my God. Billy, you are the best. I will go tell mom about your plans for the skateboard and Jimmy will be right out. Thank you Billy. Thank you.”
***
Billy, Tommy, and Jimmy begin their walk toward the Cassidy Motorcycle Shop. Billy notices a large black car that seems to have slowed down to follow them. It unnerves Billy. He keeps looking back toward the car. Tommy notices that Billy keeps turning around. Tommy turns to see what Billy keeps looking at and sees the car.
Tommy says, “Fuck, why is the law following me.”
Billy/Legman says, “It is not the law. They are hunters.”
Jimmy laughs. “What would they be hunting in Conyers? Rats.”
Tommy screamed in laughter. “Oh my God, can you imagine a giant wharf rat mounted to a wall like they do deer heads. That would be so weird.”
Billy/Legman laughs. Then he quickly turns serious. “I’ve got to deal with them.”
Tommy asks, “How?”
George Destone runs up from seemingly no where. He tickles Billy on the stomach. “Hey Champ, you want to go to the movies with Bess and me?”
“No. Get lost.” Billy sees that the black car has stopped. He sees the front doors on both sides of the car open. “Oh shit.”
A man calls to Billy. “Billy, come over here.”
Billy/Legman screams to the men, “If you don’t want things revealed, get lost.”
“We are not threatening you. We have an envelope for you to deliver. That is all.”
A large bald headed man with gray eyebrows walks up to Billy. He hands Billy a yellow envelope. “You do realize that followers of Belial on Pluto Viso are a danger to this planet.”
Sam Bigalo walks up to Billy. Sam is in his 40’s and of a more slim build but still tough. He has shoulder length blond hair. He says, “Roger Dover, you don’t have to editorialize. Billy will give the envelope to the Legman. Want you Billy?”
Billy/Legman nods. “Sure. But if this is about the General, the Council is wrong about him.”
Sam Bigalo says, “The Council is wrong about a lot of things. General Gorgan is not one of them.”
Roger Dover says, “Right or wrong, cooperate or we will cage you for Alice Malokey to have you transported.”
Billy/Legman says, “The Outlands are forbidden to you all. You know that. Bye.” The yellow envelope vanishes as the Legman exits Billy.
Billy cocks his head. “What do you two men want?”
Sam says, “We told you what we want.”
Billy looks around. “I think I blanked out. What is going on? I am confused.”
George says, “They gave you an envelope to give to the Legman.” George sees that the envelope is no longer in Billy’s hands. “Where did the envelope go?”
Roger Dover and Sam Bigalo return to their car.
Jimmy asks, “Who is General Gorgan?”
Billy shrugs. “I don’t know.”
George says, “They threatened to have you caged and transported. I think we need to tell your mom and maybe call the police.”
Jimmy asks, “What are you talking about?”
George looks at the two men sitting in the car. “I don’t know. What are we talking about?”
Jimmy says, “I feel strange. I feel scared. I feel really scared. But I don’t know why.”
Tommy realizes the memory of his little brother and of George have been erased. He knows that Billy is confused. But Tommy’s memory of what just happened remains clear; but still he feels confused.
***
Sam Bigalo and Roger Dover pull into a parking garage. They both pull lunch boxes from the backseat and open them up to begin eating their sandwiches and to drink their soft drinks.
Roger Dover asks, “Do you think Alice Malokey will order the killing of Billy Bingo so that the Legman will not have a vessel?”
“I don’t know. If the Legman has returned to his realm in the Outlands he will not be around to protect his alter.”
“I don’t really understand the duality of people like Billy Bingo. I know people have told me that they are the same person but that Billy doesn’t really know what is happening as far as the Legman is concerned. I would think it is more likely that Billy is a totally separate soul whose body is being possessed by the Legman.”
Sam says, “No. They are the same. It is like God can present himself as a singular person or he can present himself as multiple people but they will all still be God. God can connect his higher self to those entities that he spawns or he can have the connection one way where the spawns are not aware and where he can test aspects of himself without the spawns having a clue.”
“The Legman is that powerful?”
“Well. It is complicated with the Legman because what he is doing is to protect his higher self from the spells the space alien witches have cast. He is at war with them in the hopes that he can reopen his realm Iapetus and from there defeat them.”
“Does it ever bother you that we are working for the Space Alien Witch Council? We are earthlings and we are working for the invaders.”
“I am not going to tell you that, the kind of shit that you might can use against me. Are you crazy?”
“So that is an affirmative. It bothers me that we might be on the wrong side of history and you can use that against me. I don’t care.”
Sam smiles. “Be careful with whom you make that kind of confession.”
“If Alice Malokey orders me to illegally go into the Outlands to try to put the Legman in a cage, I will do that. But if she orders me to kill Billy Bingo, I can’t do that. I don’t care if he is the spawn of some god or whatever, he is still just a kid.”
“I understand. He is a kid who might be the earth witches’ only chance of beating the space alien witches.”
“No. Like I said. I would illegally go into the Outlands to put the Legman in a cage. But I will not kill a kid. Clear!”
“Clear. But to be just as clear, in case you don’t know who I am. My then wife and I fought in the Pluto Viso Wars against Belial. I fought against General Gorgan. General Gorgan put my then wife in a cage and caused her to go into a sleep from which she still has not woken. The Legman now is giving General Gorgan refuge in his realm in the Outlands. I want General Gorgan caged. I want that son of a bitch to end up in a sleep. If Alice Malokey orders Billy Bingo to be killed to send a clear message to the Legman, I will cut his head off myself.”
“You say that you are an earthling, but you think like the space alien witches, don’t you. You remember back to the Pluto Viso Wars. Well I don’t. I don’t know who I was in the past. Hell. I barely know who I am in this life. So I know what it is like to be a confused innocent. I know what it is like to be that kid Billy Bingo.”
“Well. I don’t think Alice Malokey will give the orders or sanction the killing of Billy Bingo so this argument that we are having is probably pointless.”
“So do you think she will give us the orders to illegally go into the Outlands to capture General Gorgan from the Legman?”
“I don’t know. She suggested there might be a way to lure General Gorgan out of the Legman’s realm so we can legally capture him but she did not give me the details.”
“I wish I had looked in that envelope that we gave Billy or the Legman.”
“Alice Malokey’s magic would not have allowed it and she would have known about your attempt. You do understand that you really do not want to piss her off. Don’t you?”
“Yes.”