Tonys brother just happened to be in jail so his car wasnt real useful to him at the moment. Billys Dad had been right about one thing Tonys brother was a drug addict but hed been put away for dealing, not using.
Dad! Reality hit home again as they rounded the corner into Billys street and the ambulance sat in front of his house. Its bright, side-mounted lamps illuminated the front yard with an eerie off white glow, glaringly contrasted by the flashing red domes. Dad!
Chapter Seven
Billy in Training
The whole world appears ill equipped to handle the likes of this boy. He stands in faded and torn jeans, a t-shirt small enough to be a crop top and a filthy cardigan. His apparent impunity to any living soul is obvious when nobody approaches him. Not a soul saw his arrival and none lifts a hand when he stands amongst them, staring up at the sky as if seeking enlightenment, arms outstretched as if receiving the word of God.
At times he appears to smile and at others his concentration is obvious. He stood sometimes for hours on end, before nodding assent and smiling to himself, and then simply disappearing. Nobody is able to substantiate how this happens, simply one second he is there and the next he is not.
Similar incidents are reported three times over fours years in different cities and
States. They remain unconnected, even though up to forty witnesses are procured. But no laws have been broken so in all cases, further action is deemed unnecessary.
Chapter Eight
Billy the Man
The view was nice water, boats, high rise buildings off in the distance, but very few people. Billy didnt see any of it. Sure, he knew it was there, and sitting on the patio there like he was gave him the greatest exposure, but he really hadnt seen anything for months now, not since that night when they pronounced his Dad dead. In his chair of course eyes still open, and Billy was the only one that could tell you he was still watching that damn television. Billy knew that kind of thing happened if your grasp on something in Reality is strong enough.
It didnt shock him as much as his mother did. She held Billy responsible, made a scene she did, enough for the ambulance guys to actually restrain her. They ended up taking her with them in the back of that same ambulance, sedated and strapped in a stretcher beside her husband. Tony didnt hang around. He knew his limitations.
For the first time since that night, Billy was actually considering going back, to see that his Mum was okay, and to see Jen. He hadnt looked much at Reality for a while. You know how it is. Grief does funny things to people, and in Billys case, it sent him off.
Right now he sat beside this old guy and Billy couldnt recall whether the old man owned this place or rented it. He knew hed liked it there. The old man had died too, yesterday afternoon actually, and his sleeping corpse had sat outside on his patio all night and most of the day. He was still enjoying his view, not unlike Billys Dad and his bloody TV. Billy heard a noise on the upstairs balcony and decided that now was the time.
Hey, hullo, is there someone up there? He stepped away from the patio area so he could look up to that balcony and be visible to anybody there. An elderly lady holding a watering can peered down. Maam, the man down here, in the unit underneath you. I think hes, well, could you just ring an ambulance?
That little old lady peered at Billy for a few seconds. Then without a word she walked back into her unit, methodically closing her balcony door like shed probably done a thousand times before. She began closing her curtains and Billy realised he was on his own. He walked to the patio door and found it unlocked, of course. The phone hung over the kitchen bench and after dialling 000, he returned outside to wait.
A Police car arrived first no siren, just pulled up out front. The two occupants stared out the windows, exchanged a glance and got out. Nothing strange to see really, a young guy, Billy, sitting on a deck chair beside a dead guy.
I asked for an ambulance, Billy said to them.
What are you doing?
Im waiting for an ambulance.
Why?
cause hes dead. They both looked shocked. Reality dawned on Billy, pun intended for those in the know. Did the old lady upstairs ring you guys? Damn! I asked her to call an ambulance. The lead one now went toward the old man and found no pulse. He glanced at his partner again and both turned to face Billy. He shrugged his shoulders at them, What? You believe me now?
What are you doing here?
I was walking past and I saw this old guy sitting here. I said gday to him and when he didnt acknowledge me I knew there was something wrong. I yelled at the old lady upstairs to call the ambulance silly old duck must have asked for you guys by mistake, sorry.
Billy wondered what theyd think if they knew hed been there over four months, keeping that old guy company even though he didnt know it. Billy hadnt thought for a moment the old man would last that long but he led a pretty unstressed life. The ambulance pulled up. Its red lights were flashing and Billy had a momentary thought about that night coming home to his Dad. Exchanging glances yet again, one copper went to the ambulance and the other approached him.
You got any ID?
Billy produced his wallet, showed him the school bus pass that was the only thing with his name on it, and stood up. They must have thought it safer with him sitting as neither cop had asked him to stand before that and Billy only did so now so they could see he was just a kid. What he didnt realise was how much hed aged in the past few months. Grief does that to you as well.
Whats your name?
Like it says on my pass, Billy Nelson.
It says, he held it up as if he had poor eyesight or reading skills, William Augustus Nelson, as if it meant something Billy should know, which of course it did seeing as that was his name. The cop kept looking at Billy waiting for some kind of response. Billy wasnt sure what was wanted so he said nothing. He stood there looking back. He felt something was wrong but didnt want to make things any more difficult than they already were. His at times smart mouth had got him into trouble before so he kept it shut this time. How old are you?
Fifteen sir. Billy decided that respect was required.
Whens your birthday?
Eleventh of September sir.
What year?
Why, every year sir! He grinned.
Billy couldnt resist that and once more his mouth brought trouble! The cop didnt smile back, thats for sure. Wait here smart arse.
He stamped back toward his car holding Billys wallet and bus pass, spoke briefly to his partner then opened the passenger door. The ambulance guys had been held back until then and they immediately went to the old man after a nod from the other cop. Nobody looked at Billy. The old guy was deposited onto a gurney, the sheet pulled up over his head then unceremoniously wheeled and shunted into the back of the ambulance. They were about to drive off when the cop in the car got out and halted them with an upraised arm. He walked over to his partner and exchanged a few words, and they both approached Billy.