Billy Don't. William OSB Baker
BILLY DON’T
BY WILLIAM J. BAKER, JR.
A THADEUS T. THROCKMORTON III PRODUCTION
THIS STORY IS TRUE
The names have been changed to avoid
embarrassment to anyone, living or dead.
The story has been embellished,
and characters added,
to dramatize the events and telling.
The locations and places are real, although
some places no longer exist.
Copyright 2011 William J. Baker, Jr.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0536-0
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
THE STORY
BILLY DON’T, a novel, takes place in Oakland, and other parts of California during the 1930’s. It is a story of the conflicts and behaviors which take place in a young boy who is placed with his older sister and younger brother in a boarding home run by the Blair’s.
The conflict comes from the evangelistic preaching of Mrs. Blair who constantly tells Billy, “Your soul will turn black” or “God will send you to the Devil”, and the understandings he has gained from his grandmother who has taught, “God sees the good in you”.
Billy’s often wild and vicious behaviors are driven by his hatred for Mrs. Blair.
It is a story of a young boy’s desperate search for love and understanding.
CHARACTERS
| Name | Relationship to Billy |
| Mr. Munroe or Bill | Father |
| Mrs. Munroe, Gertrude | Mother |
| Beth | Older Sister |
| Randolph | Younger Brother |
| Mr. Weston | Step-father |
| Mums, Mother Munroe | Grandmother |
| Mr. and Mrs. Blair | Guardians |
| Eugene | Blair’s son |
| Bud or Mr. Townsend | Uncle |
| Aunt Rae | Bill Munroe’s sister |
| Rae Anne | Cousin |
| Bax | Boy friend neighbor |
| Mrs. Nygard | Ellen’s mother |
| Ellen | Neighbor |
| Mrs. Babcock | Teacher |
| Mr. Gonzales | School Janitor |
| Mr. Wingate | Friend of Mrs. Blair |
| Mr. Prezzolinni | Store owner |
| Mr. Caravacci | Owner, Garbage Co. |
THIS BOOK
is
DEDICATED
to
THE MEMORY
of
MY MUMS
and
MY DAD
CHAPTER ONE
Bill Munroe's excitement increased as the miles fell away bringing him closer to Oakland and home. The four-day trip to Monterey and Carmel had been many times more successful than Bill's wildest expectations. He was elated and anxious to tell his wife, Gertrude, of their good fortune.
Bill pressed hard on the brake pedal, slowing the heavy stately Reo automobile for the turn off 38th Avenue onto Lyon Avenue. A block after the turn, at the corner of Lyon and Ransom Avenues, the headlights shone on the driveway showing Bill his last turn of the heavy car. He tiredly swung into the driveway, and braked the car to a stop, taking notice of the porch light left on for him. He shut off the engine, turned off the headlights, and leaned back in the seat, taking a long pull on the nearly finished Wing cigarette. The events leading up to the trip to Carmel rolled through his mind.
He remembered that Sunday afternoon more than three years before when Dan White, his carpenter foreman and regular fishing companion, suggested they could do a lot better fishing in the surfs of the Monterey Peninsula than the waters of the San Francisco beaches. "Gert was sure against that first trip," he thought, taking another long pull on the cigarette, "She must have thought we were going after something other than fish." He laughed aloud.
The sounds of the roaring surf, the warmth of the campfire and the horrible taste of Dan's home-made Prohibition brew came back to him. He sat staring out into the blackness of the night, reliving the hours of solitude and friendship that came with the weekends of camping on the beaches of Monterey.
His thoughts centered on Dan. He spoke as though Dan were there. "It's been a strange three years, Dan. When you first mentioned going to Monterey to fish I thought you were a little nuts. But I've got to hand it to ya, the fishing was super. But, then I didn't stay with the fishing, did I? You're right about that. And I don't blame you for getting pissed.”
“But Hell, Dan, it wasn't that I didn't like your company, you damn sure know that. I just got caught up with the opportunities and beauty of Carmel and Monterey and had more fun chasing them than pulling fish from the sea. Shucks, t'wasn't that I didn't like your company or like to fish, but damn, sometimes other things just get to be more important. I wish you could have understood that.” Bill knew he had lost a friend when Dan announced he was no longer going on the fishing trips.
"Hey Dan," Bill called aloud as if his words would reach Dan on the wings of the wind, “nothing personal old buddy, I just fell in love with Carmel." He jabbed the cigarette in the dashboard ashtray, putting out its fire, and snuffing out the memories of Dan.
Picking up the sheaf of papers at his side, he glanced at the unused fishing gear on the back seat, "Heck with 'em," he said to himself, “I'll get them in the morning." His thoughts switched to Gertrude, and his anxious desire to share with her the news he was bringing