Billy

by Ken Preston

‘Billy were six foot tall and weighed about sixty pounds soaking wet. Paint him white and light him up in the dark he would’ve looked like one of those skeletons you see on Halloween. That’s what Mr Cooper used to say, what he told everyone who came by.’

So begins the story of Billy, part of a travelling Freak Show, and told through the eyes of his best friend.
It hurts to look at Billy, but Billy’s best friend believes that if everyone could only get past that hurt they would see Billy was just like them after all.
But not everyone thinks that way.
No matter how hard they look, some people just can’t see the real you.

18 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2018

About the author

Ken Preston is the author of the Joe Coffin series of books, best described as gangsters versus vampires in Birmingham UK. He is also the author of zombie/cowboy mash-up Population:DEAD!, Satan meets Blackbeard pirate novel, The Devil and Edward Teach, and Speaking in Tongues, a short story about death, sex, rock n roll and God.
He has also had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies, and writes romance under the name of MJ Jackson.
Ken is also a creative writing teacher for children in years 5 and 6 and also children in years 7 to12, as well as adults.
He spends far too much time in his cellar, making stuff up, whilst his two cats prowl over his desk and computer keyboard, adding their own little additions to his stories.
Ken lives just a few doors down from the house where Jack the Ripper was born. (Allegedly.)
If you have read any of his books, or even if you haven’t, but just want a chat, Ken can be reached at kenpreston@kenpreston.co.uk

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual short story from the author of the Joe Coffin series that draws you in and leaves you hanging on every word. The tale is told from the point of view of Jimmy, an illiterate boy, who works in a Freak Show along with his friends. Jimmy's best friend is Billy, whose appearance "hurts the eyes" of even the other "freaks" in the circus, but Jimmy implores the others to look past his outside and see the person he really is.
A tragic story based on the real Freak Shows of the early 1900's, it does a superb job of highlighting the adage "don't judge a book by it's cover". An easy read that can be accomplished during a lunch break, but one that will stay with you for quite some time after.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Enjoyable Read!

This is a short about a Freak Show and the freaks who just happen to be mostly children. I really enjoyed the story but felt bad for Billy who just wanted to be left alone. The bond these people had was quite lovely and too bad that doesn't happen in society today. I would recommend this short story to anyone who enjoys a good read.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story from the author of the incredibly awesome Joe Coffin series is simply strange.

But once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Our main characters are children in a freak show, probably during the mid to late nineteenth century, based upon Billy's acquaintance with the explorer Livingstone. The story's narrated in the illiterate accent of young Jimmy, who is Billy's one and only friend in the Freak Show until he teaches another friend how to stare at the oddly ugly Billy until his eyes don't hurt no more. Tidbits of many of the children are revealed in fascinating glimpses, and I would have loved to learn more about some of the characters in this short story. Although the ending was appreciated, I was definitely left wanting more.

[thebonebreaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes this short story unique is that it is told from the perspective of Billy's (illiterate) best friend. When Jim (the best friend) describes Billy's giant head, I couldn't help but think of the hilarious lines from Mike Myers' film 'So I Married An Axe Murderer'. The way that the story is written makes it fun to read aloud. (I kept reading portions of it to my wife.)

If you are looking for a super quick read while in transit or while waiting for an appointment, this one will easily fill a twenty-minute void.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first short (27 page) read from author Ken Preston was the third book this week that reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode. The way the book was written in stumbling english made you see that the narrator had little education as much as he told you in words that he had little education. Billy was the primary character but not the narrator.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short story about Billy who works in a Freak show. All he wants is to be left alone. Sad but enjoyable.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short story about our perceptions of people