Banjo Billy and the River Rat Kids

By Billie Atamer

The story for Banjo Billy and the River Rat Kids was born on a warm sunny, Sunday afternoon. My Great Ruth was celebrating her ninety-second birthday and our families had gathered to join in the celebration. While the young children waited for the hamburgers to cook, timid little Alex spoke up and asked Aunt Ruth what it was like to be so old. When his mother tried to whisk him away, Aunt Ruth only laughed and began telling him stories about growing up in the early nineteen hundreds. Banjo Billy and the River Rat Kids is a story about two boys, Jeremy P. Stone and Ollie Preston, growing up in Appalachia in the early nineteen hundreds. When they come in contact with a stranger named Banjo Billy, they jump at the promise of money. Half-Indian and half-French, Banjo Billy is a colorful character who will keep you intrigued with his stories of the Gold Rush days. The boys share many adventures including a ride on the B & O railroad, their first look at the bank president's new automobile, and the trip to see the Wright Brothers and their wonderful flying machine. They also witness electricity come to town and the post office having the town's first telephone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raider Publishing International
• Release date: Aug 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465811035

Billie Atamer

Billie Atamer is an author of 20 plus books, children's, teen's and adult short stories. She has extensive experience writing for United Artist Cable Television as writer/producer for both her children's shows, THE SUNNYSIDE OF THE RAINBOW AND THE PROMISE TREE WITH MISS BILLIE. Miss Billie has worked with many great artists , such as Jane Hensen (wife of the late Jim Hensen) also David Hagberg author of seventy plus mystery books. Her latest book, THE ADVENTURES OF BANYO BILLY AND THE RIVER RAT KIDS was nominated for the Moonbeam Book Award. Mrs. Atamer taught creative drama in Armonk, NewYork. Mrs. Atamer was in summer stock in The Civic Mesker Opera Company in Indiana and also the Cox Theater in Ohio. Known by her stage name, Miss Billie, she founded, Tarra, The Community Theater in Izmir, Turkey where she lived for six years. Now living in Vero Beach, Florida she is founder of the Doctor's Club. She is a member of The Yacht Club, Word Weavers, Christian Writers, Cultural Council, Window Pane Writers and The Lagoon Writers of South Florida

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Banjo Billy and the River Rat Kids

By Billie Atamer

Published by Raider Publishing International at Smash Words

Copyright 2011 by Billie Atamer

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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CHAPTER ONE

Jeremy P. Stone awoke to the sound of circus music filtering through his bedroom window.

Fat chance I’ll get to go to the circus and take a ride on that Ferris Wheel, he mumbled as be punched his fist into the pillow. Hot tears formed in the corners of his brown eyes, and his nose started to run. He rolled over on his stomach and punched the pillow again, this time with both fists.

Jeremy couldn’t ask his mother for money. She worked too hard already, taking in wash for the rich folks in the small Appalachian town of Waverly, but it paid for the food and rent on the rundown place they called home.

Times were tough in the early nineteen hundreds, and jobs were scarce. What few jobs there were went to the older boys who had bikes for paper routes or delivering groceries for Johnson’s Market.

Jeremy was thirteen years old with a thick crop of straight brown hair that fell across his forehead and covered his eyebrows. He was small for his age, but strong. His father had died a few days before Christmas when he was only ten. He missed his father but never spoke of him, because it made his mother cry.

Hey, Jer, someone yelled from outside. What ya doing in there, layin’ an egg?

Jeremy wiped his eyes and ran to the window. He saw his friend Ollie standing under the old elm tree.

What’s going on, Ollie?

Are ye deaf, boy? Don’t you hear that circus music? The circus done come to town. Wanna go? And don’t tell me you ain’t got no money, Ollie shouted as he shaded his eyes from the sun.

I ain’t got…

I told you not to tell me you ain’t got no money, Ollie shouted as he looked up into the sky and shook his head.

I ain’t a-lyin’… I ain’t…

I told you not to tell me you ain’t got no money. Come on down here. I got a plan to take care of your money problem. Ollie turned toward the dirt covered road to see if anyone was listening.

Jeremy dressed quickly and ran down the stairs, two steps at a time.

Ollie was a year older than Jeremy, tall, and blond, a blue-eyed Swede. That’s what the town’s people called him and the other members of his family. He always seemed to have money to spend, although his family was just as poor as Jeremy and his mother.

Hey, Ollie, what’s up? Jeremy yelled as he ran out into the yard.

I know how you can get money to go to the circus and ride on that there Ferris Wheel everybody is talkin’ about, he whispered. Ollie took Jeremy’s arm, led him to the end of the walk, and looked around to see if anyone was within hearing distance. Listen real careful now. Jist before midnight tonight, I want you to slip out of your house and meet me under that old elm tree in your yard there. See that tree yonder?

Jeremy nodded.

And be real quiet; don’t want to wake nobody up. That clear? I’ll throw pebbles at the top window to let you know when I git here. Sleep with your clothes on, even your shoes. Don’t want to waste no time gettin’ dressed. Bye, Jer, he hollered, looking back at the house. Just in case someone was listening, it would look like they were having a casual conversation. See you around sometime. Ollie turned and waved as he walked into town.

Jeremy stuffed his hands into his pockets as he watched Ollie disappear around the corner. Suddenly, his mouth dropped open. Jeepers, what if he wants me to steal something? No way! Ain’t gonna do that, no sir-ree. Not gonna steal just to take a ride on a stupid ole Farris Wheel, he said out loud. He wanted to run after Ollie and tell him the deal was off, but Jeremy was afraid Ollie might call him a big baby. Jeremy looked up into the sky. He wished he could talk to his dad, wished he hadn’t died… Everything had been better back then.

The rest of the day he spent helping his mother with the wash. He didn’t mind hanging clothes on the line, because it was in the back of the house and no one could see him. It was a sunny day, so he knew the clothes would dry fast and his mother would finish her work early.

After supper, Jeremy helped his mother with the dishes and went up stairs to his bedroom, still wondering what he was going to do about the secret meeting that night with Ollie. He climbed into bed with all his clothes on, even his shoes, just as Ollie told him.

The light from the gas street lamp gave the room a soft golden glow. It was so quiet that Jeremy could hear his heart beating. He closed his eyes and began to count… one… two… three… Just then, a sudden gust of wind blew his curtains into a billowing, twisting, frenzy, as if there were something in there trying to get out.

Jeremy pulled the covers over his head. Oh, what am I’m gonna do? I don’t want Ollie to think I’m… I’m chicken.

The warmth of the covers he pulled over his head made him sleepy. I… I cain’t go to sleep, he whispered. I cain’t go to… and Jeremy drifted quietly into a deep sleep.

Ping… Ping… Ping.

Ollie… It’s Ollie. Jeremy threw back the covers and ran to the window. There stood Ollie in the shadows of the old elm tree. When he saw Jeremy at the window, he waved for him to come down.

Jeremy had left the door slightly ajar so that it would be easier to open. He slipped through the doorway into the dark hall that led to the stairs. He stepped on the first stair; it squeaked softly. He skipped the second stair, because he knew that it had the loudest squeak.

Home free, he thought to himself. The rest would be easy. He ran out into the dark, still night.

* * *

You ain’t gonna make me steal something air you, Ollie, ’cause I just couldn’t do it— circus or no circus, Jeremy whispered to Ollie.

Air you crazy? Why would I want you to steal something?

Well… how can we make money at midnight except we…?

Listen, Jer, you’re my best friend, and I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I’m gonna show you how you can make some money. Come on now, no more talking. Ollie took him by the hand and led him to the end of Pine Street and into the woods.

Jeremy had never been to the backwoods at night. The trees had lost their leaves, and their branches looked like long black whips whisking through the sky in search of something to attack. Even the bushes seemed to reach out and pull at his clothes, as if trying to hold him back from something dangerous.

There was a chill in the air, and the wind kicked up again.

How much further? Jeremy asked as he pulled a tangled branch from his pants.

Jist a little ways.

Where we goin’, Ollie?

Down to the river.

What’s down there?

Not what… Who. Banjo Billy: that’s who we’ll be working fer tonight, he said as he jumped over a log that had fallen over the pathway.

What’re we goin’ be doing for Banjo Billy? Jeremy caught up with Ollie and walked alongside him

We’re goin’ catch river rats.

River rats? I’m scared of rats. I… I’m goin’ home. Jeremy turned and started to run. Ollie ran after him, tackled him to the ground, and sat on his chest.

Ya can’t go now; you know my secret… There were only two of us, but now with you, it makes three. You can’t go; you know my secret!

Jeremy covered his eyes. What does he do with them… eat ’em? He thought he was going to be sick.

Heck no. He makes banjos out of ’em. Skins ’em critters right down their bellies and stretches ’em from limb to limb. That’s how they make the part that they strum. I didn’t know that until Banjo Billy told me. Ollie stood, held out his hand, and pulled Jeremy to his feet. Come on, it’s right up ahead.

Through the trees, Jeremy could see an old lean-to cabin. He’d seen it from the river many times but didn’t know that anyone lived in the dilapidated old place.

Who goes there? a deep voice shot out from the still night.

A thick, strong arm encircled Jeremy’s neck. He clawed at the hairy arm, trying to pull it away from his throat. Jeremy gasped for air.

Banjo Billy… it’s me… me and my friend Jeremy, Ollie screamed. Let him go. Ollie demanded. We’ve come to work for ya.

Ollie my boy, you didn’t tell me you was bringin’ a friend. Banjo Billy whirled Jeremy around and looked him square in the eyes. You sure he can do the job? He looked quickly at Ollie, then back at Jeremy. He looks awfully puny. He ain’t much bigger than them river rats…

Banjo Billy was a tall, thin man with thick, gray hair pulled back into a long braid that fell halfway down his back. He wore