Shakespeare Part 3

The next night we had not been in the bed five minutes and Big Billy asked me again. He said, “Tony have they told you about old William Shakespeare.” I was already mad at myself because I did not have the nerve to ask my teacher about him so I told Billy. I said, “No they did not say anything about him and I don’t believe there ever was a William Shakespeare.” Billy laughed a little. He said, “Now Tony there was a man by the name of William Shakespeare. I would not lie to you about something like that, you just ask your teacher.” In just in a minute or two, Billy began to snore. In a little bit I too was asleep.
In the morning I remember wanting to ask my teacher, “Was there a man by the name of William Shakespeare?” But like the day before, I was just too afraid of her to ask. Like always, that day at school was as long as three or four days at home.
At last the long day was over and we were on the bus and on the way home. As I sat there I looked over in the seat just across the aisle from me and there sat one of the best looking girls on the bus. Her name was Judy Cox. She had long blonde hair and she always wore pretty dresses and she was in high school. She once gave me a lollipop for free.
It just came to me, if there was ever a man by the name of William Shakespeare she would know about him. I looked over at her and said “Judy.” She looked at me and I just asked her, “Was there ever a man by the name of William Shakespeare?” After a second or two went by she said, “Why, yes there was but I don’t believe he would be anyone that you would want to know about.” She did not say any more. But that was okay. I knew Big Billy had not been lying to me and that just made my day.
I can remember going to bed that night. I was just laying there waiting for Big Billy to ask me about old William Shakespeare. It was not long until he did. Just all at once Billy asked, “Tony did you hear about old William Shakespeare today?” I said, “Yes, today I heard about old Shakespeare.” Big Billy laughed out in a loud voice and said, “I told you that would be hearing about that old bird. They will be giving you tests on him too. You just wait and see.” Then he said, “Who told you about him, your teacher I guess.” After Big Billy stopped talking, I said, “No it was not my teacher that told about him, I asked a high school girl if they ever was a man by the name of William Shakespeare. She said, “Yes there was,” but she said he would not be someone that I would like to hear about. Big Billy said, “Oh” and just for a little bit Billy did not say anything. Then Billy said, “Well she is right, he’s not someone you would like to hear about, but like it or not you will be hearing a lot about him.” Then we went to sleep.