Billy

My thanks to Oh' Henry for the editing

Vera glanced at the short, slightly overweight guy at the end of the counter. His head alternated between staring into the coffee cup and looking out the window.

He acted like he was 70 instead of his youthful 30 as his shoulders slumped over like his world was ending. For the second night in a row now she found him sitting on that stool when she started her shift.

This wasn't the Billy she knew. The curly brown headed Billy she knew had twinkling brown eyes and a smile for everyone he saw. Vera carried the coffee pot down the counter and refilled Billy's cup.

"Billy," Vera said," why don't you go home and sleep. Night after night you look out the window and drink coffee. You didn't stop in at night before this week. What's wrong?"

"The company let the second shift go. Then they put the first shift on 10 hour days. The company changed the hours of our maintenance work from Midnight - 8:00am to 6:00pm-2:00am. Tuesday night after work I went home to my girlfriend Donna's trailer. Donna walked out of the bedroom pulling a robe on and closing the bedroom door behind her.

She wanted to know why I was home early. I told her this was my new hours and even showed her the note I had placed on the refrigerator to remind her. She told me I had to leave for a few hours and come back after 7:00am. "

"Why would Donna tell you that?" Vera asked.

"Because she had someone in the bedroom" Billy replied as his eyes became misty and his voice choppy" When I returned after 7:00 Donna was sitting on the couch drinking coffee waiting for me. When I asked her what was going on, she told me my company messed everything up. I told her I didn't understand. Donna said before the company changed my shift everything was great. I told her I still didn't know what she meant.

Donna said she really loved me. I was kind, generous, and always treated her well, but I had a small package and couldn't please her. I told her I wasn't sure what she was talking about. Donna got mad and said my thing was too small. That was why she brought someone home to take care of her.

She said it was just sex. She still loved me and as long as I came home after sunrise everything would be just fine."

Vera's jaw dropped as she heard Billy's reply. She went to her purse and pulled out a key and handed it to Billy.

"Billy, go next door to my apartment and take a shower. Sleep in the green bedroom. I will wake you about 1pm. We have a lot to talk about."

"But Donna will wonder where I am when I don't come home." Said a concerned Billy.

"Don't worry about Donna. She won't miss you until the rent is due. Go sleep now, we'll talk when you wake up" replied an angry Vera as Billy took the key and left.

Vera had thought something was strange when her customers told her about Billy moving in with that waitress Donna from the bar by the factory. Billy was a quiet, gentle man, not like the type that hung out at the bar. One of her regulars, Old Jim, told her when Billy was promoted to night shift leader, the guys took him to the bar to celebrate.

When Donna heard how much Billy was making, she flirted with him until closing. By then Billy was feeling no pain. Rumor then has it; Donna took Billy home to her trailer and screwed him until Sunday afternoon. He moved in the next day. Since that day, Donna seemed to be dressing better and spending more when she went out with her friends. Billy was seldom seen with her in public.

Vera has known Billy since he was a teenager when she and Harold purchased the diner and Laundromat. Billy and his older sister would bring the family laundry in to clean. Billy never had a male role model when he grew up. His father left before he was born.

Being on the small side, he was always being beat up by the bigger boys plus having two woman in the house bossing him around didn't help. Harold was the closest thing to a role model when he let Billy help fix the machines and ask questions.

Vera always made sure Billy and his sister split a chocolate shake for Billy's help. It was Harold who talked Billy into applying at the can company for the maintenance apprenticeship. That was many years ago. The raven haired Vera was 55 now, but looked in her mid 40s. Harold would have been 60 if cancer hadn't taken him 5 years ago. Billy had to be close to 30 now. His sister was married with 2 kids and lived in the trailer next to her mother.

After the noon rush, Vera brought lunch to her apartment for her and Billy. When she opened the front door, she found him looking out the window at the trailer park across the street.

"Come sit at the kitchen table with me Billy. I brought you a cheeseburger hold the pickle and fries. In the fridge there is regular or diet coke and I'll have a diet please "said Vera.

Billy grabbed the Cokes and sat down and slowly ate his meal. Vera could tell he was extremely sad.

"Billy" started Vera "Is it OK if I ask you a few questions about Donna?"

"Like what Vera?" asked Billy.

"When did you meet Donna? Someone told me she works in a bar. I know you're not a big drinker so how did you meet and end up living with her?"

"I met her about 4 months ago," said Billy, "she is a waitress at the bar by work. The crew was working on Saturday. I had just been promoted to shift leader. After work, the guys took me over to the bar to celebrate. Donna was our waitress. Some of the guys must have known Donna because she was laughing and joking with them. She was talking to a couple of the guys at the end of our table; I couldn't hear what they were saying.

Donna just looked up at me and smiled. I thought she looked beautiful. She started to spend a lot more time around me. The guys were buying me more drinks. When the bar closed, Donna drove me to her trailer. We made love that night and through the weekend. She told me then I was a wonderful lover and she was falling in love with me. Then she asked me to move in with her. I was living at Mom's. I got my clothes that Monday morning and moved in."

"How did that work out with Donna working until midnight, and you starting at midnight until morning? Did you only see her on the weekends?" Vera questioned.

"No," answered Billy, "Donna would wake me up when she got up. That way I could make coffee while she got ready for work. We would have coffee together and she would tell me what needed to be done in the trailer, and what to buy at the grocery store.

She would also tell me when she needed more money. I wouldn't see her much on the weekend; she went out with her friends. She said I wouldn't like coming along. They did girl things."

"Well," said Vera, "At least she asked you for the money."

"That's because I opened a checking account. Every pay day I put $50 in the bank. I used to take the rest in cash. Donna used to ask for money every weekend. Then she quit asking. I noticed money missing out of my wallet. I opened the checking account and quit carrying more than $20. I leave a couple of dollars in my wallet and keep the $20 in my lunch box."

"If you do the laundry, shopping, and cleaning during the week, and she goes out with her friends on the weekend, when do you and Donna have any special time together?"

"If I do everything Donna wants, she will get up an hour early on Wednesday so we can make love. We also make love Sunday evening before she goes out," Said Billy.

"Billy," said Vera sadly," the way Donna is treating you isn't love. She has you paying for everything and being her cleaning slave. Donna liked it when you were on the midnight shift. She could bring a new man home every night. All she had to do was have them out before you came home. She gives you a little sex to keep you happy. She is using you. When does she leave for work?"

Billy looks down scuffing his shoe on the floor as he slowly lets what Vera said sink in.

"She leaves about 3:15. Her shift starts at 4:00," said Billy, "Why do you want to know? "

Vera takes Billy to a second floor apartment. She unlocks the door and enters.

"Billy I have a deal for you. I own the apartment building. Harold and I bought it years ago from the old man who lived in this apartment. He sold it to us at a low price providing Harold and I let him live here free until he died or couldn't take care of himself. He had a stroke last month. His son put him in a nursing home. The family didn't want what you see left in the apartment.

If you will clean and paint the apartment in your spare time, and do the maintenance work around here, I will rent you the apartment for $200 a month. You can stay in my guest room until you finish the apartment. If you like the deal, I will drive you over to Donna's trailer after she leaves for work to pick up your property. Do we have a deal?" Vera asked.

"It is a great offer Vera, but Donna loves me and needs me." Said Billy quickly."

"Billy," said Vera "If Donna loved you she wouldn't make you stay away until morning. She wouldn't need another man in her bed. If the situation was reversed, would you make her stay away so you could bring another woman into your bed. If you loved her, would you even want another woman?"

"Since you put it that way," said Billy as the anger started to build and the tears started to fall, "I wouldn't want another woman in my bed if I loved her and she shouldn't want another man. I've been a fool Vera. I would do anything for Donna and she took advantage of me.

I have been miserable these last 2 nights thinking about the man in Donna's bed because I was a failure. If I was that bad, she should have told me months ago. You're right Vera. She is just using me. Donna doesn't love me."

At 4:00, Vera drove Billy to the trailer. Billy packed his clothes into 3 black garbage bags. His personal care items and CDs went into the box he used when he moved in to Donna's four months ago. His big personal possession was a clock radio, CD player combination. Billy and Vera were back in her apartment in 20 minutes.

"Get dressed for work Billy," said Vera, "Then come over to the diner and eat." Vera picked up Billy's lunch box and left the apartment.

Vera had Billy's lunch packed and his thermos filled with coffee by the time he walked into the diner. She sat at the table drinking coffee while Billy ate. Vera tried to keep Billy's mind on anything except Donna.

"Tomorrow Billy I will show you Harold's workshop. It's in the basement of the apartment building. Harold had a note book with a list of all the routine maintenance that needed to be done around here. I don't think a lot of it has been done since he died. Maybe once you fix up the apartment you can take a look at it."

"Sure thing Vera," answered Billy with just a faint smile beginning to show, "I'll try to take a quick look at it this weekend. I will start on the apartment tomorrow after I wake up. It's time to leave for work so if you will give me the bill, I'll head for the bus stop."

"Tell you what Billy, since you live here now, we'll start you a tab. You can settle up on your pay day. How does that sound?"

"Great Vera," said Billy, "Tell me Vera, You own the diner. Why do you go to work at 4 in the morning?"

"It's from when Harold was alive. He would go to the diner and wash the floor before the morning crowd came in. I would check the kitchen and make sure everything was ready. We would both clean out the machines in the Laundromat, then have breakfast together.

The only thing that has changed is I have to do it all now, and Harold and I don't make love before we start our day. Even after 5 years, I still can't break the habit."

Billy told her he would see her in the morning, and then he walked down to the bus stop.

Billy had showered and gone to bed before Vera's alarm went off.

About 10:00, Frank, the mailman handed Vera her mail. It had been that way since Harold was alive. Frank would bring in the mail for the Laundromat, diner, and Vera's apartment. At the end of the counter would be a cup of coffee if it was cold out, or ice tea if it was hot. Vera would hear the local gossip Frank would pick up from the trailer park.

As soon as the customers thinned out, Vera brought the mail up to her apartment. She heard a noise coming from the guest room. Looking in, Vera saw Billy in bed facing the wall. His body was trembling as he sobbed. Vera lied down next to Billy and put her arm around him. She kissed his cheek and whispered calming words in his ear. It took about half an hour before Billy was calm enough to turn and look at Vera with red swollen eyes.

"When I was coming here from the bus stop this morning," said Billy in a shaky whisper, "I saw her letting a man out of her trailer. She put her arms around him and kissed him like she would kiss me."

Vera wrapped Billy in her arms. She kissed and hugged him until the tears and pain went away. She climbed under the covers. They kissed and touched until Billy's alarm went off. It was the first time since they owned the diner that Vera missed the lunch rush.

Billy and Vera both washed up. Billy dressed for work and Vera touched up her makeup. They went to the diner where Billy ate while Vera packed his lunch and filled his thermos. They talked about tomorrow and what they would do. Vera kissed Billy as he left for the bus stop.

Billy was on the top of the world when he returned to Vera's after work. He quietly undressed and showered. Toweling dry and putting on a pair of boxers, he leaned over Vera's bed and lightly kissed her lips. As he continued his feathery assault on her lips and cheeks, Vera smiled as she opened her eyes. She slowly pulled the covers back and invited Billy in.

Vera discovered Billy was a kind, gentle lover with very little experience. No woman had taken the time to show Billy what they liked to pleasure them.

Over the next many mornings, Vera taught, and Billy quickly learned. Vera thought Billy's package was wonderful.

Billy would come home every morning, shower, then climb in bed and gently wake Vera. He would gently make love to her until they were both satisfied, cuddling in the afterglow. They would shower together, dress and head for the diner. Billy would mop the floor, Vera would ready the kitchen. Together they would clean out the machines, then sit down and have breakfast together. When they finished, Billy would kiss Vera as he headed back to the apartment to sleep. Vera would begin her shift.

One morning Donna stopped in the diner. She wanted to know if anyone had seen Billie. Of course no one had seen him for months. Vera had a hard time keeping her claws pulled in. That slut wasn't taking her man.

Billy did finish the apartment on the second floor, but he never moved in. He did move from the guest room into Vera's bedroom.

Frank, the mailman, brought Vera her mail and the hot news from the trailer park. Over coffee, he told Vera that Donna, the bar waitress, moved out of the park. She was about to be evicted according to the rumors. Another waitress she worked with helped her move her clothes and stuff.

Vera never married Billy though he asked her many times. While the age difference didn't bother either one of them, Vera thought people would say Billy married her for her money. Instead they had 15 beautiful, loving years.

They would do the same routine every weekday. Billy would come home from work. He would shower, climb into bed, kiss Vera awake, make love to her, cuddle, shower, dress, go to the diner. The only thing that changed was after Vera turned 65. Then after making love they would go back to sleep for a couple of hours before they went to the diner. It was when Billy woke up after the nap from their morning love making that he discovered Vera had passed away in his arms. She was 70 and had a heart problem.

The funeral was one of the biggest they could remember. Everyone knew either Vera or Billy. Vera was buried next to Harold. In her will she gave everything to Billy.

Billy grieved the loss of Vera for over a year. He would come home from work and mop the diner floor. He would clean out the machines in the Laundromat. He would sit at the diner counter and have breakfast. When he was finished, he would go to his apartment to shower and sleep. On Sunday Billy would bring flowers to Vera's grave. People would see him standing by her headstone for hours.

One day Billy asked Karla out on a date. Karla was the early morning waitress. She was a 31 year old beautiful petite brunette with sparkling green eyes. Vera had hired her about 5 years ago to take over Vera's morning shift. She had divorced an abusive husband and now lived in the second floor apartment that Billy fixed years ago. Billy proposed to Karla after they had been dating 6 months. Karla accepted and they were married a month later. They had a son, Harold, 9 months after that.

Billy's old routine returned. He came home from work. He showered, climbed into bed with Karla, kissed her awake, made love to her, cuddled; they showered, dressed and went to the diner. Billy mopped the floor; Karla placed Harold in his baby carrier and readied the kitchen. They would clean out the machines, and then sit down to breakfast together. After breakfast, Billy would kiss Karla and head for bed. Karla would begin her shift.

As Harold grew older, Billy taught him everything he knew about maintenance. Harold went to junior college and graduated with a degree in small business management. He helped Billy run the businesses.

Harold fell in love with Becky, a beautiful brunette he met at junior college. He asked her to marry him after they both graduated.

At the reception Billy danced with his new daughter-in-law. During the dance Becky kissed him on the cheek and whispered a thank you in his ear. Billy taught Harold about maintenance. He had also schooled Harold on everything he learned from Vera about love.

The End