Billy Boy by Jean Mary Flahive Read Free Book Online

pierce his heart. He reckoned his shield was plum full of holes.
    Near the end of the training, Billy’s excitement was renewed when he at last slipped into his uniform. He received baggy light blue woolen trousers and two coats: a dark blue single-breasted frock coat, and, for daily wear, a four-button sack coat. The sack coat was shorter and fit him best; he sweated too much in the frock coat. As a private he was told he would receive only two pairs of gray flannel underdrawers, two gray flannel shirts, and two pairs of woolen stockings. His footwear was a pair of black leather brogans called bootees. Unlike most of the others, he liked the dark blue woolen forage cap with the 17TH REGIMENT in brass and his company letter “G” ornamenting the crown.
    â€œLooks like you can put another soldier in there with you, Billy Boy,” laughed Leighton as he buttoned his frock coat. Suddenly three brass buttons popped from Leighton’s coat, disappearing into the tall grass.
    â€œThe uniforms only come in four sizes. Ain’t one of them fits us good,” said Harry as he tried to hold his woolen trousers up with a piece of rope around his waist.
    â€œJosh walks like a large-fin duck in them oversized boots,” said Jeb, watching him waddle across the ground.
    â€œHere, little fella, stuff these in your bootees.” Charlie laughed and tossed Josh a pair of woolen socks.
    Billy stared at the pile of tow-cloth trousers and cotton shirts in a heap by the tent. He spotted the buttons from Leighton’s uniform in the grass, dropped to his knees, and scooped them in his hand.
    â€œI can sew these buttons on for you, Leighton. I like to sew buttons.” Billy jumped up from the grass, his eyes darting back and forth between his friends.
    â€œBilly Boy, I’m thinkin’ you and me is gonna get along real fine.” Leighton grinned and threw off his coat.
    â€œGet up, all you lazy toadies! Roll them blankets! Get up, Billy.” Harry tapped him on the shoulder. “It’s August eighteenth! We’re mustering into service today.”
    Billy moaned, rubbed his eyes, and rolled off his blanket. He pushed back the flap and squinted at the brilliant sunrise. He had heard that Major Gardiner, the mustering officer, was going to make all the companies stand ranks until the full dress inspection was over. And already it was hot and muggy. Billy needed to hurry, what with his friends mostly dressed and already checking their packs. He hoped Harry would put things right in his knapsack. Colonel Roberts held Sunday-morning inspections, and Harry always made sure things were in place for Billy. Slipping into his trousers, he glanced around the tent. Harry was gone.
    The sun was high by the time Major Gardiner walked across the grass to Company G and greeted Captain Mathers. He paced in front of the first row, his face stern, his dark eyes flashing. Suddenly the major stopped, faced the privates, and loudly ordered them to empty their knapsacks. Harry stole a glance at Billy’s pack and hissed under his breath as the articlesspilled onto the ground. Major Gardiner stepped in front of Billy, staring at him from head to toe. He took a step backward and with the toe of his boot spread the articles across the ground. For a moment he hesitated, and then all of a sudden he kicked the knapsack aside. Leaning into Billy’s face, his voice was deep and guttural.
    â€œWhere’s your regulation knife, Private?”
    Billy winced, blinked his eyes. He tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry. He slid his hand down the side of his coat, felt the solid lump in the pocket, reached in, and pulled out the knife.
    Behind him, a soldier moaned fitfully about the heat and fainted to the ground, noisily scattering the tin utensils in the air.
    Major Gardiner shook his head in disgust at both Billy and the collapsed soldier and lashed out at Captain Mathers before he turned and marched away.
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