The William Third Grade Second Row
My mother’s voice was barely audible, and I had to ask her to repeat the name. My mother said his name was Sweet William. The information about William came from Ernest Jr., who had told his father one night about his best friend, William. As my mother said, Williams’s story was short because his father did not care enough to be interested. William had no one else.
Ernest and William were inseparable for two short years. William had told Ernest the following story one day as they sat on Culpepper’s bridge-dangling bare feet off the edge.
I guess you could say I am like you, Ernest. I got no mother either.
I had one, but my Aunt said she left to walk with God when I was born. I do not know why she wants to walk with God when she could walk with me. Anyway, she is gone. I never saw her in person.
I have only been living with my dad for two years now. My Aunt Patsy raised me, but she died and left to walk with God. My dad has a picture of her in his room, but when he saw me looking at it one day, he said I was the one who killed her and I should never touch her picture again. I have a photo of her in my mind, and he can’t take that away.
My daddy said I was to stay out of his way. My daddy drinks lots of whiskeys. He leaves me fifty cents on the table every Monday to buy food. I can buy the Jumbo slices of bread for five cents, a bottle of catsup for nine cents, and a jar of peanut butter for twenty-three cents.
I have been saving one dime every week and hiding it.
I am keeping the dimes to buy a present for our teacher Miss Sheridan. Don’t you think she is beautiful? Ernest had to agree with William. Miss Sheridan stole most little boys’ hearts. William said I would tell you a secret but never tell anyone else; Do you promise not to tell anyone? Ernest crossed his heart. That was as good as gold to William.
My Aunt always called me sweet William. Why would she do that? Aunt Patsy said my mother named me that before leaving to walk with God. My mother liked reading stories about William Shakespeare. My mother’s favorite flower was Sweet William, which attracts bees, birds, and butterflies. My mother said I would be just like the flower. I think it is silly. Nobody likes me but you and Miss Sheridan and Eleanor. Maybe my dad would love me if my mother was alive.
Ernest, if something happened to me and I had to walk with God, I do not think anyone would care except you and Miss Sheridan. Ernest got a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach; I Would miss you. I have a secret too. I like Eleanor.
Ernest shared lots of things with William. Ernest shared little pieces of his soap bar each week so William could wash his clothes in the sink. Ernest decided he had a good life. At least his father had become kinder since he and his Aunt regularly talked. But, sweet William, no, Ernest would never tell anyone how his Williams mother gave him his name.
Ernest had his secrets he had only shared with William. Ernest’s dad and his Aunt were getting married as soon as he could get divorced from her sister. Ernest was not sure what that meant, but he liked his Aunt. So, William should be happy, but he is not. Ernest was leaving the neighborhood when that happened. No, William hoped Ernest’s dad never found the first wife.