The Band

This is the story about Billy Bob and Johnny Tom.1

These two country boys grew up in separate small towns. Each had a longing desire. Only when they met did they realize the fulfillment of that longing.2

Each had lived a life very much alone. They had work during the day and living with themselves after work. Billy enjoyed a beer or two and Johnny liked to smoke his tobacco pipe.3

They met on the Midway of a county fair. 4

A booth owner was trying to guess Johnny's weight. He had to guess within 20 pounds either way. Johnny knew from past experience that he looked always less than he weighed. Funny how the owner turned him around and hand checked his butt and told him that he did not have an ass. In the end, like all the others, the owner failed. And Johnny walked away with the poster of the four Chippendale dancers. This caught the interest of Billy.5

Johnny went to a refreshment stand and ordered a Coke. Billy walked up behind him and ordered one too. They greeted. Talked some and out of this got to know each other.6

They continued to live in their separate towns 9 and 1/2 miles away from each other. They visited together every chance they got.7

They shared their addresses but always met in a public place. Normally Billy would come to Johnny's town and visit with him there. Their times spent together were mainly supper during the week and on week-ends visits to the river and a certain park they liked for walking and doing some hikes upon its trails.8

One late evening without any planning both set out to visit the other. Billy was coming down the highway and went into a turn and met bright headlights that he wished the driver would dim. Finally it happened and Billy journeyed on. After arriving there was no such place as Johnny's address. When Johnny got to the place were Billy lived he too found that no residence was apparent. Both thought it must have only been a mistake. Both started home.9

Johnny was driving and picked up in the distance a truck pulled over. He slowed his car and saw it was Billy. He was so happy to see him. Billy was happy to see that it would be Johnny coming to aid his ailing truck.10

A jump from Johnny's battery was all that was required. They needed to talk so they hit a truckstop.11

Each told the same story one at a time.12

Checked and double checked the addresses were correct. So how could this be? One way to find out. Johnny would take Billy home with him.13

After arriving the place was not there. Strange.14

Johnny returned with Billy to the truckstop and told him to stay there until he returned. When Johnny got back he told Billy that when he went there alone that his apartment was indeed there.15

Johnny told Billy that he was sure the same thing would happen if he and Billy went to Billy's place. Why is what they did not understand.16

Sometimes in life we want something so badly that is not there that we have to create it.17

Such it was with William Robert and Johnathan Thomas. Each was a creation of the other.18

Their greatest longing was achieved in the comfort and presence of the other.19

They decided to stay together and never lose sight of each other. Finally in the end they fused somehow and became one person. In this one body both knew themselves to be contained. They were never lonely again.20

William Thomas began his new life in a completely different little town. Soon much was forgotten and much more was discovered. Feelings of loneliness returned and the longing as well.21

William Thomas met Ronnie Wayne at a political rally. Ronnie Wayne was trying to decide whether to register as a Democrat or a Republican. Finally as a Democrat he walked over to a refreshment table and selected a cup of Kool-Aid. William picked up a cup as well. They greeted and began to talk politics. This is how they got to know each other.22

In the end many will merge because Love was meant to be Legion. 23