Bisson_rucker_billys.. - Rudy Rucker

“Go play in the back yard,” said Billy’s mother, when his nap time was over. “I’m
cleaning the house.”
“Yes ma’am,” said Billy.
He took his bow with him.
The ant under the window was dead. Billy buried it in the sandbox so his mother
wouldn’t see it. First he pulled out the arrows. They were covered with yellow ant
blood.
“Cool,” said Billy.
He wiped them off in the grass and looked around for more ants to kill.
He didn’t have to look far.
§§
There was an ant on the seat of Billy’s swing.
It was as big as a cat. It had a sharp snout and big pincers. It was waving its legs
and trying to swing.
Billy shot it three times but the arrows bounced off. Then he got the pitchfork out
of the garden shed and speared the ant through the middle. He pinned it to the
ground and watched it die.
Billy kicked the ant’s body into the bushes and swung for a while.
Then he got tired of swinging and spun around.
§§
“Suppertime,” said Billy’s mother, from the house.
“In a minute,” said Billy.
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