Billy Backside and Other Stories
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When my brother Billy came in from his chores, he called out to me looking for lemonade, his dirty hands running through his hair, casting his bangs aside, laughing: “Can’t wait to wash the head rain away.” That was one of Billy’s words. Head rain. It was the sweat that dripped down his face when he came indoors on those hot August days in Oak Creek. No matter what we heard on the radio about the War raging in Europe and all, we relied on Billy’s good nature to keep us in line. And that’s how my family remembered my big brother Billy, hot from his chores and happy, letting the back door slam behind him each time he came in, as if to announce: “I’m here. You can forget your cares.” He made up words pretty often and never forgot them. Some people make up words and don’t remember them a day later, sort of like a joke at a party that pops in your mind, but Billy had a special place in his brain for his words and he used them often.
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About the Book
A blind calliope player longs to visit the Rio Grande, two siblings take a magical train trip, a boy in Santa Fe sprouts angel wings, and a man recounts his childhood in wartime Holland. These wonderful tales and many more highlight David Rachlin’s vivid imagination and keen sense of place, reflecting the regions of the United States and Europe where he has lived. His stories move from realistic fiction to magical realism to science fiction and back again. From the 20th Century up to an Earth settlement on Mars, the stories are full of wonderful characters from all walks of life.
About the Author
David Rachlin is an author, photographer, and digital artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally from Massachusetts, he has lived in different regions of the United States and has traveled widely in Germany and The Netherlands, where the people and landscapes continue to be rich sources for his stories. David Rachlin has degrees in Linguistics, German, and Creative Writing, and has previously published a book of poetry entitled Topographies of Light. An educator for over thirty years, he has taught writing to students of all ages.