Billy Troll Likes to Rock on His Own
“Hey Billy!” exclaimed Dianne Troll when she saw her friend sitting on his front porch playing his guitar.
“Hi Dianne,” said Billy. “What’s up?”
“Have you heard the news?” Dianne asked, as she walked up the stairs towards Billy.
“What news?” asked Billy, strumming on his guitar.
“The lead singer in ‘The Jagged Trolls’ has quit,” Dianne said.
“Is that right?” Billy asked.
“Apparently,” said Dianne. “They are looking for a new lead singer.”
“Well,” said Billy. “I wish them the best of luck.”
“What!” exclaimed Dianne, angrily. “You’re not going to apply for the job?”
“Are you kidding!” said Billy, just as angrily. “I’m not going to sing for the Jagged Trolls. They’re too rough and too wild.”
“Maybe so,” said Dianne. “But just think of what this job could lead up to. It could be the break that you have been waiting for.”
“Dianne,” said Billy. “You know how I feel about the Jagged Trolls. I’m surprised that you could even ask me to consider such a thing.”
“They may be a little wild,” said Dianne. “But just think what could happen if you were to join them.”
“Yes,” said Billy. “I can just see it now. I would become just like them in a matter of a days.”
“But,” said Dianne. “Maybe your influence would rub off onto them.”
“Well,” thought Billy. “That would be nice, but I bet it would never happen.”
“You won’t know until you try,” said Dianne.
“I don’t think the Jagged Trolls would want me to sing with them anyway,” said Billy. “I wouldn’t fit into their group.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” said Dianne. “I know for a fact that they would hire you.”
“And how would you happen to know that?” asked Billy.
“Because,” said Dianne. “I was talking with Mick Troll today. He told me that the Jagged Trolls are looking for a new image.”
“Oh Dianne!” said Billy. “You didn’t set up a meeting with them, or anything like that, did you?”
“Well,” said Dianne. “I happened to mention to Mick Troll that you usually play your guitar down at the beach.”
“Dianne!” said Billy. “Why did you do that?”
“Because,” said Dianne. “I knew that if I didn’t mention it, you would never even consider it.”
“You’re right about that,” said Billy.
That evening, Billy was playing his guitar for a group of his fans, down at the beach. Billy happened to look up from where he was sitting on the stage and saw Mick Troll walk up to him.
“Hey man!” said Mick.
“Hi!” said Billy.
“Look,” said Mick. “I’ll get right down to business. The Jagged Trolls are in desperate need of a lead singer. How about it, man?”
“Are you sure about this?” asked Billy. “My joining the Jagged Trolls would change the image of the group entirely. Are you sure that I’m the one that you are looking for?”
“Look Billy,” said Mick. “You’re the troll we want. The Jagged Trolls are losing popularity these days. We need to change our image. With you singing lead and us to back you up, we would make a great band.”
“I’m not so sure of that,” said Billy. “My sound is completely different than yours.”
“That’s what would make it so interesting,” said Mick Troll. “Look, why not give us a try? Come sing with us tomorrow night and then we’ll see what happens from there.”
“Alright,” said Billy, reluctantly. “What could one night hurt?”
The next morning, Billy awoke with a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. He could not for the life of him put a finger on where this feeling was coming from.
Billy made himself some toast and coffee and sat down at the table to eat his breakfast. The newspaper sitting on the table, caught his eye. The headline on the front page jumped out at him. He pulled the newspaper closer to him so that he could read it.
“What!” declared Billy, angrily. “I didn’t say that I was joining the Jagged Trolls. I only said that I would try it out.”
The telephone rang.
“Wow!” said Dianne Troll on the other end of the phone. “You sure act quick. See you tonight!”
“I guess you’ve read the paper,” said Billy.
“Yes I have,” said Dianne. “You are going to be great, Billy.”
“I wish I felt that way,” said Billy.
Billy showed up at the concert hall a few minutes early. He wanted to go over some of his new material with the other members of the band before they appeared on stage.
“Hey man!” said Mick when he finally arrived. “You all ready for tonight!”
“Yeah,” said Billy. “I’m ready. Look, I’ve got some new material that I thought we could try out tonight.”
Billy handed Mick the material and instead of looking at it, Mick threw it on the table behind him.
“Aren’t you even going to look at it?” asked Billy.
“No,” said Mick. “I think we will stick to the original Jagged Trolls sound.”
“But,” said Billy. “I thought you wanted to change your image.”
“Oh we will,” said Mick. “But not tonight.”
“What was that little article all about in this mornings paper?” asked Billy, sensing that something was very wrong.
“Oh that,” said Mick. “You did agree to join up with us, didn’t you?”
“No,” said Billy. “I only agreed to try out with you tonight. I never said anything about joining up with you permanently.”
Billy looked around the stage. The stage area was crowded with people. He went over to the stage curtain and took a peak out into the audience. The place was packed.
“Hold on!” exclaimed Billy, quite upset. “I thought the Jagged Trolls were losing their popularity.”
“We were man,” said Mick. “Until you joined up with us!”
“Oh, that’s just great,” said Billy, as he bent over to pickup his guitar and put it into its case. “You were just using my name to get the crowds to start coming to see you again. How could you do this to me? I quit!”
“Wait Billy,” Mick said running after him.
“No you wait,” said Billy. “I will not have anybody lie and cheat their way into my life. Now, goodbye.”
“Billy!” shouted Dianne as she saw him leave the building. “Wait up!”
Dianne had heard everything that Mick had just said to Billy. She ran down the street to catch up to him.
“I guess I owe you an apology,” said Dianne, out of breath. “I thought that Mick was truly going to change the image of the Jagged Trolls when I was talking with him.”
“That Mick is a sly one,” said Billy.
“I’m sorry, Billy,” said Dianne.
“It’s alright,” said Billy. “There was no harm done, but the next time someone needs a lead singer, let me decide for myself whether I am the right person for the job.”
“Alright,” said Dianne.
Billy was very upset, but he was also relieved that he didn’t play with the Jagged Trolls. He had never felt better in his life as he walked down the streets of Troll Town, with his guitar case in one hand and his best friend’s hand in the other.
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