billy's quest
story by michael a. kechula
published 15 june 2007
 
the self expressed | volume 1 • number 3
 
"Stories are living and dynamic. Stories exist to be exchanged. They are the currency of Human Growth." -Jean Houston
 
published since April 2007 | The Self Expressed is a collection of creative texts.
 
 

Michael A. Kechula is a retired technical writer. Switching to fiction in 2003, his works have won first prize in six writing contests and honorable mention in two. Michael's stories have appeared in 54 print and online magazines and anthologies in Australia, Canada, England, and the U.S.. He has written seven books of flash fiction tales and a self-study book that teaches beginners how to write in the short form that has become his signature.
 
 

Bahadir Kocana is a Turkish photographer living in Ukraine. He took this photograph ("Sad Boy") while in Cyprus. (all rights reserved)
 
 
 

 
 
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A state inspector visited the orphanage. He questioned children. "What do you wanna be someday?"
 
"A pizza," Billy said.
 
"Why a pizza?"
 
"Nobody loves me. But everybody loves pizza."
 
"He's a lunatic!" said the inspector. "Abandon him in the forest."
 
•••
 
"What are you?" asked a chipmunk.
 
"A boy. But I wanna be a pizza."
 
"Why?"
 
"I wanna be loved."
 
"What kinda pizza?"
 
"Pepperoni."
 
The chipmunk mumbled magic words. Billy turned into a pizza.
 
The chipmunk whistled. Fifty relatives raced toward him.
 
"Look what we have!"
 
"Wow! Pepperoni Pizza!" they yelled.
 
Between burps, each chipmunk loudly affirmed its undying love for pepperoni pizza.
 
I'm finally loved, Billy mused, as a cute girl-chipmunk's claws grabbed the last morsel.
 

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