Favorite Fictional Character --- Billy

Once upon a time, during a lifetime long since passed, I used to look forward to Sundays for one particular reason.  I loved the comic section of the Sunday paper, loved it!  I would wait patiently for my turn, well if we had the paper on that particular day, so I could dive in and visit my friends that I haven't seen in at least a week.  There were certain strips that I loved more than others, some of which my mom would by book versions of for me to read.  But I read them all, even if it was one that I didn't love all that much, I would still read it, and normally found myself interested despite myself.  So the next four weeks are going to focus on some of my favorite characters to appear in the Sunday comic section, or the Funny Pages, depending on where you are from.

Up to bat first is my favorite 7 year old, Billy from Family Circus.  I would have done anything to trade in my real younger brother for Billy.  Where my brother was mopey, surly, and annoying to be around, I always thought that Billy would be a blast to hang out with.  He's not perfect, and he's constantly getting into trouble, but the kid has such an inspiring outlook on life.  He is willing to throw himself into almost any situation, he comes at the world with so much curiosity and wonder, and he has to have one of the best imagination in the world.  If Billy had been my little brother, I would have been nine to his seven, and I think that would have been so cool, though I'm sure we would have been in even more trouble than either of us got into on our own.

An aspiring artist, as is his father, Billy is never shy to share what his mind is thinking, and quite truthfully, it's one of the best things about this character.  He is open and expressive, and will take twenty minutes to go from the kitchen to his front door.  I'm just wishing I had that much energy now.