Big Bill And Frannie Freckles

This story is from his latest, a children’s book entitled FROM A TO Z, TO YOU FROM ME;

Jimmy Reed ——Bio and Archives--January 15, 2026

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When Big Bill Bigglesby entered the first grade, students feared him because he was huge, with a face that was truly frightening. In the second year, his classmates were even more afraid of him because he had grown much taller and heavier, and his face was even more frightening due to a scar across one cheek resulting from an automobile accident in which he was not wearing a seatbelt. Ashamed that he was unlike other students, Bill walked home sadly each day. In time, he began to notice that others had become accustomed to their giant, unattractive classmate and started accepting him as just another student, especially one girl, Frannie Fay Flannery, called “Funny-Talkin’ Frannie Freckles” by other students because she spoke with a foreign accent, and red freckles that matched her red hair covered her nose and cheeks.

Like Big Bill, she walked home alone each day after school. In class, she never asked the teacher questions but paid close attention to her and wrote down page after page of notes. During recess, she always went to the library and studied. One day, Bill saw her in study hall, flipping through a dictionary and randomly selecting pages. Timidly but determined, he asked the little girl what she was doing. Frannie’s friendliness surprised him when she answered, “This is how I practice spelling. I learn so many words this way. Please, sit beside me, and I will show you.”

The game excited Bill, and he was amazed at how much it enlarged his vocabulary. Bill and Frannie met every day, taking turns using her technique and calling out words to each other. By doing so, they learned and had fun at the same time. Each year, all of the elementary students gathered for the annual Spelling Bee, which Bill always won easily, but because she was so shy, Frannie never entered the contest. Instead, she wrote down all the words the teacher called out and was pleased that she could not only spell them correctly but also knew their meaning.

In the last year of grammar school, when the annual Spelling Bee was held, all of the contestants were eliminated except for the big ugly guy and the shy freckled girl, who were now the best of friends. Frannie and Bill both wanted to win the contest, but at the same time, neither of them wanted the other to lose. As their schoolmates looked on attentively, the two successfully spelled one difficult word after another. Then, an appropriate word — selflessness — stumped Bill. He was sad about losing but glad for Frannie; she was happy about winning but sad for Bill.

In time, the two best friends became soul mates and soon fell in love. When Bill proposed to Frannie, all of their old classmates threw a big reception for them after the church ceremony, held appropriately in the library. On the wedding cake, a beautiful red heart appeared, along with these names connected by a plus sign: Big Bill and Frannie Freckles.

NOTE: Jimmy Reed is a retired college professor and author of several books. This story is from his latest, a children’s book entitled FROM A TO Z, TO YOU FROM ME. Each story in the book maximizes the use of an alphabetical letter, enhanced by alliteration and assonance. The book is available on Amazon, or can be purchased directly from the author. His email address is jimmycecilreedjr@gmail.com.

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Jimmy Reed——Bio and Archives

Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.

Other books by Jimmy Reed include The Jaybird Tales.

Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).

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