Clem looked down and noticed the little girl playing with a doll among some of Scott's stuff. Had he stolen from her too? Maybe Clem's missing copy of DAF was in the record collection. But Scott had almost no records. Of course, he recorded them all and then sold them back to the record stores. No evidence, just a cassette tape. The little girl looked up at Clem and smiled. He noticed she had a nasty scar that healed around her left eyebrow. Whatever accident she suffered, it turned her eye out a little, giving her a distinct wall-eyed grimace when she smiled. Aside from this disfigurement she was very cute, "What's your name, mister?" she asked coyly.

"My name's Clem? What's yours?" Clem crouched to speak to her face to face, "Is Scott your brother?"

"I'm Daphne. Scott's not my real brother. He's my half brother."

"Is that so? And that's your Mom?"

"Yes! I love my Mommy. And I love my Daisy," she held up the tiny grubby rag doll.

Clem looked up. The altercation was almost over. He felt like he had just been beaten. His hands were shaking.. He shook out a cigarette and lit it.

"But that's my TV!" Scott was yelling without tears.

"I know it is, Scott, but I owe Derek some money for work he's done for the church and he's using the TV right now. Scott, you don't even have an apartment. How are you going to watch that TV?"

"He's gonna sell it. Dad gave me that TV before he died. It's mine and I want it."

"Scott, your father did not give you that TV. He gave it to all of us and that's all we ever got from him. He was my husband and I want you to have that TV but for right now, you are going to have to trust Derek with it. Besides, that's an awful accusation against you he has and I hope it isn't true. I didn't raise you to steal from friends and family."

"Ho, ho, he ain't my family. Unless there's some boyfriend of yours I don't remember, Mom,"

Mrs. Laine ignored that last comment and looked up, noticing Clem for the first time. She walked from the street towards Clem and Daphne. Upon closer inspection, Clem found her to be reassuringly even-headed. Her smile was genuine and her demeanor solid. How come Scott was so twisted?

"C'mon Daph, it's time to go," she reached out a hand and smiled at Clem," are you a friend of Scott's?" Clem smiled and nodded, feeling stupid. He dropped the cigarette and stepped on it. He introduced himself and shook her hand.

She lowered her voice, "It's very difficult to be his friend, I know, but I think he needs one more than anything else in this world right now. Would you like to come over to our house for a few minutes? I live right around the corner."

Yes! Clem was quickly regretting any promises he had made to Scott and just wanted to unload this whole massive problem into the nearest trash bin.

"Thank you, Mrs. Laine, I was wondering if we could haul this stuff over to your house?"

"Oh, gracious, no! There's not enough room. Scott won't live in my house anymore and until he is willing to accept certain issues directly concerning his life and future I am afraid he is not allowed to stay there."

Clem's heart sank. What a loser Scott was. There was a reason that Clem had never wanted to get too involved with certain people and this afternoon was one long theorem being proved, step by step, Q.E.D. He watched Mrs. Laine and Daphne step away while Scott sulked. He wouldn't look Clem in the eye. Clem started moving the crates into the van. Derek and his friend were nowhere to be seen. Scott moved stuff from the patio while Clem packed it efficiently in the van.

"So, uh, Scott, you didn't quite prepare me for this scene. This is pretty squalid, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, it's real white trash, I know. I hate my mother and I hate Derek."

"They both seem real nice. I'm sure this could have been worked out properly."

"Yeah? What do you know?" Scott asked accusingly. Touché. What did Clem know? He shut up and moved more crates until the van was completely packed. Mrs. Laine and Daphne stood by watching. Daphne sang a song to herself.

"Well? Would you boys like to come by for some lemonade?"

"We don't have time, Mom. Clem's real busy," Scott yelled as he closed the van door.

"Hey, Scott, I'll make the decision on how busy I am, okay?" Clem was a little pissed off and he still wanted to try and unload this stuff at her house. Scott was like a tar-baby and no one around him wanted his stuff in their storage. Clem adjusted the rearview mirror. Some crates in the back needed adjusting so he could see. He opened the door and hopped out. He closed the door and found himself looking directly at Derek standing on the sidewalk.

"You his friend or what?"

Clem sized up Derek, hoping this guy wasn't still into punching out weaklings, "Um, not really, just an acquaintance."

"Just an acquaintance, huh? How long this guy gonna stay at your place? No more than two weeks, right? Well, he stayed here for nine months. Nine months! All on a promise of 'I'll be out in two weeks'."

Clem said nothing. He walked towards the back to readjust the crates. Derek followed, "I'm not trying to cause trouble, I'm trying to save you from having to beat the shit out of him like I had to today to get rid of him. You think I never asked him politely to leave? You think he didn't agree and then break promises? He's a lowlife scum and he's gonna suck the life out of you if you let him stay at your place. Take my advice. Don't do it."

Clem was just thinking that to himself but right now the stuff was in his van, waiting to go...somewhere, "Why won't his mother take him and his stuff?" Clem asked, "she seems real nice."

"Mrs. Laine is one of the sweetest people on earth. I work for her at her church and she's been real swell, introducing me to people who get me carpentry work and all sorts of stuff. She's a real special person, if you know what I mean. She don't need this worthless son dragging her down, influencing her sweet daughter. She got to get on with her life, know what I mean?"

Clem had to agree. Yeah, life. What time was it? Derek had no watch. The overcast sky gave no indication of what afternoon hour it was. The sociology class could be skipped easily.

"Hey, thanks for the advice. I'll make sure I drop this stuff off somewhere convenient for all parties concerned" Clem held out his hand. Derek ignored it.

"Don't say you weren't warned," Derek stomped off.

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