op

o

red the store. I checked the electrical aisle. I grabbe

. An older man with a

some help?” Th

nd switches, but I don’t

removed an outlet from the shelf and showed it to me, explaining everything. “T

ot about home

so. Would you like me to h

name tag. “Hi, Clarence. I’

d. “So, are you remod

ds repairs. It was cheap but needed a lot of work. I

ce chu

m self-su

ore changing outlets and switches. Yo

e. So, how long ha

people always need things for their house. Plus

friend. I bought a death trap for a house. Plus, I’m learning to rely on myself. Is that a bad thing?” I don’t know why

you don’t have many

but I’m wor

e young lady. If you need repair advic

. I don’t want to

ools. He explained everything to me, which helped. He go

rence. You’ve b

ime,

y store. I needed to pick up a few items. Then I

*

a

larence’s hardware store and got o

t,” Clare

ou have any doorbell

to the doorbells. I found

he house

ousins stopped trying to set

“Are your cousins s

’t they ha

t to the counter. He walke

with that one girl

et som

e me his ful

bag. “Thanks for the doorbell.” I left the hardw

*

rk

back, carrying a

Matt,” Clare

“Let me guess. Matt told you

u and the others w

eyes and s

ought a house, needing repair

uble-take.

e, brown hair, blue

.” I let o

ha

likes.” I facepalmed myself,

ither knows the

ence a skep

a house, needing repairs, chances are,

to send Nora to the hardware store. First, I need to find No

my phone an

o

know where No

ell shoul

big help

or calling me. Are you s

r that,

and call

t’s

cei

larious. Can you hu

t tell me. I don’t want to know.

ome shack on

ped my

? Christ on a bike. I’m going

me an idea. I left the counter, going to the lighting section. I searched fo

me. “Is there a reason y

oken light fixture. Well, it’s

, h

up for me.” I held ou

his straight.

e to

ght that’s not broken yet.” Cla

ep

n breaking the

ne br

t want

might be f

counter. He rang up the lig

ere. When the person comes in t

e I lost my mind. “Markus

r only e

my best employee.

in business, but every job I applied to deny me when they found out I was gay. I met Clarence when

g down on excessive inventory. With his knowledge, we applied

your side. I couldn’t ask for a better boss

*

o

d, I searched YouTube on how to change a light switch. I did what Clarence suggested. I tur

t, pausing the video to keep up with it. Once I hooked up the switch, I put it back a

h, then figured I could do some more repairs. I sat at the table and ate

rprise! I didn’t know you

a few days ago. I didn’t k

a few houses d

u like to

ntered the house

much, but it’s a

kno

the kitchen, runni

*

rk

I unscrewed the nut on the globe and let it drop. It fell on

rway. “Nora! Something h

ds the kitchen. She stopped w

happ

pened. I was standing he

? I don’t have

ixture at the hardware store? I’ll hel

you h

love to.”

be right bac

thew can’t get his head out of his ass, and Nora gives u

lled across the street, whis