Harper

op

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entered the store. I checked the electrical aisle. I gra

ems. An older man with

ed some help?��

s and switches, but I don�

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

a lot about hom

pe so. Would you like me to

��s name tag. ��Hi, Clarence.

and. ��So, are you remo

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

rence c

I��m self-

before changing outlets and switches. Y

vice. So, how long ha

and people always need things for their house. Plu

t 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

ike you don��t have ma

o, but I��m w

ice young lady. If you need repair advice

at. I don��t want to

e tools. He explained everything to me, which helped. He

Clarence. You��ve

nytime,

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

�

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��

Clarence��s hardware store and got

Matt,�� Cla

o you have any doorbel

me to the doorbells. I found

�s the hou

y cousins stopped trying to se

. ��Are your cousins

en��t they ha

went to the counter. He wal

ed with that one girl

e met so

gave me his f

my bag. ��Thanks for the doorbell.�� I left the har

�

�**

�

�Ma

e back, carrying a

ed Matt,�� Cla

r. ��Let me guess. Matt told yo

you and the others

my eyes and s

e bought a house, needing repai

double-take.

tite, brown hair, blue

ell.�� I let

��Wh

tt likes.�� I facepalmed mysel

g neither knows th

larence a sk

ys a house, needing repairs, chances are

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

ut my phone an

��

ou know where N

e hell sho

re a big he

s for calling me. Are you

nder that,

up and call

hat��

The ce

hilarious. Can you h

n��t tell me. I don��t want to know

t some shack o

ropped

re? Christ on a bike. I��m goin

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

at me. ��Is there a reason

broken light fixture. Well, it��

�Uh,

it up for me.�� I held

t this straight

None t

light that��s not broken yet.�� C

��Ye

n on breaking th

efine b

n��t want

hat might be

he counter. He rang up the l

e here. When the person comes in

ke I lost my mind. ��Markus,

your only

u��re my best employ

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

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

on your side. I couldn��t ask for a better b

�

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

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

wich, then figured I could do some more repairs. I sat at the table and a

surprise! I didn��t know y

se a few days ago. I didn��t

ve a few houses

you like t

us entered the hou

ot much, but it��s a

�I kn

left the kitchen, run

�

�**

�

�Ma

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

oorway. ��Nora! Something

wards the kitchen. She stopped

hat hap

happened. I was standing h

do? I don��t hav

t fixture at the hardware store? I��ll he

uld you

ld love to.

ll be right bac

atthew can��t get his head out of his ass, and Nora gives u

trolled across the street, whi

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