“Why must you always be so bothersome?” Alistair huffed, putting his book away and scanning the shelves for another that might peak his interest.

“Just ‘cause,” Joe shrugged.  “You wanna play a game of cards?”

“No,” Alistair snapped, “I do not want to play a game of cards.  I came here to read, not play silly games.  Ask Clarence.  He never reads either, you two were meant for each other.”

“All Clarence knows how to play is war,” Joe pouted.  He gazed at the boy in question.  Like usual, Clarence’s large body was slumped against the wall and he was staring in fascination at his fingers.

“He gives me the creeps,” Maggie said, staring at Clarence’s vacant expression.  “All he does is just sit there.”

“He can’t do much else, can he?” Joe asked.  “Not after what he’s been through.”

“Well, he’ll be good competition for you anyway,” Maggie said.  “Neither one of you has any brains.”

“Ha ha,” Joe said.  “Clarence, wanna play?”

Clarence glanced up and stared dumbly in Joe’s direction.

“This is a book store, not a poker parlor,” Petey growled from behind his newspaper.  “Joe, put those cards away and read something if you’re gonna waste your time in here.”

“No,” Joe refused, “I hate reading.”

“It amazes me to no end,” Alistair sniffed, “that someone who hates reading spends all his time in a book store annoying people that don’t.  Isn’t there a street corner you could occupy instead of hogging up valuable space here?”

“I have just as much right to be here as you,” Joe stated.

“No you don’t.  This is a book store.”

“So what?” Joe argued.  “It’s not like you ever buy any of the books.  You just use reading as an excuse to hang out here, cause you have no place else to go.  At least I’m honest about it.  At least I can admit that I don’t have anything better to do than spend my afternoons in this dump.”

“Hey!” Petey growled.

“Sorry.  This wonderful reading establishment.”

“Yer walkin’ on thin ice, boy,” Petey warned.

“Joe, you’re an ass,” Maggie stated.