Taking another sip of beer, Jeff eyed his buddy over the glass and tried to find the right words, but as usual they just wouldn't come. Meanwhile, Jerry continued to wax lyrical.

"...So last night she says to me, hey, you know what? You're the sexiest man I've ever met. Can you believe that?"

Jeff nearly choked on his beer. "No, Jerry, I sure can't." Wiping his mouth, he added under his breath, "Are you sure she wasn't laughing when she said it?"

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud. So, you wanna go fishing tomorrow? I hear they're really biting out at the lake."

"Oh, man, that would be great, but I'll have to see if Sheila has anything planned first."

"What? Now look, Jerry, this is..."

"It'll probably be fine, just let me check, all right? Sheesh."

Jeff bit his tongue and changed the subject. "I wonder what the score is in the game. I'm gonna ask the bartender to turn on the set." He wandered off to the bar shaking his head. When he got back Jerry was sitting there staring off into space with a dreamy look on his face.

"You know, Jerry..."

"Did I tell you what she said the other day about my car? She said it really suited me. That only a macho guys like me look good driving cars like that. She always knows just the right thing to say. I wonder how she does it."

Jeff couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Yeah, that's some spooky talent all right. You'd think she was psychic or something." I've got to say something soon, he thought to himself.

"Anyway, I can't believe how lucky I am, you know? I mean, she could have any guy she wanted, she's so hot."

Jeff couldn't resist rolling his eyes. "Yeah, well, I guess she's just got really good taste. Or something."

"Aw, thanks, man. I'm really lucky to have you for a best friend, you know that?"

Feeling like a jerk, Jeff tried to work up his courage. "Listen, Jerry, I think you should..."

"You know what really amazes me though? The way she's always so happy. She never complains about anything. Maybe I shouldn't be telling you this, it's really personal, but she's also, you know, always ready." Jerry winked at his friend.

Excusing himself to go to the bathroom, Jeff simply had to get away for a minute. Washing his hands, he gave himself a good talking to in the mirror. He's your best friend. He needs to hear the truth. But what if he can't handle the truth? He's so happy. But he's also delusional. How could he...no, it had to be done. I'm his friend; I should be looking out for him. Even if it's hard. Gotta do the right thing.

He headed back to the table and there was Jerry again with that dopey look on his face. Man, this was bad.

"Listen, Jerry, we need to talk. I..."

"You having some sort of trouble, Jeff? I'm here for you man. You can talk to me about anything. Really. What is it?"

"Well, it's just...it's about Sheila. You see..."

"Oh, wait a minute! Don't tell me you're falling for my woman! Oh man, how could you Jeff? You're my best friend, I thought I could trust you!"

"What? No. No, that's not it!" Jeff drained his beer. This wasn't going well. "Look, Jerry, I know you're really happy with her, but you need to come back down to earth man, she's..."

"She's what? You better watch what you say, man! She's my girl. Don't you start talking crap about her."

Picking up Jerry's beer and draining that one too, Jeff looked his friend in the eye. "Listen Jerry, I think you need to get yourself in to therapy. This thing has gone too far. You're in love with a..."

"With a what? A slut? Is that what you're trying to say? She's not a slut! I mean, yeah, she's always willing, but..."

"Damn it, Jerry, listen to me! If I stuck a pin in her she'd deflate! You need help, man!"

Jerry jumped up and put his hands on his hips. "You know what, Jeff? You're just jealous because we're in love. You're a cruel man, Jeff!" With that, he turned and left.

"So listen, Dave, I really need you to do this for me man. I've got the money, I can pay you back right away, but you gotta come bail me out. Please, you're my best friend."

Taking the phone into the bedroom so Delia wouldn't hear the conversation, Dave resigned himself to the inevitable. "Yeah, all right, I'll be there as soon as I can. Just hang tight."

"Ah, you're the greatest man. I'll never forget you for this."

Delia walked in. "Let me guess, Bill needs something."

Dave's ears were burning. "Yeah. He does. I have to go do this. I'm sorry. You know how it is."

Delia crossed her arms. "So what is it this time?"

"He's in jail. Drunk and disorderly. He's got the money, but I need to bail him first." He looked away as he spoke.

Delia stared for a moment then left the room. Cursing under his breath, Dave went after her. "Delia, I'm sorry, I..."

"Just make sure you get the money, Dave."

Grabbing his car keys, Dave headed out. All the way downtown he wrestled with his judgement. Why did he keep doing this? He was being used. But Bill was his best friend. He'd have a talk with him.

"Hey, thanks for bailing me out buddy. I really appreciate it."

Unlocking the car, Dave got in and waited for Bill to get settled. "Look, Bill, we need to talk. I have to say..."

Bill threw up his hands. "Hey look, man, just take me home. I've got the money there for you. But you're right, we do need to talk. I need to come back to the shop and start working again."

Dumbstruck, Dave just stared. Bill grinned. "Hey, it's our shop, right? I mean, I know I left for awhile, but I'm ready to come back now."

"Bill, I told you a couple of weeks ago. Things aren't going well. The landlord raised the rent again, and the street isn't getting the traffic any more. People have moved on, I don't know where. There's barely enough money for me to get by. I'm hanging on, just."

Bill wasn't impressed. "Yeah? Well maybe you just aren't doing things right. I'll come back and put everything in order. You'll see. It will be like old times." He rolled down the window and lit up a cigarette.

"Bill, I told you, there just isn't enough in it."

"You know something, Dave? You've got a bad attitude, man. Why don't you lighten up?"

A strained silence ensued all the way to Bill's place. Driving home Dave ran a dialogue in his head of how the conversation should have gone. When he walked in Delia knew.

"I take it he wasn't exactly thankful."

Dropping onto the sofa, Dave laid down and put his arm over his eyes.

"Dave, you've been making excuses for him for years. I know you've been friends since childhood, but really, don't you think it's time for a change?"

"He wants to come back to the shop, Delia."

"What?! But we're barely getting by. No way. You have make it clear."

"I did. You know what? Maybe I should just tell him to find the money and buy me out. Serves him right. He'll go bust in no time."

Thinking it over, Delia grinned. "You're right. Do it. You can find something else. You're good. Let him have it."

Steeling himself, Dave picked up the phone and made the call. When he hung up Delia was looking at him in anticipation. "He said fine. He's got a guy who'll come up with the money for a piece of the business. A silent partner. I feel sorry for the guy, but that's not our problem."

The day before the deal was to be signed Dave was still angry. All the years he had put up with Bill's antics, and now he was selling out his half of the business all because Bill wouldn't see reason. What was he going to do with his life now? He had no plan. Delia was good with it all, but he was at loose ends.

Waiting at the shop for Bill to show Dave was still in a bad mood. The appointed hour came and went and he was beginning to think Bill was off on another adventure and wasn't going to show when he heard sirens outside. Stepping outside he could just make out a large van turned on its side a block down and a fire truck arriving at the scene. As he looked a feeling of dread came over him. He raced down the block and got there just in time to see a fireman pulling Bill out of the wreck.

Dave stood there dumbfounded and then helped his friend to the sidewalk and sat him down. Bill reeked of alcohol and the sound of another siren heralded the arrival of the police. Bill tried to stand up, but Dave pushed him down.

"You're not going anywhere, man. You have to face up. Besides, it's your van, they'd find you anyway and then you'd be in worse trouble."

Bill was weaving from side to side. "You gotta come bail me out man. I've got the money, I swear."

Dave looked into his friend's eyes and shook his head. "No, Bill not this time."

He walked away as the police came over to collect Bill and he heard him cursing as he was led away. "What kind of friend are you, man? What kind of friend, damn you!"

He turned and looked one more time. "The best kind, Bill. The best kind."

Putting the towels away in the cupboard, Jennifer was about to go downstairs when she heard her son Ben talking in his room. It seemed odd, since he was alone. She went to the door and listened.

"Oh yeah? Well I don't care. You guys are a bunch of jerks anyway, so there."

"Hi Ben. What's up?"

Turning red, Ben looked away and then said, "were you listening?"

"Um, yeah Ben, I heard you talking to yourself. Did something happen at school?"

Ben fidgeted and feigned interest in his galactic fighter pilots, then gave it up. "Well, it's just that Jeremy and Allan and those guys...they don't like me. They've got it in for me, you know?"

Jennifer frowned. "Ben, last week it was Kyle and a couple of weeks before that it was Stacey and Lou. What makes you think all these kids don't like you?"

"They just don't, that's all. They're all jerks. I don't talk to them anymore."

The phone rang and Jennifer got up and squeezed his shoulder. "We'll talk about this some more later, sport."

"Hello?"

"Hi babe, how you doing?"

Jennifer smiled. "Hi Colin. Alright, I guess."

"Alright? Doesn't sound like it. Is Ben giving you grief?"

Ben had been resistant when Jennifer first started dating again, a year and half after Ben's father died in a car accident, but he had come around in recent months, and Colin had been able to establish a rapport.

"Oh, he's still having trouble socializing at school, and in the neighborhood, I suspect. He thinks no one likes him. I don't know what to do. I talked to the school psychologist last week, but Ben puts on like nothing's happening when he's talked to. I don't know..." Trailing off, she let out a sigh.

"Hey, you know what? I've got an idea. Leave it to me. When I come over for dinner Friday just play along with me, alright?"

"Sure. What do you have in mind?"

"You'll see. Trust me. Gotta go, I've got a call on the other line."

Rummaging around on the top shelf of his bedroom closet, Colin found the box of mementos he kept there. Sifting through the debris he found the small, worn gold medal he was looking for. Smiling to himself, he put it in his pocket. I sure hope this works, he thought to himself.

Jennifer took the roast out of the oven as the doorbell rang. "Ben, would you let Colin in please?"

Colin jumped up from the sofa and let him in. "Hi Colin, how ya doin'?"

"Hey dude! Good to see you. How are tricks these days?"

Ben shrugged. "Alright, I guess."

"Just alright? Well that's no good. Maybe we can go fishing tomorrow or something, what do you think?"

Ben shrugged. "I guess." He got out plates and started setting the tabled.

Jennifer gave Colin a look and they sat down to eat. After dinner Jennifer started clearing the table, but Colin intervened. "Hey, how about if Ben and I take care of this and you go watch some television? Come on Ben, i'll wash, you dry."

Ben made a face but trudged to the kitchen. Colin followed and put his plan into action. "Hey Ben, I found an old baseball card I wanted to show you." Reaching in to his pocket for the card he let the gold medal fall to the floor as he pulled it out.

"What's that?" Ben reached down and picked up the medal.

"Oh, that's something I carry with me sometimes when i'm not feeling too good about things."

Ben gave him a curious look and turned the medal over in his hands. "What do you mean?"

"Well, this a very special medallion, you see. It's got magic." He handed Ben a plate to dry and went on without looking at him. "I've never really told anyone. But anyway, you and I are buddies, eh?"

Ben nodded and continued to examine the medal. "What do you mean magic?"

"Well, it was given to me by a very wise man when I was about your age. You see, I couldn't really relate to the other kids I knew. I felt sort of like, oh, I don't know, like they just weren't very friendly. But when I started wearing this medal, I found that I could talk to them, and when I did, they were alright after all."

Ben put the medal down and dried some more, but he didn't take his eyes off of it.

"You know what? I don't really need it anymore. Do you think you'd like to wear it? I mean, i'd be honored if you did."

Ben looked up and smiled. "Gee, thanks Colin. Yeah, I guess I could do that." He put the medallion on.

"Hey, it looks great on you. Wear it in good health."

They finished up and Ben ran to his room with a big grin. Jennifer smiled as Colin sat down next to her. "I heard all that. You're amazing, you know that? But you lied to him. I sure hope it works."

Colin put his arm around her and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Sometimes a lie is the best thing."