Helping Out Clarence

Ok, so Clarence is this old guy that lives a few houses away. He's old. Really old, I'd say he looks like in his 80's. Anyway, he has some sickness that is causing the gross open lesions on his face, which really freaks me out. He lost his job about a year ago and as a result he couldn't pay his telephone bill...after 3 months Qwest cut him off since he owed about $250. So for the last year he will occasionally come over to use our telephone, which gets old because inevitably he comes over at the worst times. His daughter bought him a cell phone that has ridiculously small buttons which he can't dial...and he manages to lock the phone up somehow. So, I do try my best to help him out. I'll dial the phone for him, and I'll fix his cell phone for him. But this last week I learned that Clarence is a user, and as Bridget would say I am "enabling him". I apparently opened the friendship door by helping him with the phone stuff. Last week he brought over his weed eater for me to fix, so I replaced the spark plug and put some gas in it and started it right up. Then he asked if I could mow his front yard. Being the nice guy I am I did it, but I began the internal grumbling process. A few days after the front yard mowing incident he came over and asked if I could mow the back. I hadn't seen it, but I told him that I didn't have anybody to watch the kids so it would be later in the evening. He then asked for my phone number so he could call and ask if I could come over to mow. I don't know why, but I gave it to him. The next day...I kid you not he called 5 times asking if I could come over. He kept coming over and ringing the door and I would peek out of the window and then hide until he left. I finally decided to take my mower over and do the back, I kid you not the grass/weeds were 4 FEET TALL! That crap was up to my waist! It took forever, and his backyard was equal size to mine (which if you have ever been around on my mowing day, you'll hear some choice grumbling words). And I had just finished mowing my front and back yards, so I was pretty tired to begin with.

So I figure I have done my good deed for this guy. He has gotten worse on the phone stuff (he curses like a sailor in front of the kids) so I think that's out. I think the point here is that I am going to avoid him at all costs. I know it sounds bad, but he is getting a little out of control. Bridget says I am getting taken advantage of...I guess I am. But I feel bad because he is old and needs help, Bridget says that's what nursing homes are for. What a headache!