Between The Yees And The Haws

Clay Shufflebottom

Name: Clay Shufflebottom
Age: 31
Occupation: None
Created By/Modeled After: Jude Lee

"I know you're in there, Yee! Just let me in real quick, I forgot my hat!" A voice yelled, banging on Yee Yee's front door. Clay got up from the couch and opened the door. "Goddammit, Yee. What took you so-" He stopped, looking at the person in front of him. "You ain't Yee."

"She went to the bar to meet up with a friend for lunch." Clay told him. "I think I know where your hat is, though." They said.

"Who are you?" Edward asked. Clay held out their hand.

"Clay Shufflebottom. I just came into town a couple a' days ago. I ain't have anywhere to stay, so Yee was real nice about lettin' me stay on her couch." Clay smiled. "Your hat's in the kitchen."

"Alright, I'll get it and get out of your hair." He stopped. "Not that there's much of it." Edward said, gesturing to Clay's shaved head. Clay chuckled. Edward walked inside and headed to the kitchen. He grabbed his hat and began to make his way out when Clay stopped him.

"Be careful out there, partner." Clay said. "You know Sanjay the Outlaw is in Buckleton? It's the whole reason I skipped my town, 'cause I thought he was gonna be there. But I guess I just ain't lucky."

"So why don't you just go back?" Edward asked. Clay shrugged.

"What's the point? I don't got nothin' there neither." They sighed. "I tend to wander from town to town a lot. I figure if I just stay sheltered I'll be okay. Once Sanjay leaves, I'm thinkin' of applyin' for a job over in West Town." Clay said, smiling.

"Well that's good that you got a plan." Edward smiled back at them. "I don't know if you met Vanilla yet, but that girl came here with nothin' but a horse and a whole lot of bruises." He told them. "Reminds me of you."

"I wonder if she's got any tips on how to get outta this shit." Clay muttered. "Fucked up how I'm livin' with nothin' just cause I was dealt a bad hand."

"We all got our problems." Edward sighed. Clay patted his shoulder.

"You don't seem like the type of guy to be wanderin' lookin' for some food." They told him. He shook his head.

"Oh no, I ain't mean that. It's just...some shit's goin' on right now." He sighed. "You don't wanna hear about it, it's stupid."

"Try me." Clay said, sitting on the couch and gesturing for Edward to do the same. Edward shook his head.

"Really, it's fine. You've got way bigger problems. Make mine seem like a little prick of a needle." He laughed. Clay just continued to gesture for him to sit down. Edward sighed.

"Alright, alright. It's just...I've got this...pal of mine. He ain't lettin' me live my life. I take it he's got some kind of obsession with me, does that sound conceited?" Edward asked them. Clay shook their head. Edward continued. "And I love him, I really do. But holy hell I'm fuckin' pissed." He groaned. "And he ain't that good of a guy, he really ain't. He's selfish and stubborn and just a right asshole."

"Sounds like a charmer." Clay said. Edward laughed.

"Yeah, a whole catch." He chuckled. "I just...I'm just mad, you know? I wanna live my life the way I want, without someone tellin' me what to do."

"What's he tellin' you to do?" Clay asked him. He sighed.

"Just...who I can fuck. Who I can kiss. Stupid shit like that. Like, what's his fucking deal, ya know?" He sighed. Clay choked back a laugh.

"Well if he's a right asshole, you're a right idiot." Clay told him. "You really ain't catchin' on?"

"Catchin' on to what?"

"On to why he's so obsessed with you, you fuckin' moron!" Clay laughed. "He's-" Clay stopped. They just had met this man. It wasn't their place. "You know what? How about you just talk to him about it?"

"I tried! Fucker ain't listenin' to me! His stubborn ass ain't listen to a word I say!" Edward told them impatiently. The two of them were silent for a little bit. "Maybe I'll try again. It's all I can really do, anyway." Edward said. He got up from the couch. "It was real nice meetin' you Clay."

"Glad to make your acquaintance...erm..." Clay paused. "I don't think I ever got your name."

"Oh, yeah. It's Edward."

"Edward what?"

"Just Edward." He told them. "And If Yee ever gets tired of ya, feel free to crash at my place, partner." He smiled. Clay grinned.

"Thanks, partner." Clay waved goodbye to their hopefully new friend as he walked out of the door, holding his hat.

   They wondered about that Vanilla girl, how maybe she could help them get out of such a shitty life. They also wondered why Vanilla decided to stay in Buckleton.

Why did anyone decide to stay in Buckleton?