Some people don't understand what it takes to run this Lodging House.  Some of my friends, those that are still alive, tell me to quit, to pass it on to a newer, younger generation.  I just smile and shake my head.  I can't do that, y'see?

There's something about the energy of these boys that keeps me going.  If I gave this up, I'd whither away to nothing, and I know it.  I don't think the boys do though.  Otherwise I think they'd worry about me more than they do.

They're all the entertainment I could ever need.  Their jokes, smart-assed comments, just the way they interact with each other is enough to keep an old man feeling alive.  I know I don't have many years left on this Earth, but I'm going to enjoy those I do.

So when Kid Blink nearly kills Crutchy in the morning, or Racetrack complains about blowing his money at the tracks, or jack gets that dreamy look in his eyes, I know I'll be there to pull them back into line when I need to.

Just hope they end up the same way I am, growing older, but not necessarily up.

A/N:  Wow, this hit me as I was singing Jimmy Buffett in my head.  The song goes "I'm growing older but not up, my metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck.  Let those winds of Time blow over my head, I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead."  As such, I felt someone needed to do a Kloppman piece.

Disclaimer:  I own not the characters, nor the song, just the idea.