You are probably right about that. You know, that kid was the most needy boy I have ever met in my life. By that I mean emotionally needy. He literally didn't know his real father and the guy that his mom married later on only adopted him to be able to make more on his welfare check. I would go over to their house and "L" would just latch on to me like a postage stamp on an envelope. It was like no one had any time for him but me, so he elected me as his best friend and surogate father. Of course I wasn't puting up much of an argument, I treasured every moment we spent together and every hug. It was years ago but although I can't remember every single day and hug, I still vividly remember the very best ones.

Here is one way I know I made a huge difference in his life. He had a friend who was about a year or two older than him. They would pal around and play video games together and stuff. One day I went over to "L"'s house and everyone was so sad and depressed. They told me that his friend had commited suicide. I found out that day that his home situation was a lot like "L"'s, although unfortunately he did not have a friend like me in his life. (Would I have known that this was the case, I would have certainly tried very hard to become involved in his life, but unfortunately I just didn't have a clue.) "L"'s mom said that he just decided that no one loved him and no one cared and went and got his dad's shot gun and ended his life. That was when I realized that my involvement with "L" was perhaps the most important thing I might ever do in my life or in his.