I happen to be very close to Clod and if you'll bear with me, dear reader, I'll relate just one even from Clod's life that shows the appropriateness of his first name.
Clod was quite a character. Socially, he had high tastes but a low rating. He liked girls but the only ones he really went for were the most popular ones. Clod was basically shy but somehow he got up enough courage to ask the prettiest girl in school to the next Mission Bay football game. Shock. Not that he got up the courage to ask her, but that she accepted.
Friday night came and Clod was ready to have a good time. Hopefulness. He hopped into his car and off he went. A black cat darted in front of his car and ha had to slam on the brakes. Fright, a bad omen. Without anything else significant happening, he arrived at her house early. What a ghastly thing to do arriving early instead of on time. Then he thought they were off, but not for long. They waited fifteen minutes at a red light trying to make a left-hand turn through cross-traffic. Anxiety. Finally, they were off to the game. Somehow, Clod got wrong directions from his reliable source, for the way to the game, and they wound up out in the sticks. But, at least, Clod had sense enough to stop and find the right directions and he and his date got to the field in time to see the opening kickoff. After nearly three-quarters the game was scoreless. On a Mission Bay punt an opposing player touched the ball down and walked away. Free ball. Mission Bay recovers. The referee missed the play. Darn, Darn. Helplessness followed by anger. The game turned into a romp for the opposing team and following the alma mater the two left.
They went to the car, parked on a dead end street. After much inefficient and unnecessary action the car was turned around and they were ready to leave. There were parked cars on both sides and two lanes of traffic on a street wide enough for only two lanes of traffic. He made a right turn. Whack. He scraped forty dollars of parked station wagon. Anger and embarrassment. He got mad and hit his bumper while pulling into the high curb. Extreme embarrassment. That's one way to make an impression on the school's prettiest girl. The situation was taken care of, the owner of the station wagon was notified and given the necessary information. Clod then took the girl home, apologizing the entire way. He said good night to her and then went home brooding about he night's events. He went to bed. Sleep.