Clem resembled a dwarf sailor clad in a white naval uniform, but his most distinguishing feature was his head, which was a oversized talking clam shell with a cigar dangling out, and eye protruding from the top. Clem had arrived a few years back, after Mayor Pufnstuf approved a new marina in a cove on the shore of Living Island, where Clem was quick to snatch up giant shell house nestled right beside the pier. The other islanders had welcomed Clem to Living Island, and he often excited them with his astonishing tales of the sea. Jimmy, on the other hand, never liked Clem, and that dislike grew stronger as he grew older and wiser. After listening to Clem's stories time and again, Jimmy began to notice his stories were not just mere stories, they were fish stories. They were always extravagant and embellished, and Jimmy even began to pick up on inconsistencies with the stories. The other islanders seemed to not notice any of this, and continued to be fascinated with them. Another reason for Jimmy's dislike toward Clem was that he was a hustler and a shyster, a quality that had endeared him to Ludacrous Lion, who often brought him in on joint ventures. Jimmy had witnessed time and again how Clem would rip other islanders off of their buttons for worthless trinkets he claimed to have found on his voyages, such as gold coins he claimed to have unearthed while on a treasure hunt, when they were actually gold wrapped chocolate coins he bought from Pop Lolly. Jimmy couldn't believe the naivity the other islanders had toward Clem and his dishonest ways.
"Well, howdy, Clem! How's things off shore?" Pufnstuf greeted the clamheaded sailor.
"Busy today. I spent a good many hours this mornin' scraping the barnacles off me rock garden from the high tides we been havin'." Clem said.
"Gollers. Maybe we should start buildin' a sea wall around your property." Pufnstuf offered.
"No need to, Mr. Mayor. All part of the sea life, and the life of the sea is the life fer me!" Clem said.
Jimmy took notice of the large pearl Clem had strung around his neck. Was this, indeed, the same pearl that Pufnstuf gave him? He confronted Clem. "How many of those pearls do you have, Clem?"
"Just the one, matey." Clem said, holding up his new jewelry item, as it glistened in the sunlight.
Jimmy was convinced Clem was lying. "You kidnapped my pal, Freddy, didn't you?"
"Clem didn't kidnap Freddy, Jimmy, Clem doesn't even know what Freddy looks like." Pufnstuf spoke on Clem's behalf.
"Not at all." Clem said.
"Oh yeah? Well, I have a picture of Freddy back home. Why don't we go over there and have a look and see if you recognize him? Maybe that'll job your memory." Jimmy said.
"Clem can't come, Jimmy, he's gotta practice for the Living Island Horseshoe Tossin' Tournament. Why don't you stay and practice yoreself and lighten up?" Pufnstuf asked.
Jimmy was having none of this. "I expect to see you at my house later, Clem. Alone." Jimmy turned to head home, only to trip over the pile of horseshoes.
"Hey, Jimmy! Watch out for that pile of horseshoes!" Pufnstuf let out with a bellow of yuks and yoks, and Clem let out with hardy har-hars, which only angered Jimmy further.
As the sun began to set on Living Island, Jimmy stood staring at the portrait displayed upon the mantle of his periscope fireplace. The portrait was that of a raven haired, mocha skinned beauty named Victoria. Several years back, Victoria, like Jimmy, was lured to Living Island by Witchiepoo. With another human already there who understood her plight, and finally having companionship from the outside world, Victoria and Jimmy became fast friends. As they bonded and grew together, it became clear that their friendship had bloomed into something called love, and when they entered adulthood, Pufnstuf took on the position of Justice of the Peace and married the two. Soon afterwards, they had Baby Madison, who was delivered by Dr. Blinky. However, one day, Victoria had discovered a way off of Living Island, completely by accident. While walking through the woods, she noticed a tree with a hole near the base of it's trunk, and the hole was glowing brightly. Curious, Victoria went to investigate, despite the tree's warning her not to come closer. Victoria peered into the hole, but in doing so, fell into a portal that transported her back to her own world. The tree, fearful that Witchiepoo may turn it into a pile of toothpicks, fled and hasn't been seen since. Jimmy's reaction was of mixed emotions. Part of him felt happy that Victoria had found a way back to the real world, if by accident, though part of him was bitter than he was still on Living Island despite being there longer than her, and he also felt a little betrayed that he and Madison were left behind. Jimmy reached out and caressed the glass over the photo of his disappeared wife, but the silence was broken when he heard Madison cooing. Jimmy walked over to the crib, reached in and picked up Madison, cradling her in his arms. Jimmy was then startled by a knocking at his door, as Pufnstuf invited himself in, followed by Clem, Cling and Clang. The air in the house quickly grew so tense that even Madison could sense it and began crying. Jimmy quickly produced a large picture of Freddy and showed it to Clem.
"Where is Freddy?" Jimmy pressed, as Clem studied the picture, stroking his chisled clamshell chin. "Answer me!"
"Take it easy there, Jimmy." Pufnstuf said, trying to intervene.
Jimmy was having none of it. "This is between me and Clem, Pufnstuf!"
Pufnstuf tried once again to lighten the air. "Golly, Jimmy, look at how dirty yore clothes are. Why don't you change into some nice, fresh, clean clothes?"
At this point, Jimmy nearly snapped. "What's the matter with you, Pufnstuf? Are you blinded by your own carefree atittude? Can't you see what's going on right in front of you?! Freddy is missing, and Madison is sick! Does this not faze you? Can you not comprehend that not everything on this island is all sunshine and rainbows?!"
Madison continued crying.
"Look, Jimmy, what are ya gettin' so worked up fer? Just give Madison some of Dr. Blinky's special medicine, and she'll be all good as new again. Now why don't you just simmer down there? No need to be a little sourpuss." Pufnstuf said as he, Clem, and the audience broke into more laughter.
By this time, Jimmy was insensed. "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! ALL OF YOU! GET OUT! NOW!"
Puf and the gang left Jimmy alone with his crying Baby Madison. As night fell on Living Island, Pufnstuf with Cling and Clang met up once again with Dr. Blinky inside his house.
"This is terrible, Dr. Blinky. Jimmy's gettin' even worse." Pufnstuf said, while Cling and Clang nodded in agreement.
"Well, it's desperate times like these that call for desperate measures." Dr. Blinky said, as he opened up his medical bag and pulled out a tape measure. "Now, why we go see how much desperate measuring we'll have to do?"
They wouldn't have to wait long to get started, as Dr. Blinky's house let out a gigantic sneezing, sending them out his door.
"Oh my goodness! I think I'm going to have to install those new fangled sinus windows!" Dr. Blinky said.
Back at Jimmy's house, Jimmy struggled to bathe himself for the evening. Built when he was still a kid, the house may have been roomy, but the amminities were still child sized, and Jimmy barely fit into his chair, his bed, and even his bathtub. As he continued to sprinkle water over himself, Clem peered through the window. This did not go unnoticed by Jimmy, who spied something amiss out of the corner of his eye. Seeing a hand reaching through the window and grabbing the picture of Freddy, Jimmy sprinted from the bathtub, dripping water everywhere, as he attempted to grab Clem's hand, though Clem was quick to pull it back.
"I've got you this time!" Jimmy screamed.
Jimmy raced for the door, but it would not open, as Pufnstuf had locked him in, while Dr. Blinky hammered a quaranteened sign over it.
"That should do it, Pufnstuf!" Dr. Blinky said.
"Then let's get out of here!" Pufnstuf said, as he, Clem, and Dr. Blinky made a break for it.
Jimmy felt like his world was crumbling around him. The room felt like it was spinning, and he felt panic set in as he dropped to the floor in tears, cursing Pufnstuf for doing this to him.
