It’s doubtful that even their clueless mothers could think these two would ever amount to anything but trouble.
I once mentored a very intelligent and eager to learn young black child in Philly whose grandmother lived in the alley street behind a large church. She was old school and married, but her younger daughter had six children by six different men. This child was so bright. He asked me to help him get school supplies, and would I take him to museums and churches, which I did, for about 6 years. But when he turned 12, he started becoming troublesome. I went to his mother to discuss it with her. "He has stolen from us," I said. Her reply? "Put him out yo house. Das wut I do."