The old guy sat there scratching at his bosom chums.“Nobody seems to like my bosom friends,” he muttered.
bosom friend
1. One's close or closest friend; a friend one holds dear to one's heart. We grew up right next door to each other, so we have been bosom friends since we were kids.
2. slang Lice. Ugh, I'm so itchy—I really hope my bosom friends aren't back.