Beware the Shit-Stirrers...

Folk #1: My friend's Mother came to one of our theater productions back in the early 2000's. It was a festive get together. Our little theater group put on a funny, surreal, play, there was a good turnout, and then there was a rollicking celebration afterwards; drinking, chatting, laughing, and goofing around. One of our tangential friends, a shady, marginal character we called "Johnny Boy," stood out in a crowd of shady, marginal characters that always hung around the theater space. Free booze, pretty girls & music was like fly paper to these needy, on the hunt, flies. My friend's Mother sat observing it all. She took one look at Johnny Boy from across the gallery space; he was animated, fractured, even at a distance looked not quite right, and she remarked to no one in particular: "That Johny Boy is going to ruin it for everyone." Ha. Of course she was right. Wherever Johnny went there was always chaos, fights, and hard words left in his wake. Later in the decade, Johnny would send me photos from on the lam in Thailand; the theme was always half-dressed ladies, illicit drugs, wild nights, dark-doings.  It was best to keep one's distance from Johnny Boy. Always arm's length. Beware the shit-stirrers. Hmmm... I wonder why I am thinking about Johnny Boy this morning?!