| Well when this Seven Foot friend of mine was only | | | | have it, AJ has been known to have a radar for |
| reaching about Six foot Nine, we drove half way to | | | | these things at concerts. Eh, eh, eh breasts at 4 |
| Canada to see A Perfect Circle. In the mist of father | | | | o'clock!Then the head liner came on, after two hours |
| raipers, punks, spike hair, and chains, we found a | | | | of shit where I was one of four that was old enough |
| mosh pit for two that his shadow created. Two | | | | to drink in the room or grow a mustache. They |
| Hours to Kennybunck Port and I still have another | | | | played an excellent set that got my feet moving. |
| two hours until I reach Lewiston. After a pit stop to | | | | Thank God for the Six foot nine shadow. For anyone |
| the Popeyes at exit 4 off the Maine Pike, I find | | | | to see behind AJ, they had to clear any empty |
| myself a bit late. They have been waiting for an | | | | lunette pattern behind him as far as his shadow |
| hour, even though I did not mention what time I | | | | would fall. Excellent dancing space for one. But |
| would arrive. Also I am Caught a little unexpected, I | | | | eventually I had to turn it into a mosh pit for two. I |
| figured that some one else would be driving the rest | | | | had originally planned it to be more inclusive. But my |
| of the way. Money is tight this month and I am | | | | freaky looks and AJ's bulk persuaded others from |
| driving a 67 Chrysler New Yorker with a 440 and a | | | | joining. They just moved back and gave us a fifty |
| leak in the gas tank with two feet of snow that is | | | | foot diameter circle just to knock each other around |
| taking its time to blow off. But off we go, me and | | | | in. Two thousand people shoulder to shoulder, back |
| my shadow. | | | | to back and we have a fifty foot diameter circle |
| As any true shadow, he is always to be found near, | | | | cleared just incase AJ wanted to do his crazy dance. |
| slightly elongated, and always placing you in the sun. | | | | For the shadow came this close to doing his crazy |
| For you are always warm with him around. He is | | | | dance, but he thought better for the safety of the |
| much like a Loki, a giant amongst the Gods who | | | | innocent bystanders. I am not exactly sure what it |
| keep them all laughing and humble. For the joke is | | | | would entail, but the crowd was not taking any |
| usually on them. But innocent as a child's is his digs as | | | | chances. But they gave us our moment, just to bash |
| he goes about his days with a crow feather in his | | | | the shit out of each other. Something , after our |
| cap. Later after some misdirections, miss-turns, | | | | concussions subsides, we can remember as our |
| misdemeanors, and missed comments; I realize that it | | | | special little place in the sun. |
| was me that was missed after all. The shadow has | | | | The family when I first got involved with them as a |
| grown, but not as much as I had expected. The sun | | | | unit was after their divorce from their father. AJ |
| is setting soon and the shadow is only six foot nine. | | | | especially was kept as the fathers shadow, |
| He sits crouched low inside my whale of a car, and | | | | something you always kept the light on so as not to |
| strikes up his tune. As I listen I wonder how long I | | | | be seen. But AJ always had the sun follow wherever |
| have known him. At the rest stop where they | | | | he went. It seemed that the whole family was seen |
| caught me off guard, one son was almost | | | | by the father as only an attachment of him. And AJ |
| unrecognizable and the other was too familiar. The | | | | was his shadow side. So I do not know what that |
| fore-mentioned face kept face-shifting between | | | | says of the father. The day after the concert we |
| three of his kin. As an assemblage of his family tree. | | | | went climbing a snow-bank unto this dune. But It was |
| I have chased, tickled, and instigated this pair since | | | | not solid, and we kept sinking into it up to our |
| childhood and now in a year or two I am going to be | | | | crotches as we hunted for the boulders to stand |
| able to share a bar stool with them. Now I look over | | | | upon. As we walked the beach with my shoes-no |
| and he is smiling. He tells me he has enough for gas | | | | socks full of snow, my feet stayed warm walking |
| money. Now I am relieved. Because now I can return | | | | and talking with him. He mentioned other elders that |
| him to his mother without hitch hiking. | | | | have been placed in his life. Elders that kept him up |
| We pull into this dirt parking lot. It had everything , | | | | to date on surfing, contents of mysterious islands, |
| including the pot holes. We sit in the car and watch | | | | and the Jersey Devil. Supposedly, only whenever one |
| the line grow to the north of us. In no time the line | | | | of his teachers returns to Jersey is the devil spotted. |
| retains its length, but turns west like a swinging door | | | | For this teacher believes he is the devil himself. AJ is |
| to allow the traffic to pass. Luck had it so that it | | | | graced with the gift of many, I think as I watch him |
| swung right to our passenger door. AJ , that's the | | | | draw a bearded hairy happy face in the sand. Where |
| shadow, just opened his door and got into line. The | | | | one was taken away, many have stepped in to |
| interior of the Central Maine Civic Center of Lewiston, | | | | extend his shadow. For in Ancient Ireland, a mother |
| was more reminiscent of teamster pulls at the state | | | | would give her child to her brother and a community |
| fair than a Rock concert. It actually ended up being a | | | | to foster. AJ has always been a bit ancient in his |
| Quad-A hockey rink. I kept expecting the heat of | | | | ways. An unexpected sage, of grounding advice. |
| the crowd on top of the rows of plywood to give. | | | | Advice that stays constant, no matter the hustle and |
| With only one blow up doll (to be had as a inflatable | | | | bustle of whatever age he may find himself. A soul |
| safety device) spotted in the crowd, I think the rest | | | | that speaks loud enough even advise from the |
| of us would be in trouble. | | | | womb. He is an old soul who had heeded Jimmy |
| The opening bands sucked. The first band should of | | | | Stewart's advice in the film Harvey, " My mother told |
| kept their air guitar playing to their closet. For if God | | | | me long ago, that you either be ever so smart or |
| found them doing it in the open confides of their | | | | ever so pleasant. I have tried being ever so smart |
| bedroom, he would had them killed on the spot. Do | | | | and I prefer now being pleasant.". Come to think of |
| not pass go, sorrry! You sucked! Then there was the | | | | it, AJ is a bit of a pookah himself. There is just no |
| draw back to being tall that we both felt. Standing in | | | | ear holes in his hat. Just a crow feather worn |
| any given place too long is murder on our lower | | | | forward. So if you ever find yourself in a large |
| backs. Some might think we were swaying to the | | | | looming shadow, just remember that the sun is near |
| music, but in all actuality we were switching our | | | | and you are always welcome into his mosh pit for |
| weight from foot to foot to ease the pain. The only | | | | two. |
| Highlight AJ found was the female lead to the second | | | | P.s. If you ever find an old Chrysler on the side of |
| band flashing him the largest cherries on melons he | | | | the road, just have a gas can ready to help the |
| had ever seen. Coming from a purveyor of St. | | | | serene bearded freak up the road get home in his |
| Catherine Street, It is saying something! Come to | | | | sandals. |