Six Foot Nine Shadow and a Mosh Pit for Two

Well when this Seven Foot friend of mine was onlyhave it, AJ has been known to have a radar for
reaching about Six foot Nine, we drove half way tothese things at concerts. Eh, eh, eh breasts at 4
Canada to see A Perfect Circle. In the mist of fathero'clock!Then the head liner came on, after two hours
raipers, punks, spike hair, and chains, we found aof shit where I was one of four that was old enough
mosh pit for two that his shadow created. Twoto drink in the room or grow a mustache. They
Hours to Kennybunck Port and I still have anotherplayed an excellent set that got my feet moving.
two hours until I reach Lewiston. After a pit stop toThank God for the Six foot nine shadow. For anyone
the Popeyes at exit 4 off the Maine Pike, I findto see behind AJ, they had to clear any empty
myself a bit late. They have been waiting for anlunette pattern behind him as far as his shadow
hour, even though I did not mention what time Iwould fall. Excellent dancing space for one. But
would arrive. Also I am Caught a little unexpected, Ieventually I had to turn it into a mosh pit for two. I
figured that some one else would be driving the resthad originally planned it to be more inclusive. But my
of the way. Money is tight this month and I amfreaky looks and AJ's bulk persuaded others from
driving a 67 Chrysler New Yorker with a 440 and ajoining. They just moved back and gave us a fifty
leak in the gas tank with two feet of snow that isfoot diameter circle just to knock each other around
taking its time to blow off. But off we go, me andin. 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 isdance, but he thought better for the safety of the
much like a Loki, a giant amongst the Gods whoinnocent bystanders. I am not exactly sure what it
keep them all laughing and humble. For the joke iswould entail, but the crowd was not taking any
usually on them. But innocent as a child's is his digs aschances. But they gave us our moment, just to bash
he goes about his days with a crow feather in histhe 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 itspecial little place in the sun.
was me that was missed after all. The shadow hasThe family when I first got involved with them as a
grown, but not as much as I had expected. The sununit 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, andsomething you always kept the light on so as not to
strikes up his tune. As I listen I wonder how long Ibe seen. But AJ always had the sun follow wherever
have known him. At the rest stop where theyhe went. It seemed that the whole family was seen
caught me off guard, one son was almostby the father as only an attachment of him. And AJ
unrecognizable and the other was too familiar. Thewas his shadow side. So I do not know what that
fore-mentioned face kept face-shifting betweensays 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 sincenot solid, and we kept sinking into it up to our
childhood and now in a year or two I am going to becrotches as we hunted for the boulders to stand
able to share a bar stool with them. Now I look overupon. As we walked the beach with my shoes-no
and he is smiling. He tells me he has enough for gassocks full of snow, my feet stayed warm walking
money. Now I am relieved. Because now I can returnand 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 watchand the Jersey Devil. Supposedly, only whenever one
the line grow to the north of us. In no time the lineof his teachers returns to Jersey is the devil spotted.
retains its length, but turns west like a swinging doorFor this teacher believes he is the devil himself. AJ is
to allow the traffic to pass. Luck had it so that itgraced with the gift of many, I think as I watch him
swung right to our passenger door. AJ , that's thedraw a bearded hairy happy face in the sand. Where
shadow, just opened his door and got into line. Theone 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 statewould give her child to her brother and a community
fair than a Rock concert. It actually ended up being ato foster. AJ has always been a bit ancient in his
Quad-A hockey rink. I kept expecting the heat ofways. 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 inflatablebustle of whatever age he may find himself. A soul
safety device) spotted in the crowd, I think the restthat 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 ofStewart's advice in the film Harvey, " My mother told
kept their air guitar playing to their closet. For if Godme long ago, that you either be ever so smart or
found them doing it in the open confides of theirever so pleasant. I have tried being ever so smart
bedroom, he would had them killed on the spot. Doand I prefer now being pleasant.". Come to think of
not pass go, sorrry! You sucked! Then there was theit, AJ is a bit of a pookah himself. There is just no
draw back to being tall that we both felt. Standing inear holes in his hat. Just a crow feather worn
any given place too long is murder on our lowerforward. So if you ever find yourself in a large
backs. Some might think we were swaying to thelooming shadow, just remember that the sun is near
music, but in all actuality we were switching ourand you are always welcome into his mosh pit for
weight from foot to foot to ease the pain. The onlytwo.
Highlight AJ found was the female lead to the secondP.s. If you ever find an old Chrysler on the side of
band flashing him the largest cherries on melons hethe 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 tosandals.