I never liked making trouble for anyone…. BWA HA HAAAA!!

I adored it.

Such a nice girl, I could get away with anything.  I didn’t make nearly enough trouble, but when I did, I loved it.  In high school some guys were working on the engine of a car out in the parking lot.  It was one of those big huge things, an International jeep I think?  Or some kind of van.  An old beater, whatever it was, and two guys were standing around while one guy was lying across the engine with his head down inside, up near the windshield, and his feet toward the front of the car.

I ran up and assessed the situation and then reached up and closed the hood gently, while the two guys just stood there gawking.  Then I ran back into the building while he shouted.  What was his name?  Joe?  I was back inside the building before they ever let him out.

At the park one time with D, he was looking for me.  I was in my 30’s by then.  I could see him looking around and I stayed out of sight for at least ten minutes, maybe twenty, in a sort of one-sided, undeclared game of hide and seek. Eventually I came up behind him as though I’d been looking for him.

Damn.  I miss that girl.  Such a brat.

I don’t like to make trouble for anyone?  Oh that’s such nonsense.  Some of my best plays have made people squirm a bit.  I’ve been told off by people for telling the truth.  I stood my ground.

As I update this essay before posting it, I note that this writing prompt came just two and a half weeks before we lost John Lewis, before we were reminded to “Make good trouble”.

I’m lagging far behind in making the good kind of trouble that needs to be made.  But the need is great, and I wonder what will be called of me next?

The challenge with making trouble NOW is that everyone is so angry all of the time, and with good reason. I hope that the kind of trouble I might cause again will come from a well of creative and contagiously JOYFUL energy. I’d like to see that being put back to work.

But times being what they are, the good trouble we are called to may be more challenging than playful.  I will have to assess the situation, and then get to work.