John-John

John-John's introduction to me wasn't exactly cordial. As I talked to Josh about us all being messes that God cleans up, John-John walked up and started trying to drag Josh over to where he'd been sitting with some other people. John-John told Josh that "Mama" wanted him to come over and sit with them. It didn't take much discernment to see that John-John was inebriated or stoned, or both. He was also quite belligerent. Twenty-seven years old, yet called Josh "Dad" and Angie, Josh's wife, "Mama". 

John-John was adamant that Josh come with him. Josh told John-John that he would be there in a moment, that he and this lady were talking about the Lord. John-John did not appreciate that answer and shared his discontent. He even said to me, "I'm trying to show you respect, ma'am," as he told Josh he was trying to not curse, then continued to berate Josh for not coming with him. 

Now, I'm only 5'3" tall, even though my drivers license declares another inch. John-John was probably 5'10" or more and a pretty stocky fellow, yet I challenged him. Directly. As he went off on Josh, I looked at him and asked, "So, you say you will show me respect, yet you call him "Dad" and disrespect him completely?"

I suppose a smart woman would have backed up when John-John took a step closer. I did not. I don't know if that was smart or foolish, but as I looked up at this young man, I felt no fear. I felt…hurt. Not for me, for him. There was no doubt in my mind that something ate at him. Something drives him to be this way, so there I stood, my head tilted back, looking up at a belligerent young man who didn't like having his behavior challenged by a stranger, and as I learned later, much worse by a woman. 

Soon after I was near the group where John-John sat with "Mama" and some others. It was here that I saw the wounds on his shoulder from the same fight Josh had been in. He was being his comedic self, even taking a bite of a hamburger someone else dropped, because he didn't want to waste what the nice people had brought to them (insert sarcasm drops here.) I took that hamburger from him and after finding out what he wanted on his burger, walked back to prepare one for him. 

His face filled with something different when I returned with a hamburger, chips and a homemade brownie on the plate and a Coke in my hands for him. He accepted them, questioning why I'd done that. I told him it was because he'd dropped the other and he needed a fresh burger — as if — well, duh, of course I wasn't going to let you eat the soiled one. 

He couldn't understand that. 

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