CRAZY MIKE ONIONS /or/ TATTOO ME

From When i Paint My Masters Piece

A day that humanity will never forget, or at least a few of us. I don't remember all the facts concerning this next tale. But the story is not hurt by that and memories are always a little different and changeable. Especially as time goes by. Regardless the story must be told. So It must have been around 1978/79 and a kid who had been hanging around, can't remember who first brought him around. Micheal Garlick was a bit tall and quite a bit slim really skinny to be honest. Sometimes if we would see him coming everyone would take off to ditch him. No one really didn't like him, just that's what kids do. I sorta took a liking to Mikey though. Especially after I found him sleeping at the hole in the wall one morning. I would bring him home for dinner to our apartment and he would eat and tell story's. The whole family kinda got attached to him.

So one day here comes Mikey strutting his way to the Wall in the South. he has his cut off jean jacket like we all wore back then. Mikey liked to wear his with no t-shirt. And there it was, ink, colors, right in the middle of his bicep. A thin flower and vine something, it was bad, but it was a tattoo.We all stared for a moment, then the questions. Did it hurt? Where did you get it? What is it supposed to be?

Well after all the questions and back slapping, and things had calmed, then Mikey blurts out anyone wanna go get one! Boom, it was out there. And before I could stop myself, without thinking, and at the same time me and Schirmer blurted out......me! That was it we were committed or should have been. Lucky for me I had no money on me, Schirmer, ditto. Thinking maybe we had dodged one there Mikey says no problem, I gotcha covered. AH? AH? ok lets go. Did I say this was a true story?

We head out and head to some apartment outside our neighborhood...truthfully I could not tell you where it was. All I know is when we got there I knew this was a bad idea. Mikey struts us in and this big burly biker dude says..So you kids want a tattoo? I hadn't barely got in the door let alone looked at all the designs posted on the walls when this dude, did I mention he was big, and burly? I'm not really sure what burly is but this guy was it, grabs my arm and says ...."so you like that eagle? I stuttered for a second and nodded my head as he grabbed my arm and started inking away. When I came to I had this eagle on my arm and Johnny had Yosemite Sam on his. I think Mikey got another one also. School the next morning was great, everyone talking about tattoos, me showing my fresh ink, I was flying. Of course two days later when Andrea told Mom and Dad dinner wasn't as fun. Well good times hey? Wasn't long after that I see Mikey and say "hey Mikey" he turns and says " Don't call me that. My name is Crazy Mike Onions!" Ok and that's what we called him from then on. Which wasn't long since shortly there after he was arrested and got 5 to 15 for manslaughter. and I moved away before he got out. But won't ever forget those days.