Bad Company

In college, I was eager to visit my best friend who was studying abroad. I had planned to go alone, but I decided to take others instead. My mother didn’t approve of one of my friends because he was mischievous. I convinced her, and she agreed despite her “motherly intuition.”

We left town filled with excitement, and the long drive felt like minutes. We arrived at the college, and my best friend was thrilled to see us. It was a joyous reunion and a peaceful night—until that one friend started drinking. It didn’t take long before he began to scheme.

He gathered dorm members to prank others who had fallen asleep. Doors flew open and a lot of baby powder was spilled. There was laughter and anger on both sides. The night grew old, and he eventually became tired. In a drunken stupor, he fell asleep in the lobby. The next morning, he awoke to find he was covered in baby powder.

He wasn’t happy and decided to retaliate. I joined his cause, and he accidentally broke a window. The college was furious, and our trip was shattered by the incident. I had to pay a costly expense for that one friend’s mistake.

In LOTK, Hadwyn decided to take Arandorion and Badden to Market. Nara wasn’t pleased to discover Badden would be coming along. He was mischievous, and she didn’t want him around her sons. Hadwyn reassured her, and Nara allowed them to go despite her “motherly intuition.”

Andrius eventually leaves for Gathstrom with Badden. His home life is a wreck, and he enjoys mead. They pull pranks, break the rules, and find themselves running from trouble.

In 1 Corinthians 15:33, the Bible warns us, “Bad company corrupts good character.” A poor choice in friends can lead to bad situations. Ultimately, our friends will shape our character. Do not become close with those who fill and complicate their lives with bad decisions.

“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”

Proverbs 22:24-25