Every Childhood has an Arnold

In Andy Griffith, Opie has a friend, Arnold. Arnold is that kid--the kid who, without being actually bad, always seems to cause chaos whenever he comes around. He also is the kid who brings up stressful topics, like where babies come from.

Important point: Arnold stresses out the adults in Opie's life. But Opie doesn't mind him at all. Arnold isn't a bully, and he may not be obviously disruptive--and yet--

In one episode, Andy says to Aunt Bee, "Isn't it a little early in the day for Arnold?"

Every mother and father seems to think that their child has an Arnold--which brings up the question: Does any parent think, "My child IS Arnold?"

The only living or fictional parent I can think of who admits to having an Arnold in the household is Tim Allen as Mike Baxter and Tim Taylor. In one episode, he states, "Don't let the kid next to you get you into trouble."

"Did that work for you?"

"I was the kid next to me," he replies.

Sheldon Golomb/Collins, who played Arnold, grew up to be a dentist.