Manchester Hobo - a tale of homelessness and happiness.
He was a lovely chap and I'll call him Fred.

I first met Fred when he was sleeping on the steps by Oxford Road Station.....in the snow. At least he was wrapped up. His girlfriend was asking for change, as homeless people do. I gave her a couple of quid and noticed her hands were blue- really blue - so offered her my gloves. She gave me such a lovely smile and woke up Fred to tell him. I sat down with them and had a little chat, gave them a couple of cigarettes and went off to uni.

I'd see them most mornings and that little act of generosity ensured they'd remembered me. Most mornings I'd give them a smoke, have a 5 minute chat and take them both a coffee. I found out they 'lived' in the alleyway at the back of the Salisbury which was a bit grim. Still, they were lovely people.

One day they weren't there, nor where they there the next. I was a tad concerned. A couple of weeks later I saw Fred selling Christmas hats on Oxford Road. He called me over gave me a hug, thanked me for all the coffees, change and time that I'd taken to have a chat each morning. He explained that his girlfriend had gone down south, he'd moved to a hostel and things were looking better. He gave me a free hat, shook my hand, thanked me once again for everything I did. To me it wasn't much - a bit of change, a 20p cup of coffee, a couple of roll-ups and 5minutes to day hello. To him it was the world - someone took the time to look past the dirt and treat him with respect. I smiled, shook his hand again, wished him a merry Christmas and walked away with a tear in my eye.

I saw him again occasionly, the time between each sighting getting longer and longer. I finally saw him outside the Uni wandering up Oxford Road as happy as can be. He explained he was still in the hostel but now on a waiting list for a flat in Hulme. I didn't see him again for a long time.

The happy finale: About 2 years later I was out in Manchester. There were only 3 of us and we were having a few beers around Canal Street waiting for my mates fella to turn up. There was a tap on my shoulder and there was Fred! Fred looked really well - he'd put on a bit of weight, had a shave, a decent haircut etc. He explained that shortly after I last saw him he got his flat in Hulme. This allowed him to get sorted with regards to benefits etc. Having a proper address meant he was able to find work. He'd got a job, worked hard and was doing pretty well. He bought me a few pints, and as he left he thanked me for all those morning chats etc. He then looked in to my eyes and gave me the most sincere thanks I've ever been given. He told me that our 1st meeting - when I gave him a pair of gloves - was the greatest thing anyone had done for him, yet to me it seemed so insignificant. He nodded and left. I did a little cry.

I've not seen him since.
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:10, 17 replies)

This
Made me well up! Lovely!
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:15, closed)

He was a lovely chap
I'd love to know what he's doing now
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:16, closed)

Same!
How am I supposed to explain that to the boss?

The accounts... they're... just so beautiful
(Is this a good idea? ... Yes this is definitely a good idea, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:35, closed)

Well...
That's given me a nice warm fuzzy Friday feeling. Ta.
You did good.
(SpangoTheWonderBadger is brewing beer, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:31, closed)

good yarn
warmed me cockles did that 'clickness'
(lankynyack, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:32, closed)

You get my click
But you made me cry a bit...
( snee held his breath since, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 12:49, closed)

bunch of soppy bastards
that we all seem to be *sniff* click
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 13:00, closed)

WINNER
*clicksies*
(Jugular, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 13:34, closed)

This.
Very much.
( Dave McF wrote some words on, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 13:47, closed)

This is bloody marvellous!
Nice one, mate!
( SpankyHanky, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 14:47, closed)

*fills* *snivels*
*mans the fuck up*
that was lovely though..
(berk, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 15:05, closed)

That really made me do a bit of a cry...
Well done you!

*clicks*

I don't know why but I always seem to feel the need to talk and help out the homeless whenever I can.

Which is weird, cos I have no real 'out of the ordinary' need to give to most human 'charities'.

I think for me I just feel like, we all deserve a place to call home.

*cries again*
(Galahad is out of his gourd on yellow bentines, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 16:57, closed)

That made me
cry a little. *clicks hard*
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 17:56, closed)

I imagine
you'll be wanting a medal.

Fucking dull as shit, these Highway to Heaven posts. Give me a break.
(Fozzy Wozzy, Sun 5 Jul 2009, 11:33, closed)

I imagine
You'll either gain a sense of dignity, or just plain fuck off.

He did a nice thing to someone who needed it, and yet somehow you take offence to that?

Then again, looking back, your argument against festivals was juvenile and pathetic.

Last time you were sanctimonious, this time you're just a tit.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 9:14, closed)

HAHAHA!!!
Thanks mate :0)
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 10:40, closed)

Git
I am a grown man, and that made me well up a little.

Great read tho.

Tis the butterfly effect. A small thing can make a big difference.

StyX
(StyX is staring at you, yes YOU!!!, Mon 6 Jul 2009, 13:56, closed)