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Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Lunchtime chat with a tramp
Lunchtimes are sometimes slightly awkward. I get an hour for mine, so there's plenty of time to have a walk, get some food, and generally take a good break from it all. There's a lovely little supermarket next to my work, as well as a really nice hill with a viewpoint that Wordsworth was rather fond of, as well as the village itself with plenty of shops to look in.
Which is all well and good if the weather's good, but when it's raining.... We have a staff room, a very posh brand new staff room, but it's full of people I work with. I might as well just stay at my desk! So, if it's raining, I tend to go and get my lunch and sit in the back of Land Rover, listening to the radio and reading the paper. I like doing this, but I'm always a bit embarrassed climbing out the back of my Land Rover when my hour's up.
The weather was ok today, so I got my lunch and walked down to a park in the village. I sat on a bench and watched the old folk stumble by. Over the other side was a chap sitting on a bench, drinking something from a yellow can (presumably some strong lager). I supposed park benches were not only suitable for a lunchtime break but also a daytime booze-up.
The chap got up and started walking in my direction. He got closer. As he got level with me he stopped, looked at my lunch and then spoke.
"Hello"
"Hello" I replied. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm alright. You've just got to keep on going haven't you." I think he thought I was a kindred spirit, spending my life sitting on benches.
"It's a nice day now isn't it" I changed the subject: I wasn't going to get into a maudlin conversation with a tramp.
"Yes, it is."
"Did you get caught out in the rain earlier?" I asked, looking at his umbrella. I always find you can spot good avenues of conversation with a tramp by looking about their person.
"I did but it didn't matter, I had my umbrella" (bingo) "which I always take with me. I could have left it at home but it's just as easy to take with me, and I'm glad I did because it rained. It's like" (you see!) "in winter with clothes: if you go out without enough clothes you get cold, but if you take plenty, you can always just take some off if you're too hot."
"You're right." I was trying to figure out what he meant by "home".
"So do you work in insurance?"
Er, what? I was in my work clothes, fair enough, but I don't look like I work in insurance.
"No, I work up there." I pointed up the hill to where I work.
"I went for a job there once. I only went because I fancied the dolly who interviewed me. Didn't get the job mind. Do you think they need anyone at the moment?"
He looked genuine.
"They might, you never know these days." It didn't sound like a platitude at the time.
"I'm 55 and I don't really need to worry about work. I mean, I like to work but I'm not much use any more. I don't know anything about computers except they've got a mouse, and I'm not physically fit so I can't do labouring, and I don't fancy catering. So there's nothing else. I'd like to work, feel useful, but there's nothing I can do."
Mmmm.
"Well, give them a go, you never know these days."
I stood up to leave and he offered me his hand.
"I'm Andrew, what's your name?"
"I'm Ben. Nice to meet you Andrew."
I like to pray for people I meet, you know. Not out loud but in my head."
"That's good of you Andrew. Have a nice afternoon."
"Thank you, you too."
This is pretty much exactly how the encounter went. And to think I could have been in the back of my Land Rover listening to the radio.
.....posted at 1:58 pm permalink
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