I decided to go busking around the country and after three years my journey was almost at an end . Each town I had been had so far brought me the funds I needed to continue . I had met many people along the way . This Last City was for me like a memorial .
I walked into the city centre with my six string under my arm . I hoped being Christmas Eve people would be generous .
I headed to my usual corner where I busked to the evening shoppers. Coming towards me was a man who reached out his hand ,
”Hello there"
He said . I took his hand and shook it and he said .
'Merry Christmas ."
‘And Merry Christmas to you ." I answered .
“Come on and I’ll buy you pint "
He said .
I followed him down the street and he opened the door of a crowded bar .Inside the pub was full of people . He sat down at a table with a group of people and ordered two pints . Then he asked for a song .
I played a few songs . The atmosphere was warm . After each song another pint arrived . I played a few more songs and the people sang along .
A great night was had by all .
Finally the pub had to close and everyone made their way out on to the footpath . I followed the crowd out to the footpath and saw a large queue of people standing in line putting in their orders at the chipper.
Further on up the road another queue was waiting for taxi cabs and like every minute taxis were pulling up and taking off .
I started to walk back to my place . Since arriving in the fair City I had not been able to find any suitable lodgings and for the past few months I was living in a derelict building near the City Hall . As yet no one had told me to leave and so I stayed there . It was great to be in out of the rain . Even more it was safe to be out of sight at night . As I opened the door of the old building I made my way through the upturned furniture to the corner where my mattress lay . I put down my guitar and relived the evenings events .
It was nice to be in the company of local lads and ladies for a while but the buskers feet were sore now and I needed some rest .
It was Christmas Eve and all the pubs had closed . Just as I began to drift off to sleep a stranger opened the door to my squat . He shone a torch into my eyes and walked towards me .
“Hello . Can I help you .“ I asked .
He put the torch down and said ,
“Hey, you were playing in Washington tonight weren’t you ?”
“Yes where you there ?“ I asked .
He smiled and said
“Sure I was .”
I Then I smiled and said ,
“That’s right you were the man who bought me a pint . Aren't you . It was a great night wasn’t it?”
“ Yea . What are you doing in here?”
He asked .
I replied .
“Where’s that. Like here you mean ?”
”Yea that’s right . Here in this dump ." He said
“Well the thing is you see I don't have anywhere else "
I answered .
He stood up and said , “Yes you do . Come on you can stay with me. I have a great big place in town with two bedrooms . You can stay as long as you like “.
I grabbed my guitar and bag and followed him out the door to the main street .We walked past the City Hall and down through the town and continued over the bridge . We walked to the door of this quaint old Georgian building . He oped the door and we went inside .
He showed me a room . It had a wardrobe and a bed . There were blankets on the bed and a pillow for my head .
“Good night . What did you say your name was ?“ he asked .
“People call me Skin . Tell me What’s your name ?” I asked .
“Will .“
He said and closed the door .
“Thanks Will.”
I said .
That night as I lay down it felt like heaven . With a roof over my head and tucked up in a soft warm bed , I wanted that moment to last forever . I held each second tightly and as I floated off to sleep . In the other room I could hear Will snoring . Outside the wind was howling and the rain spat on the window pane . You’ll not have me tonight I said to the cold night air .
In the morning when I got up Will was gone . But at the end of the bed was a Christmas stocking . A few presents were left there with my name on them . I walked in to the kitchen and found a bowl of cereal and some milk . I looked in the cupboards. There was lots of food and in the fridge were drinks and cheese .
It was Christmas all right and not a sound could be heard anywhere .
I was alone in the big house for three days and then came the loud knock on the front door .
I went to open it and standing there was a huge man wearing a donkey jacket and holding a letter in his hand .
He cleared his throat and said ,
“Anyway Will told me to give you this message . I can’t stay on here and so I just wanted to say thanks for the music on Christmas Eve and Goodbye .“
It was silent for a moment, then he continued
“Oh Skin and another thing the house is yours I’ve no need for it anymore .”
The man at the door handed me the letter which contained the deeds to the house and then he left me standing there .
I stood there for what seemed a half hour then I started to cry .
I had never known such kindness in my life .
Who ever this angel was I was so grateful .
Sometimes in life people do reach out and help you . Like Will had done for me . Now that I had a permanent address I knew it was only a matter of time until I got back some stability again .
Gone were the days of me trying to make sense out of hardships and things started to go a lot easier for me .I never saw Will again but every year I still put an extra place for him at the table . I am married now with four kids and Christmas is always a place where Will lives .
The End
By Paul McCann
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Reviewed by Jennifer Butler
6/30/2005
A touching story. Very nice. I love happy endings. :)
Bishnupriya Ghosh, Professor at University of Santa Barbara contacted me asking to use my painting of Mother Teresa in her upcoming book, "Global Icons" which was published by Duke University Press Books. You may see Judy Jones's painting of Mother T
