The
crowds are out
it’s
match day
and Bramall Lane draws
a constant
current
of stripeshirted men
boys
scarved
women
girls
A’Salt
and Battered
is queued
up
down the
road
never
seen it so busy
selling chips by
the galleon
I’m
against the flow
and he
spots me yards off
as he
climbs the street
past the
Cremorne
till we
coincide
outside
cake‘r’us
he raises
his left hand
in a high
five salute
a black
guy
about
forty five
says
how’re ya
doin?
we’re
passing nearside and
instinctively
I raise
my left hand
to give him back the greeting
it can’t
hurt
he’s
perhaps a little
squiffy
but
ah, he’s
got me
holds
onto my hand
now
engulfed
within
his
cold dry
palm
a
bricklayer’s hand perhaps
smooth
calloused skin
It’s been
a long time, he says
has it? I
smile
you don’t
remember?
oh, say
I, no
do I know
you?
you don’t
remember?
I don’t
think so
where do
I know you from?
you tell
me, he says
I can’t
think… down south somewhere?
that’s it
that’s
right
funny, I
say
I don’t
remember at all
oh yes,
says he
oh yes
he’s got
me eye to eye
you know
what I’m doing now?
he licks
his tongue
around
the gaps in his front teeth
soft and
wet
er, an
electrician?
I hazard
I'm enjoying the cheek of it
no, I’m on
the streets
I’m
sleeping on the streets
oh no,
really, where?
car park
at end o’t Moor
oh
y’know
what? he says
what?
I’ve been
out since nine o’clock
just
trying to get three pounds
for
something to eat
just
three pounds
just for
something to eat
he looks
at me full frontal
I hate to
ask, he says
oh,
right, I say
let me…
er…
he let’s
go of my hand
so I’m
fiddling in my pockets now
just
looking for something
my change
purse
something
I find a
penny
I’d
picked
off the
pavement earlier
but a
penny’s not enough
he’s got
me on his hook now
there’s
no wriggling free
can’t
find it anywhere though
so the
bag comes off my back
and I’m
rooting around
where’s
my bloody change purse
God, I
hate this
nope not
in my bag
test my
pockets again
and there
it is
I hate to
ask, he says
I tip the
contents into my hand
two two
pence pieces
a waitrose trolley token
and a two
pound coin
I give it
a last wistful look
as I drop
it in his outstretched hand
I hate to
ask, he says
well that’ll
get you started
I say
that’ll
get you started
he looks
me in the eye again
takes my
hand in his
in a
formal handshake
I’m very
grateful
he says
very
grateful
No
worries
no
worries
look
after yourself
Bless you
sir
bless you
and I
walk off
smiling
and feeling
slightly
mugged
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