Christmas At Willies

Christmas At Willies

By Paul McCann

I walked into the city centre with my six string under my arm . I hoped being Christmas Eve people would be generous . I headed for my usual corner near the Swiss Jewellers . Coming towards me in Washington Street was a man who reached out his hand ,
”Merry Christmas “: He said .
‘Merry Christmas “ I answered .
“Come on and I’ll buy you a pint .“
I followed him down Great Patrick Street and he opened the door .
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 . A great night was had by all . When the pub shut everyone made their way out on to the footpath . I followed the crowd to a chipper where people stood in a queue putting in their orders . Outside the shop taxi cabs were pulling up and taking off .
I was a stranger in Cork and had no where to stay but a derelict building near the City Hall . It was great to be in the company of local lads and ladies but as the night wore on I headed off down through the town . It was Christmas Eve and all the pubs had closed .
As I wandered along by the River Lee I took a stroll through McCurtain Street where I noticed a young man having great difficulty getting his door key into the lock . Swaying back and forward he could hardly stand up on his feet .
I walked over to him and took the key from his hand and said ,
“Let me help you .“
I put the key in the lock and turned it. “
The young lad looked at me and said ,
“Hey, you were playing in the Washington tonight .weren’t you ?”
Where you there “ I replied .
“I was”
“Great night wasn’t it?”
“Where are you going .“
To get my head down.” I replied .
“Where’s that.”
“I haven’t got a place “ I answered .
“Come in and stay with me. I have a great big place with two bedrooms . You can stay as long as you like “.
I followed him up the stairs of the old Georgian building . He oped the door of the flat and brought me into a large bedroom . There was blankets on the bed and a pillow for my head .
“Good night “ he said .
“What’s your name ?” I asked .
“Willie Dinene “ He said .
“Thanks Willie.”

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 I listened to Willie snoring in the other room while 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 Willie was gone . I walked in to the kitchen and looked in all the cupboards . That’s strange I thought to myself .
There was no food and all that was in the fridge was a hob nail boot .
It was Christmas and not a sound could be heard anywhere .
I was alone in the big house for three days . Willie retuned as if he had never been away ,
“He sat down on the sofa and talked and talked and talked .
I listened as he told me about his love for music . Especially The Eagles .
He produced a cassette from his pocket and put it into his cassette player on the floor by the fire . Every song was dissected by Willie . He understood a lot about music and I listened hard .
I grew to love The Eagles that day and found new depth to their songs .
That evening Willie was getting ready to go out .
“I’ll get my hole to-night” He said .
Off he went like a man on a mission into town . I stayed home and tried to play some of the Eagles songs on my guitar . I picked and strummed until my eyes were heavy and I walked off to bed . I was hungry and hated going to sleep with my stomach rolling and turning over .
At least I had a roof over my head and a bed to lie on .
The next morning I woke to find Willie snoring in the other room .
The snoring was loud but I could live with that . After all it was Willies home .
After Willie got up he told me he was going to visit his Mother that day .
He seemed nervous and spoke about his problem .
“I know you’ve got a problem Willie ” I said .
“It’s the drink “ said Willie who started to cry .
“I put my arms on his shoulders and said ,
”There are people out there who can help you Willie. All you have to do is knock on their door”
‘If only I could eat some lunch everything would be all right “
‘Willie” I said . “You’ve got to try to get some food into your stomach . It’s easy Willie, don’t worry , After the first bite, it gets easier, you’ll see . Come on Willie . Try for me Willie “ I said .
He looked up and nodded his head and said ,.
“I will then and after I do I’m going to get my hole and bring her back here.”
‘Now you’re talking Willie “ I said .
The day passed slowly and my hunger pains were getting worse .
It had been about six months now since I was robbed and with no money or ID I was a lost in a lost world waiting for my Australian passport and some funds to arrive . Now that I had an address it would be much easier to get mail sent to me . My time sleeping rough on the streets and busking from town to town were over . I knew I had to get into town and do some busking as my ready funds were gone . I thought about going in and made my mind up I would tomorrow .

That evening I wrote a lot of letters . I wrote to various Australian officials and continued ti inform them about my sad holiday misfortune . Now that I had a permanent address I knew it was only a matter of time until I got a letter from them . I put all my letters on the mantelpiece and hit the sack .
The next morning Willie came running into my bedroom with a big smile on his face .
”You got your hole Willie “ I said .
“No . I eat some of my Mums lunch “ he replied .
The look on Willies face was of total joy and satisfaction .
I was so happy for him .
All he wanted to do was show his Mum he was able to eat her food .
I told Willie I was going into town to do a bit of busking and he told me he had to return to his job in London . I never even knew he had a job never mind one in London . Anyway Willie told me the rent was paid up for the next two weeks
And I could stay on until then . I thanked Willie and we said goodbye . He was gone that day . Within an hour of Willie leaving a loud knock came to the door . I opened the door to see this huge man standing there . He looked like a giant and even spoke like one .
”Is Mr Dinene home. I’m here to collect the rent “ he said .
“Isn’t it paid up for the next two weeks “ I said .
“No he owes me already for two weeks” came the reply .
Gone were the days of me trying to make sense out of things and I answered
“Willie has just gone over to his Mums house for some lunch . Do you know where she lives ?”
”No” Was the reply .
‘Well he’ll be back in a few hours if you want to wait around “ I said .
“Sure I’ll drop in on my way back from Tipperary . I have to go there now and collect some rent from another house . “
“Right then we’ll see you later on then .“ I said .
“Ok .“ said the big man wearing a donkey jacket and a cap .
As soon as the coast was clear I got out of the flat quick smart and headed off to tow where I sang like a lark until I had made the price of a bus fare to Birr .
As I sat there in Parnell Quay waiting for a bus out of Cork , I took out all those letters I had written and tore each one up and put them in the rubbish bin . I looked at some faces of the people who sat there waiting for the bus and gently took up my six string and strummed and sang an Eagles Song called “Lying Eyes”

Its funny how we never look in the eys of those we speak to .

Maybe if we did  we could see the truth of what they're trying to tell us .  

THE END