No Scrub

I was a quick typist in every sense of the word: 66 word per minute on the keyboard and worst of all, quick to judge, slow to listen, and not enough trust.

Young Girl was trying to help out a homeless Old Man in a fortnight; admittedly she was more clueless than he was. On that Friday, it so happens that another rough sleeper, about 40 years his junior, was heading to Dr Hickey's surgery on Hume Street.

I am not naming names cos I think they are a bit shy, afterall, this is not for name or money, this is about an education.

Anyway, Young Dude remembers this girl brought him a blanket the other day, and walks both her and the Old Man to the surgery for some tea. Young Dude shuffled about whilst Young Girl tried to trick the old man into making an appointment.

Result: The receptionist asked them to return on Monday, at 1345. Old Man walked off in a huff. Dude let out an exasperated gasp. Girl followed, still clueless, and didn't give the dude money for a train ticket to the hospital until she saw his wound. On parting, he huffily mentioned the shepherd boy who cried wolf, 'don't lie, it always gets back to you.'

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Anyway, Girl and Old Man walk to the surgery on Monday, stopping at a newsies for teabags. Old Man buys matches for a smoke, she makes a face. They show up at the door on time, only to find that the surgery deals with the homeless on a first come first serve basis, Mondays to Fridays, from 1400.

Awakening! Dude probably gave up his appointment to treat his wound so Old Man could be seen to, but now Dude is nowhere in sight for a thank you. Girl offers receptionist teabags ('donations always welcome', she says) and put some change in the charity box for BBC. Other patients fished in their pockets and followed suit ('look what you've started').

Quirky fact: Girl finds it unfortunate that the box is stuck-fast on the window sill so it wouldn't get stolen.

After 2 cups of tea with 3 sugars and 1 song, girl eventually persuades old man to register with the GP. Happily he pisses in the jar, takes it to the nurse and gets a check-up. Girl breathes sigh of relieve.

Complication: girl heads home, and mother got worried about her hanging around homeless 'drunks', instead of filling out job applications (her last job was in journalism). But in all seriousness, Old Man and Young Dude were perfectly harmless, when you look them eye-to-eye.

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On Sunday, Old Man walked Young Girl to church and grew to trust Young Dude, who no longer cries wolf. Through their connections, they got Young Girl a job, which cheered Mother up big time. They made peace at the coffee shop that Old Man frequents.

Just past noon that afternoon, girl saw Young Dude sitting on a doorstep but couldn't say hi cos she was with Mother. She walked back and dude found her a printer that someone had dumped: an Epson model, newer than the printer she had for seven or so years, only missing a parallel cable.

Instead of napping, girl sets up her computer to test out the printer for dude. She found her cables amongst a toy that still wolfs 'I'm a dog', and unwinds an extension cord the way an ex-lover showed her. She's pining after the last man she was with, cos it would be a real shame if he showed up and she's moved on.

Test Result: it works - first of the four Chinese inventions besides compasses, fireworks and paper.

She's going to be another half hour late returning the printer, cos she got distracted writing an article. An occupational habit - her last job was a copywriter - finally she's picking up her R.E.M.s, so to speak. What was yours? Like that spider who spun the web all over again, dreams are for salvedging, don't throw them away just yet.

Dude will refrain from printing money. Old man needs an Oyster card please, and hopefully we won't see match girls on the street this Christmas. Afterall, Mother still buys The Big Issue.

-Never give up on your loving,
You're the one that keeps my heart growing- All Saints, All Hits