Writing for Fun
Crisis - Weather Bomb - Vivian Burdon
December 2014
Daily Mirror – Tuesday December 9th 2014. Weather 'bomb' to bring 3 weeks of Hell. 80mph winds, blizzards and temperatures falling to -9 degrees centigrade as icy storm sweeps in! A violent weather system forming in the Atlantic is set to batter Britain until Christmas.
CRESR – The hidden truth about homelessness – May 2011. The key conclusion to emerge from this study is that single homelessness and hidden homelessness are synonymous. In other words, to be a single homeless person in England in the main is to be 'hidden' (from support, advice and statistics).
Darren let his hand rest on the dog's flank and received solace from its warm devotion. Christmas shoppers rushed by above him and sat in cafes around him.
'Look at him . . . what a state he's in. It can't be comfy on those cold tiles. I can't believe that lad can't find somewhere to sleep!'
'Remember the time we had that tent Sam? It was lovely while it lasted wasn't it? Nice of Jim to give it us. It was ok too, a bit like a home… that land was scrubby, but it weren't being used so no harm. You liked it didn't you Sammyboy, nice to run about in, eh? You little beauty. Where did all that rain come from though? That's what I want to know. Global warming! We nearly bloody well floated away didn't we Sam? Shame though… probably wouldn't have lasted anyway, nothing ever does.'
'I mean, look at him, he must have friends or something.'
'I had a dream about Dave the other night. I miss Dave don't you Sam. He was such a good mate. We go way back, me and Dave…went to first school together. Fell out good and proper now. He needed me off his couch when his girlfriend put her oar in. Bitch! Don't blame him really, or her. I couldn't pay and was taking up space. I was scared of being back on the street see. I shouldn't have said that to her though. One night max. That should be our rule from now on 'one night only' otherwise we won't have any friends left.'
'I mean, if that was me I'd find an empty house or building of some sort, at least show some gumption, a bit of pride instead of sitting in a doorway lowering the tone.'
'What about that squat eh, Sam? Needles, cans and drugs everywhere. It was wet too wasn't it, not just damp . . . holes in the ceiling. That drunk bloke gave me a right beating. Came out of hospital in the jeans they cut off me, couldn't stay there, who would have looked after you. Rat infested too. Sorry Sam, I didn't know they were biting you did i? Come on cuddle up here under my blanket. That's it my lovely boy.'
'Filthy too! Look at his clothes and his hands . . . Filthy and scabby. He should be ashamed. Soap costs nothing these days.'
'Stop licking me Sammyboy, you don't know where I've been! Not sure where those scabs came from. That's the worst of it eh, not being able to get washed, you need to get washed. Look Sammy if I scrape my skin in this rain like this . . . look I can see the dirt, feel it too. Horrible isn't it? Maybe we'll get a place in the hostel tonight and have a shower, I could sneak you in too, they don't mind dogs . . . you will have to be a good boy though. Too many people turned up last night. Queued for hours for nothing. They opened the doors and bang, shut them again. Must have only had about four spaces or so, that's all they let in I reckon. And they turned that poor lad away, the one at the front. Not local apparently. I didn't know that did you Sam? They only take local people. Don't know how you prove that though. Can't have liked the look of him. You had to feel sorry for him though. He had been at the front and all. Must have queued all day in the cold. Wind whips up that road from the seafront.'
'Why doesn't he go to the council . . . They give everyone a house these days, drugies, Albanians, single parents. They don't even help themselves that's the problem.'
'That lady at the Council was nice. Remember, I told you about her Sam. I knew it was a waste of time they can never do anything, everyone says so. Not worth bothering now. Fancy giving me a booklet to read. It was rude to laugh like that, but I was embarrassed. She weren't to know I can't read. I left sharpish I can tell you . . . I left you tied up outside too long hadn't I Sam . . . Aaah. Is that nice Sam? I think I'd like someone to scratch my belly too. That lass maybe? Shame about her, she was good company for a while. Loved you to pieces too. You didn't like her boyfriend from the start did you Sam? I saw her yesterday, says she's a prossie now. Good money but a bit scary. Len takes most of it she reckons. Say's it's his commission for getting her work. And crack. Slime ball.'
'Where's the lad's family that's what I want to know? And a dog for heaven's sake how can he afford to keep a dog. Can't look after himself as far as I can see.'
'Do you want to sit on my knee Sam? Come on under the blanket you're shivering, cuddle up and let's keep warm. My dad used to coax me onto his knee did I tell you that. I didn't like it though. He played about with me, a bit rough too. Said it was our little game. When I got older and didn't want to play anymore he got angry. Hurt me . . . and my Mum. Poor Mum . . . I miss her. She got very tired towards the end. I tried to look after her, missed loads of school but I didn't mind. Dad went even more loopy after she died. Drunk every night . . . kicked me out in the end. I would have left anyway. I love you Sam. You won't let me down will you lovely boy?'
'He really loves that dog. Look at them. Poor lad. Well we can't just sit here and ignore him can we Brenda? Here! Get another hot chocolate and I'll take it to him. I've got some spare change. Pass me our Tyson's new bag of Tasty Morsels we can always buy some more. Don't look at me like that Brenda . . . Its winter and it can't be easy these days.'
'There you go lad. Drink that and get a bit of warmth inside you. Here, this is for your dog and here's a few quid. Get a hot pie of something later. Can I do anything else son?'
'No, no sir that's fantastic, thank you. Just . . . thanks . . . say thank you, Sam.'