Next time you see a hitch hiker, think about who you might be helping... On Friday I was on my way back from Coventry and decided to stop at the services for a coffee, I never stop for a coffee but on this off chance I did I met a man called Brian who asked for a lift. I told him I wasnt going to and I wandered off to get my coffee. While waiting for my coffee I thought about it and figured y not its not costing me anything. So I went back out and said i could take him as far as Nantwich, he said this was great as he needed to get to sandbach. So off we went, as we got chatting Brian explained he had been down in Bournemouth getting a job but it had fallen through so was on his way back. Anyway as I dug further it had turned out that when Brian was 10 he had had to leave school to look after his mother who had been left disabled by his abusive father, recently the Salvation Army had been looking after her in the evenings so he could do a course at night school in hospitality. 5 weeks ago Brians mother died. At this point he started crying and I must say I wasnt far off myself. He went on to say that after she died the council came round and said he had 2 weeks to find a new place to live before the house was taken off him, I cant imagine how hard it must have been to be told with no money and a certificate in hospitality you need to find a new home. Needless to say 2 weeks later Brian was turfed out on to the street with no home to go to and no family to help him. He decided to try and get a job and to show his initiative thought hed get a lift to the first place he could and knock on as many doors as he could, he said this backfired a bit as most people just thought he was a weirdo asking for work. But after some effort he landed himself a job at a hotel in Bournemouth. He was due to start work on Friday morning but when the hotel owner asked for his place of residence Brian was forced to admit he didnt have one, no place of residence meant no job. Brian then went to Shelter, the homeless charity who told him it would be £40 for a month. Brian explained he didnt have any money but would soon with his new job. Unfortunately they wouldnt let him stay, so no money meant no place of residence which meant no job. Brian then asked if the owner of the hotel could keep the job open until next Wednesday so he could try and sort things out. The owner said this was fine but after Wednesday the job would be gone. He then caught a lift back up north where I met him, the reason he wanted to go to sandbach was because it had showers for lorry drivers so he could wash himself and his clothes, the showers also had locks so he could lock himself in at night as he was too scared to sleep outside. He was unbelievably ashamed and embarrassed to be telling me this as he seemed like a very proud and humble man. I offered to let him come back to mine for a shower and something to eat and said Id wash all his clothes for him then run him back to sandbach, he cried and said it wasnt necessary and that he had to go back to sandbach to meet a lady from the Salvation Army who was giving him a sleeping bag as his had been stolen. When we got back to sandbach I felt bad leaving him there, he asked if I had any change for a sandwich and I only had a £20 note. He tried to refuse but I insisted so he offered me his jar of instant coffee in return as he said his mother had always said you should give something in return. He then told me he wouldnt be using the £20 note for food but would save it as he only needed to get another £20 for the shelter in Bournemouth and then he could get the job. I gave him the money he needed and now hes thumbing a lift to Bournemouth again. I know some people are sceptical and maybe it was the most elaborate lie Ive ever heard but somehow I doubt it. So next time someone asks you for a lift or if youve got any work they could do just think, is there anything I can do for them. Theyre not all murdering rapists. Good luck to Brian.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 15:22:36 +0000
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