Friday, July 23, 2010

The Careless Club of "They".


~~~~~~~~~~~The potato inukshuk, held by Leo.~~~~~~~~

I've written about him a few times before.

I saw his heart break again this morning. 'They' promised to take him jigging this time. Jigging is catching cod for domestic consumption only as there has been a moratorium here on the commercial fishing of it so as to replenish the catastrophically depleted stocks.

There are many members in this club of 'They'. It's cheap and easy to join. All you have to do is tell Leo you will take him trouting or berry-picking or to a kitchen party or jigging. And then forget about it.

Thing is, he doesn't. And when he came in this morning having swept out my garage from a project's sawdust accumulation he mentioned his most recent disappointment. 'They'd' all left without him again.

Have I ever broken a promise to you, Leo? I asked him, in an effort to show him we - the so-called human race that is - are not all cut of the same careless cloth.

You've made a lot of promises, he said slowly, thinking, and then his face lit up, and you haven't broken any! You even gave me my very own shed for my bike! (A “bike” here is an ATV).

And what did you do last night, Leo? I asked him as he stood there beaming at me.

Oh, he said, you hardly want to know that. My next door neighbour, Dezzie? Well he's in some bad shape and no one will go near him anymore because of the smell.

What? I said. I've never seen Dezzie, Dezzie gets everything delivered and keeps his curtains drawn.

I thought he might be dead from the booze, Leo continued, so I bashed my way in and put my hanky up because of the smell, but someone had to clean it up and clean him up and his furniture too. It took me forever, just about all night. Dezzie's drinking himself to death and he never uses the bathroom now. Imagine!

I was horrified.

Shouldn't we report this,Leo?

Oh I did, he said quietly. I can't manage to take care of him anymore, it's just too much, so I called the health care number and they're coming over.

As he walked away, straight and tall, like a military man, I sat down and wept.

He is the finest man I've ever known.

'They' are just not good enough to breathe the same air as him.

15 comments:

  1. One true friendship is worth a thousand "theys". Leo knows whom he can trust.

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  2. 'They' are a$$hols...breaks my heart just reading it:(, but thank goodness there are still good eggs around.

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  3. What a sad story about Dezzie. Reminds me of the guy who lived in the house behind ours. I hope the health care people can help him, but if he really wants to drink himself to death I doubt they'll make much headway.

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  4. @Marcia:
    Not really, he has the sensibility of a 12 year old so he still misplaces his trust. His family alone can be quite abusive in taking things from him.
    @Twain:
    Yes, he is very special and needs to be treasured and not mocked at (oh the stories alone on this would break your heart).
    @Nick:
    Dezzie is only 49, a really, really sad case. It seems like nothing can get through to him. He needs to be put in a home and hopefully re-habbed.
    XO
    WWW

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  5. Sometimes the mind of a 12 year old will see what needs to be done and just do it. So sad that his family and "friends" can't appreciate him for what he is :-(

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  6. Yes Jo, simplicity is best. The family are awfully good at manipulating him!
    He could teach us all some very valuable lessons on life!
    XO
    WWW

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  7. "They"'ll get theirs one of these days.

    What a sweet guy, and what sad sidelights live side by side with such beauty there. I hope Dezzie recovers - somehow.

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  8. Leo is fortunate to have you as a friend.

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  9. T:
    Isn't it always the way of life though, sadness and happiness, beauty and ugliness living side by side. Uneasily.
    XO
    WWW

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  10. GM:
    I think it very much the other way around!
    XO
    WWW

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  11. Maybe it's time to turn the tables on them who are "they."

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  12. Nora:
    I think they eventually turn the tables on themselves.
    XO
    WWW

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  13. I wish I could do something for Leo. I'm glad you're out there looking out for him.

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  14. There are good people out there too, PC, but more take advantage of him than not. You would be very welcome here!
    XO
    WWW

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