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I had four hours to kill before a flight yesterday and parked up in a small industrial complex near Charles de Gaulle airport for a quiet read. I was dragged out of my solitude by the sound of a large corrugated box being dragged along the tarmac and past my window and then treated to the site of an old tramp buidling his abode for the impending cold night.
This construction took place directly in front of my car and only about three to four metres distant....a fascinating window on a wholly different existence. At some point it became clear that some rudimentry tools would be beneficial and I felt compelled to offer temporary use of some basic tackle from my toolbox.
Initially Monsuir "le constructeur" ignored my offering (and even my presence). After several minutes, he took the meagre offering without a word and carried on with his task.
I attempted to engage in a little conversation...cold nights, quiet location etc but the responses were slow to emerge. I requested that I be allowed to take his photograph but this was met with a firm refusal.
I continued watching the progress and studied him closely...fascinated and, in hindsight, a little too invasive.
Very belatedly I introduced myself and he responded..."Albert". At a guess he was somewhere between 55 and 75 years old...guessing age it isn't my strong point and this type of lifestyle isn't always kind to the appearance. It struck me that Albert was clean and had made some effort to appear presentable despite his clothes and situation he existed in. The ice was melting a little and it became clear that he was quite educated and spoke English better than I speak French.
Albert will spend his Christmas in the box...he won't go to a hostel as they have too many drug addicts and they steal things....not that he had too much to be deprived off from my assessment.
We wished each other a merry Christmas and parted. I now realise that Albert was not a "tramp", he was a gentleman. He doesn't need or want my pity, he just needs a chance and a reason.
Tomorrow morning, I'll be sitting in a warm house, I'll be with someone I love and I'll be loosening my belt in anticipation of the oversized culinary offering that will appear from the kitchen on cue. I don't give these things a second thought, they just happen....always have, always will (?)
I'll be toasting Monsuir Albert tomorrow. I'll be thinking of the things that I HAVE got, not the the things that I DIDN'T get. He taught me more in fifteen minutes that I have learned in a long time....and he's not even aware of it. By next week Albert will probably have forgotten me but I will remember him for a long time to come.
Bob
This construction took place directly in front of my car and only about three to four metres distant....a fascinating window on a wholly different existence. At some point it became clear that some rudimentry tools would be beneficial and I felt compelled to offer temporary use of some basic tackle from my toolbox.
Initially Monsuir "le constructeur" ignored my offering (and even my presence). After several minutes, he took the meagre offering without a word and carried on with his task.
I attempted to engage in a little conversation...cold nights, quiet location etc but the responses were slow to emerge. I requested that I be allowed to take his photograph but this was met with a firm refusal.
I continued watching the progress and studied him closely...fascinated and, in hindsight, a little too invasive.
Very belatedly I introduced myself and he responded..."Albert". At a guess he was somewhere between 55 and 75 years old...guessing age it isn't my strong point and this type of lifestyle isn't always kind to the appearance. It struck me that Albert was clean and had made some effort to appear presentable despite his clothes and situation he existed in. The ice was melting a little and it became clear that he was quite educated and spoke English better than I speak French.
Albert will spend his Christmas in the box...he won't go to a hostel as they have too many drug addicts and they steal things....not that he had too much to be deprived off from my assessment.
We wished each other a merry Christmas and parted. I now realise that Albert was not a "tramp", he was a gentleman. He doesn't need or want my pity, he just needs a chance and a reason.
Tomorrow morning, I'll be sitting in a warm house, I'll be with someone I love and I'll be loosening my belt in anticipation of the oversized culinary offering that will appear from the kitchen on cue. I don't give these things a second thought, they just happen....always have, always will (?)
I'll be toasting Monsuir Albert tomorrow. I'll be thinking of the things that I HAVE got, not the the things that I DIDN'T get. He taught me more in fifteen minutes that I have learned in a long time....and he's not even aware of it. By next week Albert will probably have forgotten me but I will remember him for a long time to come.
Bob
