I have heard many stories about this gentleman who lives on the Mandela Highway in White Marl, St. Catherine. The most touching and believable one was the story of his girlfriend losing her life in a car accident on the said highway….he was supposed to meet her at a mutual time but he was late… he felt guilty and so visited the spot everyday on his bicycle, even sleeping there at times.
I was always curious…why did he choose to sleep there? Where was his bicycle I used to see him with? Does he have a family? Today I decided to talk to him. I mustered up some courage, pulled over and said, ‘’good evening, can we talk?” he seemed guarded….he looked me over and responded ‘’depends….what you wanna talk about?”
I pulled over…..
“I am a painter and gardener. I am homeless. I never owned a house. At one point I got a job to work on someone’s house. I fixed it up nicely and was living there. I planted fruits and vegetables including banana. I took great care of the place. It is a big house with enough room, but one day the family came from overseas and told me I had nine months to leave. I ended up on the streets. I use to own a bicycle but someone stole that from me.’’
“Don’t you get cold at nights?”
“I own a blanket and a jacket. I have a thermos for my tea and I own a few utensils. Everything I store right here. A nice gentleman stopped by with two chairs and told me to come get them. I thought they were broken but when I checked them out they were in perfectly good condition. A young lady asked me for one and I gave her.”
‘’Do you have a family?”
‘’Ask me about strangers, not family. I have two boys and I see them pass me here many times and pretend not to see me. I have a daughter overseas; I use to call and get her on the phone but lately the calls go to voicemail.”
“How is your health?”
‘’My health is not so great. I have an appointment at the Chest Clinic on Wednesday.’’
‘’How do you get around? Take a shower? Provide for yourself?”
‘’I have some buckets across the street that I use to store water to take my showers. I bathe before day break and head out. I cook here too. Many times, persons like yourself stop by and help me with whatever they can. I am always grateful.’’
So I had to ask the burning question….’’so the story about you losing your girlfriend on this highway isn’t true?” he forced a smile and said… ‘’ah child, people have many stories, they also say I am crazy, but that is their story, not mine…the longest liver will see the most.’’
We both stood in silence for a few seconds before he asked, “will people overseas read this?” I nodded. “Do you think my daughter will see it?” he asked. “I honestly hope she will”, I responded. I watched him opened a worn lunch bag and ruffled through appointment cards, what appeared to be a birth certificate, and bits of paper with telephone numbers written on them. He read aloud his phone number and concluded, ‘’if my daughter contacts you, can you give her this number…?’’
https://www.facebook.com/344642742346005/photos/a.344651722345107.1073741825.344642742346005/502556833221261/?type=1&theater
oh God man I hope someone somewhere will recognize this man from the article and send it to her, abandonment is a helluva thing
my question and people might be upset. But what could be so terrible that your sons could drive pass not acknowledging you and your daughter has made no effort to contact you….life is a funny ting though just have fi do u best and left the rest to God. I believe that nothing last forever still and forgiveness must come.
Yu know seh a so it always go ….weh mada and fada nuh memba pickney wi memba it ..u haffi careful how u treat yu children
:mewek2 :mewek2 :mewek2 :mewek2 :mewek2
DIS WAN TOUCH MI SOUL FREE UP HIM NUMBER,DIS WAN ERE MOVE ME
i’ve seen him in my community, didn’t know he was homeless. But on another note though, what type of relationship did he have with his children?
I wondered the same thing anon. Was he a deadbeat dad. Was he abusive?any way its sad
This is so sad :sorry Life jus rough fi some people.
Hello one and all. It doesn’t matter what this man does to his kids in the past once you have a heart you look beyond his faults, and saw his needs. My mom gave me away she Neva try to find mi mi go through a lot of abuse, but I believed GOD is going to c mi through and he did my mom got veryyy sick with cancer I got the news didn’t care, but something in me couldn’t let her suffer. I help her to the fullest now she is fine wil I forget no but it makes me feels good to know she is fine and I help her.
And u will be blessed
Evening Genuine. Sorry yuh guh through any form of abuse and glad you reached out to your mother. God’s favor is on you!
glad ur pulling through nd ur so rite matters not mi cuden pass my own from yuh have a heart it wuden allow yuh tuh…mi feel it fi him
My heart just broke at the end I hope deh reads this and whatever is preventing her from communicating with him I pray it works itself out. I’ve heard people say they don’t answer calls from jamaica because sometimes they really don’t have it to give but I always remind them that a no all the time people a beg nuttin sometimes they just want to hear your voice.