extra cream, please!

It hadn’t rained all day- and just as I was about to leave – the heavens opened. Typical. In a flash, the sky switched from blue to grey. Welcome to England- when it rains- it doesn't stops for breath. It was almost 5pm and I was in the middle of the busy city of Leeds. I was cold. My socks felt damp in my shoes and water was running around in the bare bits of my body. My mother’s umbrella had failed me. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast and I could feel my stomach beg my mouth for food. I was having one of those days. It was only a short walk to the car. Except it was just a short walk for e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y in the city; I joined the stampede of grumpy faces etching to get home. Onward, gridlock traffic awaited us. Yet people were still insistent on pushing and shoving where possible to get a few seconds ahead. Music blurted uncomfortably in my ears but my phone was too lost in my bag to think about changing it.

I was just about to take a left turn, when I noticed. It was difficult to see as the roads were busy with buses. But in between each gap I saw, slumped up against a lamppost, a man, sitting companionless and forgotten.

A little late in updating my prescription, my glasses spared me of the details, although, the blur was clear enough to see he was deprived. Rain bounced off the black material that attempted to shield him and the wind ragged up the sheets underneath him .

How can a person not have a home in weather like this? I thought. Everybody should be entitled to the fundamentals in life. Perhaps in my naivety, or rather an ignorance from the truth, I had assumed the weather made exemptions for those living on the streets. That on these sort of days, they had a place to go.

I carried on walking, fuelled by the thoughts of my sciatica in gridlock traffic. But with every step the pitiful black cape appeared in the forefront of my mind. Beneath the exterior, he was a man with feelings, opinions, beliefs and emotions. Just like me.

Guilt slowed me down and eventually, I stopped- much to the dismay of the bustling crowd behind me- and looked back once more. Briefcases and expensive suits averted his gaze. I frowned in horror as those dodged him as a sheer inconvenience to their track.

I didn’t really know what I was doing but my head followed my heart, directing me towards the nearest coffee shop.

I welcomed a sudden heat in my face as frustration burned inside of me. “If people were just a little kinder” I thought to myself. “All we need is a little more kindness in the world.” Perhaps it would have been wise to go and take his coffee order, but the time was passing, and the shop would close any minute.

After chaotically running to the nearest 3 coffee shops and failing to find one open I remembered I passed a Greggs a street back. I put the plastic bag I was carrying over my head as an extra shield to the downpour and dashed back on myself- too invested in my mission to do otherwise.

To my surprise, it was not just open- but it was rammed.

Are you serious? I thought as I slid in- almost having to queue out of the door.

I contemplated leaving, but I knew I wouldn’t find anywhere else. I definitely couldn’t jusy go on my merry way and forget about him. I looked at my watch. It had been 5 minutes and the line hadn’t budged.

Come on- is this the price I get for doing a good deed? The traffic is going to be hectic. I couldn’t bare to think of sitting in traffic for over an hour. I hated driving in the rain. Nevertheless, I took out my earphones and resumed my patience.

After 15 minutes of queuing, I was second in line.

“That one!” “No that one!” “Actually I think that one with the chocolate on" said a little boy in an orange bobble hat in front of me.

“Maybe mummy.... I think all of them will do” he added excitedly.

“Jay-cob” said his mother playfully.

“Hmmm” he continued with one of his fingers pointed at his rosy cheeks and his other hand running over the confectionary window.

Rush hour traffic is only a mile away, come on- I willed- hoping he may just be telepathic as well as cute.

“Okay the sprinkles one and the donut one and the sausage roll one pur-leaseee miss”

Jacob glared wondrously into the glass that separated him from the tasty treats and watched whilst the server first selected the cookie that was coated with white icing and rainbow sprinkles. “Do you want cream on your hot chocolate” she asked patiently- as if no one else in the shop had a life to live.

“I’ll just have a think about that one for a cupl'a seconds” he replied, scratching his chin.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

He turned to look up at his mother who was gleaming down at him. “Hmm, what do you think mummy?”

Oh come on!!

“It’s your choice darling”

Really? ????

“I thinkkk……..”

Outside the rain fell harder and harder as the drive home grew longer and longer.

He chuckled “ab-sor-lutely cream please.”

Thank goodness.

Finally, they left and so I ordered an extra large capuccino- extra hot and a bottle of water and hoped that semi-skimmed milk would be okay. I also got a pizza slice, margarita, to be on the safe side- then I hoped he wasn’t vegan.

Outside the rain refused to relent and I dashed back, careful not to jiggle cappuccino everywhere. My hood betray me exposing my head to the shower. It was slowing but I was already dretched. For a second I lost my composure, my barings and I scattered round trying to spot him.

But then I could see, the lamppost again in the distance. I hurried a little faster. A little faster praying the coffee would still be hot. That the pizza was okay. Contemplating whether this gesture would change anything at all. Recalling the £10 that I wedged between my phone and pledging it would now be his. Thinking what else could I do. But then, from behind my rain speckled glasses, I could see.

I was no longer hungry, rushing, or needing to be anywhere. Nothing else mattered. Inside, I sank. I felt my eyes tickle as I felt a combination of compassion and guilt.

I walked over and placed the paper cup behind the long line of Greggs cups, each with steam vacating the lip. I placed the pizza on the edge of his sheet next to the array of Greggs paper bags. The man looked over and smiled, so genuinely I felt the energy of his gratitude embrace me. Then he returned his eyes to the young boy standing infront of him with youthful wonder.

Jacob pushed up his little orange bobble hat that had falled slightly over his eyes. Then he passed the paper cup and parcels of food over into the mans hands.

“I hope cream is okay for you Sir, and you like sprinkles and donuts”