I was the tramp
Our tale begins with yours truly sitting in a police car. You see, I'd been homeless for a good many months and in between roughing it, I'd done a fair bit of sofa surfing on especially cold nights. At one particular “friends”, I had however come a cropper. See this friend, rather then asking me to move on, as others had in various ways, decided instead to go for broke. I was asked to go out and pick up some stuff from another mutual acquaintance only to find that person wasn't just not in the house, but not even in the same city! Trudging back I phoned up – I'd left everything I owned in this friends place, beyond the bag on my back that literally went everywhere with me – it had a change of clothes and a sleeping bag in it. I was refused, and then was put on the business end of the most painful and hurtful tirades I've ever been witness to.

Threats a plenty came across the line. So I'd phoned the police as the temperature was dropping below zero at this point to get back what stuff I could carry with me. By the time the police had arrived (2 hours later), this friend had managed to hide/remove/whatever everything I knew to be in that house.

Everything.

So the police took me to the local salvation army centre, but as per – it was full to the brim. It's December, there is snow coming down quite heavily and I'm on the streets. Fuck.

In a moment of desperation I phoned a guy I'd worked with as a phone monkey for Currys. At this point I figured I didn't have anything to loose. The diamond came through.

“No probs Lea, get your arse round to my old man's – we'll set up a bed for you and we can work out the rest later!”

After an hour or so I got to his old man's house based on the directions he'd given me. By now I can't feel anything below my knees and my fingers are becoming difficult to move – it's that cold.

I stay at his Dad's place for two weeks in the end. But that's not the best part. Oh no.

His Dad was (as I understand it) a well known and trusted member of the Muslim community. Where both the local council and Christian charities had told me they couldn't do much due to me not being a single mother/(ex)junkie/asylum seaker/ex con. This one man, with a handful of phone calls arranged a place for me. Even better, thanks to his good words on my behalf, I didn't even have to pay a deposit!!!

So here I am, at home nearly 18 months later and very much alive thanks to a virtual strangers' kindness.

Thanks Noah, I can't say how much I owe you – how much is a life worth?

As for the “friend”, she ended up with practically all of my ID (in another bag), computer (worth a few hundred) and piles of other stuff. Not that I can prove it, of course.

Apologies for length...
(the_leander, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 7:39, 5 replies)

Sent a shiver down my spine.
Glad to hear you are getting back on your feet. Tis amazing what the support of just one person can produce.

Your "friend" sound nice.....
(StyX is staring at you, yes YOU!!!, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 7:48, closed)

A friend is someone that will stand by you in the bad times
I'm glad that you found one of the decent peopel in the world. I'm sorry that you discovered you had 1 elss friend than you thought.
( Crap Little Monkey Deathstar, so good they built it twice, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 9:23, closed)

A Good Luck story for a change - what a relief.
You sound like a winner to me, friend.
( Larry Vest One day at a time, sweet Jesus, FFS., Fri 3 Jul 2009, 10:45, closed)

Winner? Me? Naaaah!
I would say I endure, nothing more.

Thanks though :)
(the_leander, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 11:43, closed)

.
Gald your back on your feet.
Hope karma bites your "freind" on the ass hard!!
(Gru being trolled since 1998, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 13:45, closed)