REJOINING THE LIVING… Is a story of life and death. Kindness and humanity.
Walking along the city streets, sun setting, darkness creeping in… Another night he would go home to an empty apartment, totally cut off from the rest of the world, that was going on, all around him. For years now, this was how he lived -- alone.
He felt wronged by the system, the world, the whole damn universe. So he just checked out… Having your family, your 2 girls taken from you by an act of extreme violence.., can do that to you…
A modern day recluse, in the biggest city in the world. He worked from his apartment when he had too, money was no issue -- he had done quite well for himself when he was still part of the living. And would from time to time.., usually, right before sunrise, or just after the sunset, would venture out amongst the living just to feel the people around him -- there energy.
The thing is.., when you decide (if it's something you even decide) to check out -- the world around you, the very city right beneath your feet continues on it's way, without you. And for awhile, that was just fine with him. But now, he was getting restless -- he was reaching the end of his rope and the thoughts of joining the two most important people, ever, in his life kept entering his mind, more frequently.
It was the time of day, when the city still slept... The people who inhabited it still rustling beneath their duvets… The sun, not quite awake, either. And he ventured out to walk down one of the wealthiest streets in the whole world -- Fifth Avenue. He lived just through the park, so in his leather jacket, jeans, boots and of course, hat and sunglasses (his attempt to stay hidden) he headed out for his dose of the living.
Walking the streets of the city, at this time, was somewhat liberating… All alone, surrounded by nothing but towers of steel, concrete and glass, soaring to the skies -- he could feel alive, without the threat of actual human contact. He hadn't passed a single sole his whole walk (just the way he liked it) and as he turned off 5th ave onto 58th St (he had walked farther than normal that morning, lost in his own world) he almost tripped right over this big lump of something lying on the sidewalk.
It was a homeless person. But before they could wake, he made his way across the street to a public area, right in front of the Plaza Hotel and watched… Something had made him stop and wait to see who this person was, for some strange, unknown reason. I mean, homelessness was nothing new to him.., but he had noticed during his early morning walks that it had been on the rise.
The streets were still, basically, empty.., when that lump of dirty blankets he had been watching started to rustle (just like all those people under their duvets). He couldn't figure out why he was so drawn to this situation, instead of just going back to the safety of his apartment, tucked away in his loneliness.
And then it happened… the lump in the street sat up and leaned over to reveal a beautiful small blonde child. As he looked, transfixed on the whole thing, he could now see, it was a mother and her child. And as his gaze focused in on them -- he could feel a steady flow of tears rolling down his face.
Out of nowhere, he had been overwhelmed with such deep emotions, emotions that he had not been in-touch with for some time, now. From the moment he saw this, small blonde child and her mother, he had not taken his eyes off them for a split second -- there was something that they each possessed that completely reminded him of his 2 very special girls, that had been taken from him.
It seemed like he was sitting and staring at them for hours -- when in all actuality, it had only been about 15 minutes -- he hadn't even finished the cigarette he lit when he first sat. He had no idea where this was leading as he sat there tears still very present in his eyes and face… And as he turned his gaze away from the young mother to fidget for another cigarette… As he looked back up, she was standing right in front of him, holding this beautiful child, still wrapped in a tattered, old, very dirty blanket.
"Are you okay..?" she said to the man and continued...
"You seem pretty upset about something, do you need some help?"
He sat there, transfixed by this women and her child… They both, had definitely, possessed many of the very special qualities, he had a chance to witness, on a daily basis -- when his girls still graced this earth.
It had been awhile since he had even spoken to someone… And now, he seemed to be the center, of this homeless woman and her childs', attention. They were very dirty and from what he could tell, looked very hungry. Without even thinking, he wiped the tears from his face and said;
"Can I buy you ladies some breakfast?" The instantaneous tiny, little smile that formed in the corners of the little girls mouth almost broke his heart -- as he was transported back to the only happiness he had ever known.
"How does pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon..," As he tried to think of every breakfast food, known to man -- the little girl, not being able to contain herself, blurted out -- "Can my mother have some fresh fruit..?"
Before he completely broke down -- he leaned over to a little patch of grass with some flowers and picked two beautiful yellow ones -- handing the first one to the child and as he handed the second one to the the girls mother… He looked at her, directly in her eyes, for the first time -- "Will you wait, while I go grab us some breakfast..?"
"Look, you don't have to…" But before she could finish her sentence he cut her off -- "And a big bowl of fresh fruit for your Mom," as he smiled at the little girl -- who gladly returned the favor, with a giant ear to ear grin, like only a little girl can do…
"We can eat in the park…" and he jotted off, right towards the front entrance to the Plaza Hotel. There is a magnificent food court, right inside the Plaza. He had not dared to step inside of it for a long time (as it was a favorite of his girls). But he didn't even think about it.., and went about gathering the finest breakfast foods you could imagine.
He was creating quite a stir amongst the people working in the food court, because almost everyone of them recognized him, from all his past visits, and it had been some time since they had laid eyes on him. They all knew his wife and little girl were killed in the Sept. 11th World Trade Center attack. His wife was a very successful person down on Wall St.. but was more known for her generosity of both money and her time, in an effort to help homeless children. He was spending quite a bit of money, too. on this extravagant breakfast, so the manager of the food court approached him --
"Good morning, Sir.., is there anything else I can help you with..?" he recognized this, finely dressed and groomed, extremely polite manager, immediately. As he reached for the mans hand, he said -- "Maurice, right? it's good to see you, again… Could you possibly put my breakfast in two large picnic baskets with a thermos of hot coffee and another of cold fresh orange juice -- oh, and could you throw some blankets in there, we are going to eat in the park…"
Maurice didn't blink -- "Not a problem sir, it will be just a few minutes." Literally, two minutes later, Maurice appeared with the two picnic baskets filled with everything Mick had asked for… "Excuse me sir, that Plaza is so happy to see you again, we would like to offer you your breakfast, on the house…" The man looked stunned but wasted no time saying -- "I appreciate the the offer, but this morning breakfast is on me…" And he pulled out a bunch of hundred dollar bills and placed them in Maurice's Hand. "Good to see, Maurice -- have a great day."
As he hurried back to the mother and young child he had just met, carrying these two huge picnic baskets, he could see that, the Mom had cleaned them both up a bit and they were playing with the flowers he had just picked for them. "C'mon, lets go grab a good spot in the park and eat this food!"
The little girl looked up at her Mom, smiling -- "I told you he'd come back…" Her mother was pretty sure they would never see him again but was just as happy as her little girl when she did… Just about every decision she had to make, on a daily basis -- could mean life or death for her, or even worse , her daughter. But just as the man did.., she sensed something bigger than both of them was going on…
They all ran across the street and into Central Park… Lets pick a good spot -- the little girl said and ran to a beautiful patch of grass, right under this massive tree -- the perfect spot.
As they settled in and got ready to dig in to all this delicious, stunning looking breakfast, the little girl got sad when she couldn't find the fresh fruit for her Mom. "There's no fruit for my Mom…" And right on cue… Before the man could say anything -- we hear and see Maurice (the guy from the Plaza) in full sprint carrying a huge basket of fresh fruit. "Sir, Sir.., you forgot the fruit!"
To say, the man had ever seen someone, so happy, would be the understatement of the century… The little girl let out the best, down deep, guttural laugh, he had ever heard. She laughed out loud, at the sight of this guy with a giant basket of fruit, for a good 2 minutes straight.
While the little girl is having the time of her life -- Mick notices her mother is getting a little emotional and gives her a knowing look, which triggers something in this woman and she starts to really get emotional -- "I haven't heard my little girl laugh like that in years…" As the tears slowly glide down her face…
Not to change the whole tone of this glorious breakfast… Mick stands up and yells -- "Okay, we have fruit!!!" as the little girl cheers him on… "Maurice, will you join us for some fruit?"
"I'd love to Mick, but I have to get back…" As he heads for the street, we hear the little girls charming voice -- "Thank-you Maurice…"
As they sit and devour this feast disguised as a normal breakfast picnic… They are, each of them.., really happy -- something that they had not felt in a while (maybe longer than just a while). And certainly not expected that very morning...
- But what will happen when breakfast ends?
- Will they go there separate ways?
- Do we ever find out how this woman and child wound up on the street?
- And what does the universe have in store for this trio?
- Does Mick finally rejoin the living or is it too risky?
The story of these three unlikely characters is just getting started… And, it promises to be quite a ride. So, make a point of stopping back tomorrow and follow @macksby for Part 2. CHEERS!
