Homeless

James is alone on the periphery of the group. Like most homeless, they are generally scrubby, smelly, bleary eyed, slouching on their sleeping bags. But he is grateful for their company and the safety of numbers. He needs their companionship. He has no house; he cant afford rent. He saves as much as he can from his fortnightly dole after buying food for himself and for some in the group who can’t access Centrelink.

He has been homeless for a month. His first week was a nightmare, confronting a new reality where the necessities of life - water, toilets, clothing, companionship are hard to come by.

They slept last night under the bridge. They now need to move to avoid the police picking them up. Every bone aches, as James stands up and collects his meagre belongings. A wave of self-pity envelopes him. Why and how did he get here? He realises he must find a way back to normal life, but in the interim he is determined to make their life on the streets a bit more bearable?

He suddenly feels a nudge, then a push. It’s Aiden, the leader of the group. He is bigger than the rest, hardened by a life mostly lived on the street. He does not like James. He hates his educated diction, his well-behaved mannerisms, his attempts at keeping his personal appearance as tidy as possible.

Bullying is Aiden’s preferred operating mode.  James has coped, as do the others in the group. But Aiden seems to have a special hatred for James.

“Hey fucker, we are street rats and you better get used to that. What you prettying yourself for? Going on a date?”  He then proceeds to kick awake those who are still sleeping.

“Wake up fuckers. Gotta move”

James hates how he treats everyone. Just because he is stronger, bigger, more confident and street hardened than the rest, they usually give in.

Aiden suddenly grabs James’ blanket. “I have been eyeing this, fucker. I think it likes me better.”

Something snaps in James. He intensely dislikes confrontation. But he knows if he gives in now, he will always be dominated by this man.

James grabs the blanket back with a force even he is surprised at. Something has awakened in him.

“You think you’re the boss here, Aiden, but you’re just a bully. I’ve seen how you bully everyone for the best share of everything – food, sleeping space, clothes”.  James cannot believe he is saying this. He wonders if his membership of the group is now terminal.

Aiden is as disbelieving. He is not used to being spoken to like this.

“You mousy little fucker, who do you think you are? I let you tag along out of pity. You’re now too big for your tiny boots. Get the fuck out of here”.

James stands his ground. He looks at the rest of the group.

“Is this the way you let him treat you? We have already lost a lot of our dignity. Are you going to allow this idiot to take the rest away? What has he done for you so far? You have no plan for where you will sleep each night, for how you’re going to get out of this mess; you just let yourself be led like mindless sheep by this dumbass”.

James is shaking while he speaks. The rest look on in wonder. They have never seen this side of him. As for Aiden, he is dumb struck and outraged that this rump of a character who has just joined the group is now questioning his authority.

He grabs James roughly by the collar – “I’ll beat you to pulp, you fucking bastard. And no one will come to help you”.

Just then the siren sounds. “Police” someone calls. And they scatter.

An hour later, they gradually trickle in to their favourite day time refuge, the Fed Square steps. Aiden eyes James cautiously. The others with obvious greater respect.

James feels a little more confident as he ventures – “Look guys, I have been with you a month. I have some suggestions”.

Aiden guffaws. “What the fuck would you know, little boy. Been a month on the street and you’re already a know-all”.

James ignores him. “Let’s at least have a plan to make our life easier. There are soup kitchens in the city; we’ll find the timings. I hear there’s a medical mobile van which does the rounds each week; as well as a Mobile Showers van. I am sure Vincent de Paul will give us free blankets and clothing. Can we just talk about these things, and work together on a plan instead of mindlessly following this bull brained idiot?

They look at James in wonder, at his new found energy and leadership. Then they look back to Aiden for guidance on what they do next.

 James shakes his head. He knows they have become too used to being sheep. He decides he will not. He gets up, looks pityingly at them and walks off.

Later, James is at the Salvation Army outlet. He has decided he must find a way out of the trap he has fallen into, a way out of the cycle of being homeless, jobless, an outcast . He has plucked up courage to take the first step. Though nervous, he feels liberated and determined.  He will make it out of this mess.