A Great Walk Indeed

A Great Walk Indeed

By Paul McCann

The walks along the Thames path is a unique way of seeing the English countryside for many people but not however for Paddy McKeown who would rather walk around the city streets trying to get a better understanding of the people who lived there in the  city of London . For him beauty wasn’t in the castles and other landmarks or in the wild flowers scattered around the pathways in the Cotswolds , the beauty of life for him was just meeting the people and sharing a few thoughts about life .

Early one summer morning Paddy was sitting on a park bench in Kennington .and a passer by spoke to him ,

“What a beautiful morning “

She said ,

“What time of the day is it ?

Paddy asked .

“ Well to be honest I don’t have a watch “

“It’s not really that important to me anyway . I was just trying to start up a conversation with you “

She sat down beside him and said ,

“I’m just out walking my dog . Do you mind if I sit down here for a minute or two ?

“You’re very welcome “

He replied .

The lady took her dog off the lead and sat watching him run around with  another dog . Then  she began to speak .

“.I’ve just moved in to the area . The park here I lovely “

“I come here everyday . I love to sit for a while and listen to the laughter of children playing , for me its like the music of life .”

They both sat there enjoying the sound of children’s  laughter fused with the sound of a busker who was playing some music in the park .

The morning sun shone down around that place . After a little while the lady called her dog over and she put him back on the lead and then looked at Paddy and said ,

“It’s been lovely to meet you .Have a nice day “

She said as she walked .

Paddy called out  .

“I hope you settle here and find happiness “

She thanked him and walked away .

A homeless man staggered along the path and sat down next to Paddy .

“Have you any spare change . I haven’t eaten for days”

Paddy could smelt the whiskey on his breath and reached into his pocket and gave him as much as he could and then he asked the beggar , .

“Have you any idea what tis the time of the day ? “ .  

The beggar replied ,

I don’t have a watch to be honest so I can’t really answer you. Then he grabbed Paddy hand and thanked him for the money . Paddy smiled and said .

“Have a great day . “

The third person who came along the path was a clergyman .

His mobile phone started to ring and he sat down on the seat with Paddy to answer the call .

“Hello Reverent Matthew speaking, Can I help you .

“The voice on the other end asked about the time of the choir practice and the clergyman answered ,

“The choir practice begins this afternoon at Christ The King church at 2 O’clock”

When the call ended Paddy asked .

“Would you be interested in taking on a new member for the church choir ?

“Are you a singer ?”

The clergyman replied .

“We would welcome anyone who wanted to join the choir . Come along please we’d love to see you .

The clergyman got up and walked away .  .

The busker stopped playing his guitar and made his way over to the seat where Paddy was and then he sat down next to Paddy .

“You’re a very friendly person . I’ve noticed a lot of people come a sit down next to you . “

Paddy replied .

“I enjoy talking to people , it’s a great experience”

The busker replied .

”I wish I could talk to people more . For me I like watching people passing by when I’m busking , I see a lot of things .”’

Paddy replied  

”Sometimes I wish I could see things “

The busker replied

“Sorry I didn’t realise that you’re blind”

“I hear a lot more than most . Sometimes what I hear can paint a picture for me . Do you know what time eit is ?“

The busker replied

 “ Its 8:30 . Why have you somewhere to go ?“

Paddy replied ,

“Not until four O’clock this afternooon . I’m going to a choir practice “

“I was just thinking . I’m free all day and if you have time would yuou like to take a walk with me to Purley as I have something to collect there and would love some company on the way .“

Paddy was gifted to be  a good judge of people and accepted his offer .

He stood up and took a retractable white cane from his inside pocket of his jacket .

The busker said .

“I had a friend once who was blind . He taught me a lot of things. If you want to hold on to my elbow I’m fine with that . I’ll lead you along the way “

Paddy said ,

“Let me see through your eyes , Tell me about things as we walk along. “

The busker replied

‘Sure , Tell me if you hear anything unusual and I’ll try to explain what that sound would be. Stay close to me now , :Let’s go  “:

They both made their way out of the park to Brixton Road and then on to the New Brighton Road . There was a street parade on the way with some multicultural aspect to the event and the Busker painted a picture with words about everythinhgn he saw .

Paddy was so happy to see life through the eyes of someone who cared to take the time of day for him . Hours passed and the busker continued to gve his guided tour on the way along the pavement .

There were many people who stopped to speak to Paddy and the busker . They mentioned how brave Paddy was to be walking around the bust streets and Paddy was very grateful of the comments that were made . He had always loved walked but felt nervous about going into new areas . His furthest walk had always been from his flat to Kennington Park but today was different and he was talking a long walk with a new friend .The busker tried to communicate the sights of people and places along the way describing in detail about  the surroundings . That day was like venturing out into the outer walking limits of London and it was a journey well worth waiting for and one full of mystery and wonder . This visit to an unknown world was exciting and exhausting for him however the pavement people as he called them made the walk a great experience for him .

Along the way Paddy had intervened to save the busker from injury and possibly the loss of his life when a motor bike lost control and headed directly in the direction of where he and the busker were walking .As Paddy had lost his sense of sight he was given an extra sense not many have which was being able to sense things unseen . He was always able to predict objects that would fall and move out of harms way . This extra sense was an amazing gift and Paddy pushed the busker out of the danger before the motor bike crashed into a shop doorway . Incredibly no one except for the bike rider was injured . It was almost like a miracle people said .

Everyone who witnessed the crash spoke of how lucky the two men had been not to have be killed . Paddy just smiled when passers by said he was a hero and many wished him well in life  .

The busker also was very grateful for Paddy’s intervention and openly admitted it was a very close encounter with death which was avoided by Paddy’s ability to see things happen before they actually took place .

Paddy was  happy to get some recognition about who he was and how he fitted into life as a blind man . After that accident both of them walked along the road as if they  were lifted above . It was a strange feeling, almost like they were floating on air and then for them both the long walk became much easier  .

Eventually they reached their destination in Purley and were given a lunch by the people who the busker had to met . After lunch they were given a lift back to Brixton to be in time for the choir practice.

The busker remained with Paddy at the choir practice and played guitar with the music ministry at the church .

 

The End