No more a stranger

To begin with, he was just another seller of The Big Issue outside
the market. Anna had decided to buy a copy of the magazine each week
after Princess Diana died, as a token of respect for some of the work
she did.
Anna had a routine of going into town each Thursday and tried to get
rid of some of the heavy shopping before the weekend when the children
were at home.
She had noticed that there was a new magazine seller when she came out
of the market from buying her flowers and fruit. She refused the small
amount of change he offered and went on her way.
The following week they commented on the weather and she enquired
after his dog, curled up on an old coat.
'Oh, he's only a mongrel is my Jamie - a bit like meself".
Anna smiled, as she went on her way to meet a friend for a cup of
coffee to relieve the shopping chore.
"Been to Smiths? Which mag have you bought?"
"No, not to Smiths", Anna replied. "It's The Big Issue from the man by
the market.".
"Good heavens, d'you read that?" and Anne left soon afterwards.

Next week, Jamie was sitting up all bright eyed and bushy
tailed.
"He looks ready to go", she said.
"It's my fault really, missus. I was a bit late this morning and
didn't have time to take him for his walk".
"Yes, I know the feeling - ours will be waiting for me when I get back
home". She thought of their Zak and his sleek, well-brushed coat whom
the children liked to romp with over the field. Anything wrong with
him, and her husband Jerry soon had him to the vet.

The following week, Jamie was missing and Anna asked where he
was.
"Not quite sure about him. Not hisself really. Thought better to leave
him at home today".
Anna wondered what home was, but decided to leave it and hoped that he
would be alright.
And sure enough he was, on the next Thursday. The seller man she found
out was called Joe, and his big brown eyes shone as he told Anna, "He
was a bit down in the mouth - like we all are sometimes".
Again, Anna wondered just how down in the mouth Joe must get
sometimes. Can't be easy living on the streets - if that was what he
was doing.
She thought of her own comfortable living but decided she must be
careful not to pry. But, what if one day, their own dear Jonathan was
having to do something like this and she knew nothing about it. Didn't
Joe have a family to care about him - or was that the reason he was
here now?

It was time for Christmas cards again and Anna sat working her way
down the list, which was what her husband was hoping she would do. At
the end there were three cards over and she decided to send them to
three people whom she had met during the year and were not on her
list.
There was the new neighbour two doors down, there was the woman she
had become friendly with at the club, and she toyed with the other one.
Then she thought of Joe and said "Why not?" She chose the one with the
dog on it and wrote, "With best wishes, Anna".
Joe was delighted with it when she gave it to him the following week
and said, "Don't do cards, missus, but next week I give a free copy to
all me regulars".
Anna accepted the copy reluctantly on a cold morning at the tail end
of the year and wished she was paying for it.
'See you in the New Year, missus," and she was half glad, and half
sorry, he didn't say "Anna".

She still struggled; was it fair that they could have most of the
things they wanted, while he had to wait around in the cold and rely on
other people's generosity.

Anna was surprised one night when she opened their local evening paper
to see Joe smiling out at her. Apparently, one of the local shops had
decided to give away some of their stock - inviting some well-planned
publicity - and Joe had been lucky enough to have a new winter
anorak.
She complimented him on it the next Thursday and he said, "They're a
good lot round here, missus - you included".
It was funny, but he always made her smile, in spite of the thoughts
about his welfare.
February was a cruel month, but Joe stayed at his post in spite of the
cough he developed. Anna longed to take him into Boots and get all the
medicine he needed, but he assured her: "I'm taking me jollup, missus -
much as I hate it".

Next week there was no Joe outside the market, nor the following week.
She made an enquiry inside, but no-one else knew either. Three weeks
later, a new seller arrived and she felt sad as she held out the money
for that week's issue. A few weeks later, as she flicked through the
latest pages, she suddenly saw the picture of Joe in his new anorak.
Her heart leapt but it said: "In Memoriam: Joseph Green. Vendor Joseph
Green has passed away. He will be much missed by staff and vendors and
will be remembered with the fondest memories by all who knew him,
especially at our local office".

Later, Anne thought about Jamie. What would have happened to him? That
night she talked it over with Jerry and he finally agreed that she
should ring the local office.
They were not sure about the dog but thought he had gone to the animal
shelter. She rang them and they confirmed that he had gone there but
now had a new owner. She decided to leave her phone number, just in
case.
A few days later they rang. Jamie had been returned as the new owner
had decided not to keep him. Anna had the car out of the garage in five
minutes and was on her way to bring Jamie back to his new family - as
it was the one thing she felt she could do for Joe.