TONY
“You know my friend you met the other day, you know the one, he’s homeless too. He’s looking really bad; I think his body’s about to give out on him, if you know what I mean. He’s into the mouthwash again. I don’t know how he can drink that stuff. Anyway, he’s killing himself, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Homeless Man Speaks 
September 12, 2007 at 6:53 am
hi tony,
i am a school teacher in the uk and am working with my S2 pupils on the issues of homelessness and trying to allow them to understand the reality of the situation and move them away from stereotyping.
i would like your permission if you don’t mind to read out some of your blogs to them. I notice this is an active site as you were here on sunday,
i hope this would not be a problem
thank yoyu for taking time to read this message.
Maybe in your next message you could mention the class number? it’s 2.8, just to let them know i haven’t made this up?
yours faithfully
James
(Mr Kidd)
September 16, 2007 at 6:32 pm
My brother used to drink Listerene when he was at the bad end of his alcoholism.
He hasn’t drunk now for maybe 5 years.
I was sober for nearly 19 months but I’ve hit it again.
Ain’t the drinking life great? Erm, actually it isn’t.
Mind you, I know a guy used to drink petrol and lived in an old car round the back of a graveyard.
There’s only one man ever going to save you and lucky enough for you, you actually know him. He’s the man in the mirror. “It’s in you”. Believe me or not but whatever I call God told me that 30 years ago.
I get knocked down, but I get up again. My thoughts are with Tony’s friend.
September 16, 2007 at 6:49 pm
To Mr James Kidd:
I live in Surrey now. Been around a bit, Brighton, South London, Essex.
Please feel free to use anything that I have written here if it might help you in your work.
I’m reluctant to post my addresses here but you know where to find me if you want.
I wish you and your charges all the best and if I can help keep them off the park benches and the tents where I once lived I’ll help if I can.
Don’t worry about me being a religious nutcase or weirdo because I’m not – all that happened was that an intelligent man got lost along the way.
It happens too easily.
h.
September 18, 2007 at 10:33 am
James,
Of course, feel more than free to read the blog out, or to print it out for your students in 2.8.
Indeed, pls let us know what they say.
This is great.
Tony and Philip
October 3, 2007 at 10:27 am
[…] “You remember when I told you about the homeless guy up the street, the guy who was drinking mouthwash? He’s in the hospital — has been for 3 days now. The doctors figure for sure he […]