Giant of a Man

[Gerry]

As I stood behind the counter the front flimsy inner door smashed open and this giant of a man just about squeezed under the top of the door opening before lurching towards me. He crashed into the high counter and I jumped back for fear of those giant hands like shovels reaching out and grabbing me. His eyes looked through me as if I wasn't there. His long grey wavy hair rubbed against the dirty cream overcoat that shrouded his giant frame. He made sounds like nothing I had ever seen before. Not words, even foreign words like the sailors that visited the port. His sounds were more like growls, deep and low growls from a dog looking for it's food.

Then just as I was about to run for the back door my Dad calmly stepped around the counter and took this giant of a man gently by the elbow and helped him over to the stalls nearby. Even when this giant of a man was seated behind that fixed bench he still looked fearsome to me, his eyes staring into your very soul.

I watched in amazement as my Dad's hands danced and flicked, fingers being touched faster than a magician on the TV. He spoke slowly with his lips moving like those of a posh school pupil in the verse speaking competition.
Big wide O's and A's. But the giant of a man looked focused on him and seemed to understand. "Your late today Willy" was responded to by the dirty cream sleeve of that big coat being pulled up to uncover not one, not two, but three watches on that big hairy arm. A shake of the head and a smile wider than any river broke out on that huge face as he pointed to each watch in turn.

Then with a jolt the giant of a man straightened and I jumped again from the behind the safety of the big high counter. The dirty cream coat was pulled open and the giant hand plunged deep into a hidden inside pocket. My heart stopped. What dagger was he going to pull on my Dad.

As dad stood calmly waiting the huge fist full of crumpled newspapers gathered from bus shelters and bars were presented to my Dad with the pride of a child giving his Mum her first daisy chain.

My Dad took the precious gift and Mum was ready with the plate holding that golden crispy fish and a few chips. Put a little vinegar on that, no salt and take it out to Willy. Me? Why me? I'm OK here I thought but of I went with the small plate and the knife and fork rattling in my other shaking hand.

I put the meal down and quickly retreated behind my Dad for fear of a back handed from that giant of a man. But all I got was an even bigger smile. Dad handed me the precious gift and I passed it over to Mam who slipped it discreetly into the rubbish bin behind the big counter.

With time I got to know Willy and his daily visit to get that all important hot meal. He wasn't a bad man or anything to be scared of. He had been stricken down by some virus as a tiny child and he still remained that tiny child in his own special world.

With time I was to grow and realise who the real Giant of a man I shared my every day was.

As you do to the least so you do to me, is a phase I remember reading or hearing.

Every day I seen my Giant of a man put that into practice.

What a role model. My Dad.

By Gerry Temple