01/22/2026
âď¸âŚWho? âď¸
Today I met a man on the streets of Liverpool. He was in front of me in line waiting to buy a newspaper. As we waited I noticed that he pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his eyes đ˘.
I tapped him on his shoulder and as he started to turn around I begged his pardon and asked him âSir, are you okay?â The man turned his head and gave a slight smile, he replied âOh, nothing to concern yourself with sir. Just struggling with a few personal problems. But in time all will be will. But thank you for asking.â
This kind middle aged man was by no means the best dressed but by no means was he living on the damp and rainy streets of our Kings country. As he started to turn back around to face the newspaper boy and wait his turn to exchange his change for the printed work of todayâs depressions. As he nearly had fully turned his neck back I recalled a man my brother once told me about.
Again, I tapped the gentlemanâs shoulder and said âI do apologize for bothering you sir.â Before I could finish; the gentleman corrected me, âSir, by no means are you a bother to meâŚplease go onâ. I thanked him for being so welcoming and I said âSir, it just crossed my mindâŚa story my brother told me a few years ago.â The gentleman looked at me, his eyes a bit wider and replied âoh, go onâŚthis line isnât moving fast anywaysâ.
Well I said, âMy brother had just returned from serving the British Navy. He was rather shaken up by the things he saw. A friend of his asked if he was staying near the docks for awhile in Southampton. He was. So his friend told him to be on the look out for an older gentleman who walks with a limp, has an orange cane, and is always wearing orange socks that you can see as his pants legs lift from limp.â
The man looked at me with intrigue and said âoh, tell me more, sirâ. I continued, âHis friend told him that this gentleman is there to help with problems, ease the minds of others, and he is usually near the docks or at the ale house off pier 88. Day after day he is there to listen, to help, and never asked for payment, a favor, and even declines when someone tries to buy him a pint for his kindness.â
With tears in his eye, I was confused. Why did this story make this man even sadder? I thought he would realize that maybe the gent in Southampton would be able to help him with his troubles.
The gentleman, trying to smile, replied âThat advice is very kind of you to share. I am glad you know of such a man. But I am afraid he cannot help me with the troubles I face. I am afraid nobody can help me with my troubles. But I do thank you, graciously, for trying and for not forgetting that story and sharing it with me. I hope you do share it with others.â
I smiled, and before I could say anything else the newspaper boy shouted âNEXTâ and the gentleman tipped his hat to say âthank youâ to me and he handed the young man his change in exchange for the newspaper. The gentleman turned one last time and said âthank you very much for that story, sirâ.
The boy then screamed âNEXTâ and I went up to buy my paper. I wanted to catch up to the gentleman, but as I looked upâŚin a very short distance away. He had bent down to tie his shoe, there I noticed his pants hiked up; showing off the most vibrant of orange socks. He stood tall and picked up what looked like an orange cane from the table in which he placed it. Lastly, as he stepped to cross the streetâŚI noticed the man had a limp.
It is than that I realizedâŚthe gentleman who is there for everyone, must have no one ever there for him.
The man who listens to everyoneâs problem, who listens to his? He is leftâŚalone with the problems of all around him and not one person to help bear all those problems.
Men Cry Too, MENtal HEALth Awareness For Men & Veterans
