The Man I Think I Know

by Mike Gayle

After buzzing my way into the home,

He tells me his name is Martin but that everyone calls him Smithy. He tells me he is only here to give his wife a rest from looking after him

‘I know you are not a snob,’ I say. ‘I have seen you shopping in Tesco plenty of times.’

So many unlived lives. So many choices left untaken.

They might think he has wasted his life. But Danny Allen has not wasted his life. He is doing something good. Something that is more important than showing off how much money you have made. He is helping people who cannot help themselves. And that is not just a good thing to do with your life. It is the very best thing.

think about telling Danny Allen that I think he is successful even if he is not really a Hollywood producer. I also think about telling him how much he has helped me and how much of a difference he has made to my life,

Knowing that he was prepared to face one of his worst fears just to help me was all the encouragement I needed.

I had felt brave when I made my pact with Danny. Like I could do anything as long as it would help my friend.

A number of the group shake their heads and tut their disapproval. I think it is because he has used the word ‘fat’. (I used the word ‘fat’ to describe Andrew too but I only used it in my head so that is okay.)

‘Because even though she was pretty, I did not tell her I loved her until we had been together for a whole year,’ I say. ‘And the thing is, I have only been with you less than a week and I already feel like saying it all the time.’

Things happen all the time that we cannot control. Sometimes they are bad and sometimes they are good. It is just the way life is.’

They’ve each had horrible things happen in their lives, things that would make most of us want to give up altogether, and yet here they are, somehow finding their way through it all to happiness.