Puffin lived at the top of our road in Brighton, overlooking the old church. He had a pleasant home, a pleasant wife, and pleasant kids. In fact his life seemed very 'pleasant' in all respects.
One day it all fell apart; we knew nothing of the reason; nor did we wish to. Then came divorce, loss of his home, alcohol, even begging on the street. He once even asked me for a pound, which I was happy to provide.
I don't quite know what happened to him after that, but I would often see him wandering aimlessly around town, as his then ex-wife remained in the family home, and took a job in a well-known high street store.
Puffin took to travelling on busses. Finally, one day on a No 7 bus, he died. People simply thought he was asleep, as the bus went round and round its daily circuit.
Yes; he died on a No 7 bus, and no-one noticed! Not waving but drowning? No, not sleeping but dead.... Poor old Puffin. RIP.
I see he was a graphic designer. R.I.P. Puffin
ReplyDeleteHe was an interesting guy. All very sad.
DeleteReminds me of a Philip Larkin poem Mr Beaney.
ReplyDeleteI shall have to look for it.
DeleteSome men end up homeless on the breakup of marriage and on the streets. It is quite common and very sad. Working in the benefit office when I was a student taught me that we are all but a few steps away from this. It can happen to anyone and it does. A few wrong decisions and wham, everything falls apart.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly did with poor old Puffin. He was a complex person; probably too complex for his much more 'down to earth' wife.
DeleteHow sad ... One minute life is fine and then the next it has all fallen apart ...... it sounds as if life was nothing for him without his family. XXXX
ReplyDeleteEverything ended. Poor chap, he couldn't cope without them.
DeleteI am born and bred in Brighton, I wonder if he was familiar to me, possible seen him in my travels.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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He lived opposite one of the top entrances to St Nicholas Church, by the children's playground. He was certainly very well known around there.
DeleteThat makes me sad. It reminds me too much of my lovely Dad who fell apart after the break up of his marriage. He so very nearly went the same way as Puffin.
ReplyDeleteIt can have a devastating effect on both parties; not to mention the children.I'm sorry to hear about your dad.
DeleteVeering slightly off the main subject of your post. You mention Puffin asked you for a pound and you gave it to him. A couple of years or so ago, and no, I wasn't destitute, but locked out of the house minus my purse, on a Sunday (banks closed), neighbours out, the Angel (my son) not expected back home till Monday, when I asked a guy, parking up, for a pound (to make a phone call). He said, "A pound won't get you anywhere". So he gave me a tenner, and his girlfriend gave me a fiver (all the cash they had on them). When I asked them for a contact number to pay them back they wouldn't hear of it. Was it my charm, did I look like a down and outer (I am pretty well dressed), what compels some people to be more than generous? Having said that, I am the same. Maybe swings and roundabouts. Who knows.
ReplyDeletePuffin reminds me of a married into the family uncle of mine. A child ran in front of his car. And died. That was it. His life went down the toilet. He lost the plot. From one minute to the next. There were many people who wanted to help (not least his wife). He was beyond help, or so family folklore goes (I was a child myself at the time, so all I know is via the grapevine).
Still, not that it'll help Puffin, but it's nice that, some years down the line, a guy from Brighton, now in France, remembers him, on a day in March 2020.
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I must say, I usually do give people much more than a pound; this was a long time ago. I'm not sure if I'd have given you £15 though.... that's a lot.
DeleteI can understand your 'uncle' feeling the way he did, that must have been terrible. I had a school friend who was killed chasing a bass across the road. He was a twin, and the surviving twin was never the same.
for 'bass', read 'ball'.
DeleteA lot of homeless people have had happy and successful lives before finding themselves destitute. Marriage breakdown, mental illness, alcohol, drugs - none of us are immune.
ReplyDeleteHis change was so sudden, and unexpected. One minute the happy-go-lucky guy down the road, the next dead on a No 7 bus.
DeleteVery sad, shows how fragile it all is. What made you suddenly think of him I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI'd originally posted it in 2011, and it suddenly popped up again. It brought it all back.
DeleteLife is hard, and for some, life is harder. I see people like Puffin in my work. When hope (and love) is taken away, there is nothing.
ReplyDeleteThat was certainly the case for Puffin. He seemed to have nothing more to live for.
DeleteSuch a sad story. It is like you have outlined the plot of a novel or a film script. Place of death - somewhere in Brighton. Time of death - unknown.
ReplyDeleteCause of death also unknown... maybe it was 'broken heart'?
DeleteSad story Cro - andmaybe not all that unusual.
ReplyDeleteMore common now than ever; very sad.
DeleteA cleaner at the hospital also died on the bus. On the circular route around Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteShe was a very simple lady, she lived with her parents. When her parents died she went on a slow downhill journey.
becoming scruffy and unkempt as she stopped looking after herself. it was so sad.
Then we hear about her death. Apparently she had taken to riding the buses as she was lonely.
I think we are each not far from catastrophic failings in life.