I cried for him

I have seen Lee a couple of times, once awake and once curled up in his duvet fast asleep.

When I saw him awake, I put his age at that of my own grandson - 16 - so I was right, and it hurt me so much. He looked so clean and not at all your usual vagrant type, so vulnerable and such sad eyes on a young man - it broke my heart as I thought "there but for the grace of God".

When I told my grandson about him, I am not ashamed to say I cried. My grandson said "don't worry Nan, he's probably chosen his way of life," and so it proves to be.

My own impression is he deserves more and should expect more. Has no one heard of depression? He's had a dreadful experience of life if his story is believed, by all accounts, at a tender age. He's obviously intelligent, and if only his spirits could be lifted by being taken into hand by a caring organisation, and put into a learning programme along with counselling, and somewhere to live.

He is too young to receive benefits and yet he is a child. Should he not be cared for? Why can't the authorities, without actually taking him into care, delegate someone to look after him and others who want to lift themselves, before they succumb to drugs and alcohol and end up a shambling vagrant.

My conscience pricks me, but what can I do? A few coins doesn't even start to ease the ache that I felt for this boy. Someone please with some 'clout' help him.

A saddened Grandmother.

Name and address supplied

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.