Francis Gay

Cape expectations? More to being super than a six pack

When skies are grey, and the sun won’t shine, lift your heart at this grey old time, search for the light, as you go, soon you’ll find your own rainbow.

G reta was walking with her granddaughter when she saw a woman being pushed around by a man on the other side of the street.

Then a car pulled in, just in front of her. A man got out and walked towards the fighting couple. Before he reached them, they separated and walked away.

“That was quite heroic of you,” she said. He laughed.

“It might have looked good but you weren’t in my head when the voices were saying, ‘Do I have to stop?’ ‘Is this really up to me?’ and ‘I hope I don’t get hurt!’”

To Greta’s granddaughter, he said, “It’s not about being a hero. It’s not about being a big man or a little girl. It’s about doing the right thing – even though you’re worried about it.”

Can ordinary people be superheroes? Why not? It’s about many things, I suppose. And being an inspiration to children will surely be up there near the top of the list!

There aren’t generally many pleasures to be had, clearing out a loved-one’s possessions after they die, but Eve shared this one with me.

Five years after her husband Tommy died, she finally got around to re-homing his bike.

He’d been a keen cyclist and the bike was a good one.

A wipe with an oily rag cleared up the rust spots, then she took it to a local charity. There, she met Karam, a refugee.

A bike was just what he needed to get around and search for work. She went to shake his hand, but he was so grateful he asked if he could hug her.

“Tommy always liked the sense of freedom going cycling gave him,” Eve told me.

“And, in a way now that he doesn’t need it any more – I feel like that’s what I gave this poor man... Tommy’s freedom.”

Lucy’s six-month-old son, Connor, was enchanting everyone. Myself included.

Then Lucy showed me his new shoes. They were cute – but I didn’t have much else to say. She told me her mother had sent them. Now... Lucy’s mum lives in Singapore. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would send shoes half way around the world. Surely, we have shoes here and any difference in price wouldn’t be worth the postage.

“It’s not about the shoes,” she said, laughing. “It’s about protection. It’s about comfort. It’s about softness and safety, and having a firm foundation beneath his feet and reassurance on his journeys.”

Understanding began to dawn. “You mean...”

“It’s about all the things a grandmother would be,” Lucy said, “if she could be here. But she can’t, so she sends shoes!” Grannies everywhere will understand!

Helen’s off on a 200-mile journey to visit her son. A friend from down their street had arranged jobs for them both, so they were working together and sharing accommodation.

But Helen had never met her son’s friend’s mother.

She phoned me from the station to say the other mother had introduced herself earlier and, by coincidence, she was making the same journey by car. Did she want a lift? “An amazing coincidence,” she said, “And how lovely to offer to spend five hours in a car with a complete stranger!”

“What a shame it all didn’t happen a larlier,” I pointed out, “you could have saved yourself an expensive train ride.”

Helen dismissed the notion. “I made a new friend. A kind and generous one, at that. Isn’t that worth more than a rail fare?”