A Friend in Need

Sometimes all we need is a listening ear. Real listening is a gift. Few posess it.

 

‘A Friend in Need’

 

John:

 

Mmmm, funny sort of phrase really. Does it apply to me, I mean am I someone’s friend and in need?

 

Or am I thought of as the friend of someone who needs me?

I suppose I am the friend of someone in need, but how do I know? I mean, the sorts of people who are my friends don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves and are in the main self-reliant, ‘stand on your own two feet types’.   As for me, I have everything in life that I want. I don’t need anything. I am my own man. I think. It doesn’t mean I’m rich, just contented. Why should I consider myself as needing anything?

 

Mind you, Joe came round the other night, seemed fine but talked about the disadvantages of his dyslexia. There was nothing I could say which would help him.  It’s a shame that he wasn’t appointed to the job he’d applied for.   But what could I say? Nothing really. I suppose I could have sympathised but I just listened and let him get it off his chest. I don’t suppose that was much help but he seemed better when he went away. As I said before, my friends are all self-sufficient. They don’t need me. Resilient is the word. Yes, resilient!

 

It’s like the time when I was having a bit of a battering. God, how I fought to keep my head above water, but when you’re tough, you know, when you’ve got real backbone, you fight it out and come out the other side don’t you? You don’t go running around asking for sympathy. Well I’m damn’ sure I don’t. Anyway, I’m not nice to know under stress. Why the devil Mike continued to come round as always I just don’t know. I used to rant about things. Not moan, you understand. I don’t go in for whinging. I rant! Week after week he stood it. As we sat in the pub it must have curdled his pint.

 

Over the weeks, my strength triumphed over adversity, as things gradually seemed to improve. I still had problems but they didn’t seem as bad and eventually, I won through. Funnily enough, Mike still comes and we go for our pint. D’you know, he’s never once mentioned my ranting. He must be totally insensitive. Anyway, it’s all in the past now. Best forget it.

 

John’s wife:

 

It’s a funny thing. Every time John used to go out with Mike, I used to think it would be the last time. Surely Mike had taken all that could be borne. Strange though. When they came back, I was almost glad they’d had a few. The air would seem to have cleared somewhat. I’d think, “Oh let them have a few drinks if it helps”, but the funny thing is that they never had more than two. “ Mike doesn’t talk much”, John said one day, but he takes all in. “Oh yes, - doesn’t miss a trick. Still, it gets it off my chest.”

 

Joe:

 

It’s strange but when you have a problem or you’ve had a disappointment, whoever you speak to has had it too. Exactly the same. They ‘understand’, they’re sorry for you:

 

 “Oh you poor fellow.”  

“I know dear boy, believe me I understand.”

“I’ve been there”

“Never mind, you’ll be alright, keep your chin up, take care, look after yourself”

“What you need is - - - -.”

 

Or even:

 

“Snap out of it and pull yourself together.”

 

Ugh!

 

John wasn’t like that. I knew he couldn’t really understand how it feels to be unable to put words together on paper, or to spell properly. He didn’t crack on that he does. Dyslexia doesn’t stop me talking. Not that anyone listens, until that is, I talked to him. He just kept quiet and let me get it off my chest. It seemed strange that a big, bluff, ‘hail fellow well met’ like him understood what I needed more than anyone else. He knows too what I am good at. I’ve taught him all he knows about computers. He’ll never be really good at it but he tries. I in turn feel valued and securer in my strengths and at the same time realise that he has his weaknesses.

 

God in His Heaven:

 

“I’ve had a hard day up here hearing all the prayers, so it’s good to know that there is a few down there learning an important lesson.”

 

“A friend in need is a friend in deed. Most of them can at least quote that even if they neither understand nor practice it. Some of them though are beginning to realise that the deed in question is:”

 

LISTENING!

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

A short look at a problem fro the perspective of several people whose lived are interwoven. Names are changed but the people and the story is all 100% genuine

Reviews

[Gandré]

First thank you for your generous words and careful reading (I 've seen it..) and rating of my newest eroticism. much appreciated.

Indeed many do not listen. Listen and pay attention is such a non-discussed lack in communication nowadays, people have more time than ever and less time than ever and so, there are those standard answers or creations , like when I visited USA first time and and ladies said "I go to powder my nose". I found it strange expression; also in German when people here say "Gesundheit" what means "health" when the other person during a conversation is sneezing.

"I am my own man. I think. It doesn't mean I'm rich, just contented. Why should I consider myself as needing anything?" -----------I adored those sentences.. It is so true. People spend their whole lifes worrying about their possessions. This prooved: less is more but everyone has to find out for himself.

"As I said before, my friends are all self-sufficient. They don't need me. Resilient is the word. Yes, resilient!" ------------ I liked here your way, how you see it. Yes, being resilient is a neccessary attribute in each layer of life, me thinks. This is like bending the branches of the tree of life with circumstances. I agree.

"You don't go running around asking for sympathy-"--------------- I also like this sentence. Exactly. For everything is just right, how it is. The one who is able to recognize...will see at any rate....and the others, who don't aren't interesting anyway.... So it is actually with everything. Absolutely everything. Do I want attention? Why, to fight my insecurity? And where is to go then with my self centered behaviour? Ha ! Great observation here.

I was reading the rest of your story carefully.. Just few hours ago I reviewed a poem by a writer Chaos was the nick, also about Dyslexia. I liked your airy narrative style. Listening is indeed everything. hmm .. this had also the potential of humor to me...written with ease. Be well. L Gandr�