"Everybody needs good neighbours"

I met Howie tonight. He's the UK President of the God Squad, association of Christian motor-bikers. He's about 6'8", bearded and dressed in the obligatory leather badged jerkin. And he uses moisturiser and lip gloss. No, perhaps it wasn't lip gloss but something like that. He recommended Clarins skin care products. And I had to admit he did have lovely skin.

Now a short story.

A man lies in the gutter, drunk, and probably out of it on drugs. He's been punched about a bit by some youths who think he's an easy target. He is barely conscious and his head is bleeding.

A car comes down the road and the driver, a vicar, slows down when he sees the man. The vicar, is on his way to his parish council meeting. He is hoping they will agree to pay for some new gold goblets for communion; the ones they have at present are losing their sheen. It won't look good if he's late for the meeting. He drives on.

A priest comes along the pavement. He has just finished hearing confession and is looking forward to getting home and eating his dinner cooked for him by his loyal housekeeper. He is wondering what delight she will have conjured up tonight when he spots the man in the gutter. He hesitates, then tells himself it would be wrong of him to let his dinner go cold when the poor woman has put so much effort into it. He doesn't think the man is one of his congregation anyway. The priest hurries past.

Ahmed from the corner shop is stretching his legs when he spots the man in the gutter. He hurries over and asks if he's all right. He sees that the man is bleeding badly and pulls him onto the pavement and leans him against a wall. He runs back to the shop, goes upstairs to his apartment and fetches a blanket. He tells his wife to call an ambulance then runs back and wraps the blanket round the man. He stays with him, talking quietly, trying to reassure him, although he's not sure how much the man is understanding.

The next day he phones the hospital to see how the man is. The nurse says he is improving; Ahmed is relieved.

"Love your neighbour as yourself."
"And who is my neighbour?"
xx