THE STORY OF BUBBLES.

Bubbles was a homeless guy I first met on a working trip to New York some years ago. Bubbles got his nickname from the New York public who often took their young children to see him blowing bubbles as the people walked past.

I had a job doing personal security with my colleague Alfie looking after a high profile film star; the guy had a reputation of being a playboy with an overbearing lust for bedding women.

Our brief was to encourage him; there was more to life than bedding any woman that crossed his path, also to make sure that nobody took a swing at him and the only publicity he got was favourable to his career while in New York.

The job was hard work from day one the guy was insatiable where women were concerned.

One evening after a fantastic meal in a beautiful restaurant, the star with his manager along with Alfie and me took the decision to stroll back to the hotel some four block away, the late evening was warm and thankfully not many people around.

As we rounded a corner in an unused shop front, four guys were hassling a homeless man, throwing his meagre belonging all over the street, it looked like the poor man had also taken a brutal beating.

When challenged by us, the abuse turned towards us. We told the manager to take the star away we would meet them back at the hotel.

Alfie and I turned to the four hooligans and asked them what their problem was with the homeless guy, their reply was to move aggressively towards us, we told them they would regret making a move on us, but I am afraid the advice fell on deaf ears.

Within seconds all hell broke out as the hooligans approach us, swing their weapons in our direction. Within a few minutes, everything was quiet again looking around the four hooligans were littering the street with their beaten bodies, it was like pine needles falling off a Christmas tree.

Almost on cue, the police arrived, and we were arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

At the police station, we were interviewed one at a time by the police chief who wanted to know why four men needed hospitalisation, we must have told the same story because we were told to go home and report back to him the following day.

Back at the hotel, the star and his manager were concerned for our wellbeing, but once we related what happened, we all settled down and enjoyed a drink.

The following day we reported back to the police chief and learned about the four guys from the previous night, one was in intensive care with a concussion and a broken nose, another has a broken jaw that is now wired up, the other two have bruises and cut but nothing serious.

The chief wanted a detailed account of what took place for the record, to which we complied, we also learned that one of the hooligans was the son of a serving police officer, which we realised would not help our situation. The chief stepped out of the room, leaving us to ponder our fate.

An hour or so passed before the chief returned and told us ” get your sorry arses out of here before I change my mind,”

A few days later, we left New York without further incident.

About a year later, we found ourselves back in the big apple on another similar job and took time out to visit bubbles, but could not find him anywhere, and finally called in to see the police chief. The chief remembered us and told us to come with him.

We travelled to Manhatten to a homeless shelter that was run by a committee of five people. We would never have expected to find Bubbles serving behind the counter. The other four members of the committee were the four hooligans we encountered on our last visit.

Times had changed when we talked to the five guys they all agreed that faithful night of our encounter was a blessing now the five work together for the good of the homeless community.

As we left the shelter, the chief tuned to us and said,

“Just shows you all they needed was a little push in the right direction, thanks guys” as we shook hands.

Since that time, New York has become one of my favourite cities, and I always make a point of visiting the shelter which has gone from strength to strength on every visit. Dinner with the police chief is still an enjoyable and pleasant experience.

You can often find Bubbles sitting outside the shelter surrounded by a lively group of his New York fans, enjoying the simplicity of the entertainment.

Oh by the way the film star has settled down got married and the happy couple is expecting their first child.