Communication

Communication without a series of emails, calls and text messages.

My early life was a nightmare. I had a drunk father. Within three years of my parents' marriage my mother had thrown him out of our two bedroom apartment in the Pigalle area of Paris. Mother then without the support and warmth of a man started to slide in a deep depression. It was not long before she lost her job. In order to maintain the minimum income to live in the city she turned to prostitution. Consequently there always seemed to be numerous male friends invited to our small apartment. At the time I had no complaints as they usually bought me a bag of sweets. My mother never seemed to have much interest in me and allowed me to do pretty much as I pleased. I went to a local school situated a few meters from our apartment so at the age of seven I went to school without her accompanying me. Often when I returned from school my mother was never there; I believe she was out meeting new acquaintances. She never asked me about school or homework. It was as though I was a lodger that sometimes dined with the landlady. I spend many evenings roaming the streets with a couple of friends from school in search of little adventures. My friends were amused that I know quite few of the women that walked the street. Occasionally I saw my mother but always avoided any contact.

I was eighteen in my last year of school when my mother fell seriously ill. She was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital and within three days was dead. A policeman contacted me early one morning with the news. I never really understood what had happened. The doctors said it was a case of cancer. I imagined her funeral would be a small private affair with me and her two best friends, but no it seemed as if the whole of Pigalle had turned out. The crowd consisted of actors, waiters, taxi drivers, street cleaners, prostitutes and several other representatives of what creates the life of our streets. It was obvious, unknown to me, that my mother was admired and loved. I went home with a sore right hand after so many handshakes. For several hours I sat there thinking about my mother and the future. I tried to imagine how people saw her as they clearly wished to honor her at her funeral. I realized once she closed our flat’s front door behind her she was a different person. She was a good looking woman with short blond hair, blue eyes and a gorgeous smile, an individual full of life ready to experience its offerings. She was understanding and compassionate, always ready to help and sympathize with others. I thought it was sad we never really knew each other. My thoughts turned to the future! My mother had left me the apartment and a little cash so I had somewhere to live and a few months before I had to find a job. A month later I finished my schooling with a poor grade that certainly would not help me in finding a permanent job.

Communication: With my family very feeble

It must have been two months later when I was watching an older man pasting a large advertisement for some exotic holiday onto its designated place on the Paris metro walls. He had to use a small ladder to reach the top of the surface. He fell with a small cry as, no doubt , he hurt himself. I rushed forward to help.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, but I have strained my ankle.You seem like a nice young man, would you do me a great favour. If I tell you what to do, could you finish positioning the poster? You see, if I don’t finish my rounds I will get fired. Today there are so many people looking for jobs.”

Under his instructions I helped him finish the rest of his round, which considered of six more postings. He acted like a father to me. I was charmed as I never had a father. At the end of the day he insisted we have a coffee together. Over coffee he told me his wife had died two years ago and the cost of her funeral had taken all his precious savings so it was imperative he continued working. He was due to retire in two months and at that time, if he still employed, he would receive a small pension enabling him to life modestly.

As we were about to finish our coffees he turned to me and said.

“ I have no words to thank you enough for helping me. I enjoyed working with you. I noticed you soon became quite competent at posting all those large advertisements. Have you the time to help me over the next two months so that I can reach retirement age without being fired. If you can, I am quite prepared to give you 40% of my weekly salary.” My life changed. I was now a working man under the attentive eye of a kind old man. We worked well together and soon formed a father son type of relationship. Two months passed quickly and towards the end of this period he introduced me to his supervisor. He explained what had happened over the last two months asked if I could replace him when he retired. After a few questions the supervisor agreed to employ me on a three month trial basis with a promise of full employment if everything was satisfactory. That evening I took the old man out for dinner to one of my haunts where I know all the personnel. The evening was a great success and a gracious thank you to his over sixty years of working. We left the restaurant early in the morning hugging each other.

Communication: A profoundly warm human contact.

I soon fell into working on my own but missed the daily conversations with the old man. In the morning at seven o’clock I collected my orders for the day with a clear message of where I was to post the advertising posters in different metro stations. A normal day consisted of about 30 to 40 posters to be hung in 7 metro stations. Once my work was finished I was free to enjoy the rest of the day.

On my third day I noticed an attractive young woman working in the back office. She had long dark hair cascading down her back, her face was of classical proportion and showed an understanding of her position in this world. When I saw her smile it was as though her heart opened up with joy. I also noticed she was being closely supervised by an older woman who was constantly sending hand signs to her.

On my fifth day as I was leaving for my rounds I opened the office door for her and the older woman. This was the moment. I said, “hello and good morning.” The younger woman just looked at me. The mother quickly intervened.

“ Young man Marie’s silence is that she was born deaf and dumb.”

I am sorry, please just say hello and tell her I would like to invite her for a coffee.

Theolder woman replied “With pleasure tomorrow at the same time.”

The next morning all three of us sat down for coffee. The older woman explained she was in fact Maria's mother and guardian angel. The only way you can communicate with Maria is by hand sign language or drawing a picture. We cannot afford any new technology equipment that might help. Rather than letting the mother interpret for me I instantly produced pen and paper and drew three stick figures. I put a cross through two of them. The third figure I signaled was me. I then draw two figures holding hands to indicate her and me. She nodded and smiled. So began our morning coffee sessions. Her mother taught me a few hand language signs and Maria showed me how to improve my drawings. These morning meetings made my day and I could see Maria enjoyed them. I learnt that her father had left his wife at child birth. Maria’s mother was left to cope with life’s difficulties of attending to all Maria needs; her education had been limited due to her disabilities. Her mother could not afford a school specialising for dumb and deaf children. Regardless of this disadvantage she had been a happy child interested in drawing and dreaming about traveling the world. The supervisor at work had been very kind to them, allowing Maria from a young age to accompany the mother to work. Over the next months I grew extremely fond of Maria and when on occasions we missed our morning coffee I felt depressed. The day appeared drap and ugly even when the sun was showing all its glory.

At this morning's coffee meeting I learnt that in three weeks time Marie would be 21 years old. I immediately suggested inviting mother and daughter to a birthday dinner at my apartment. Both accepted and I could see Marie was quite excited about my invitation. That evening I sat at home trying to imagine what would be a surprise party for Marie. It suddenly occurred to me that allowing her imagination to travel throughout the world would be a great present. I had heard there were certain new electron equipment that now offered this possibility. Even to think of exploring this avenue was out of the question. Then I suddening realized the answer was at my finger tip. I would decorate the whole of my apartment with glorious travel posters. I started laughing, yes all the available space, floors, ceiling, walls, cupboards, bath, sink and any object that spoilt the impression so that it was one gigantic invitation to travel the world.

The next morning before I left for my day's rounds I asked to see my supervisor.

“Morning Marc you asked to see me. Before you tell me the reason I want to tell you we are all very pleased with your work and as of the end of the month you will be considered as a full time employee. You will also receive a bonus for your good work. Now what do you want to see me about?”

“Well, sir, as you probably know I have my early morning coffee with Maria and her mother. It is Marie’s 21st birthday in three weeks. She dreams about traveling the world. So as a surprise I want to decorate my apartment with travel posters.They are coming to dinner on her birthday. Do you have any old travel posters you could give me.?

“What a charming and interesting idea. You know we are all very fond of Maria and we intend to give her an office party for her birthday. As for old posters you are in luck as at the back of the main depot there is a room full of unwanted posters. The majority concern the travel sector. Take what you need. I will be delighted to get rid of them.

Three weeks later Maria and her mother stepped into my apartment. They just stood there with mouths open amazed at the beauty of our world depicted by travel posters. Maria screamed with delight and rushed towards me and gave me a long and tender passion kiss.

Communication: I had met my soulmate

David Nutt June 2025