In more recent times I have started buying him food – mainly sweet stuff like yoghurt drinks or chocolate bars or cans of Fanta. He doesn’t look like he ever eats, so it’s better than nothing. He can’t eat apples as his teeth won’t allow that. Some days he looks better than others. On his good days he remembers my name. On the other days he recognises me but my name is a blank. If I see him on payday I will buy him a vegetarian curry and we’ll get chatting. The heroin is the more damaging addiction for him as he says himself.

In a better world he’d be able to get treatment. Living in a homeless hostel and deep into addiction makes this difficult.

Today I went for a walk at lunch. Lost in my own reverie I didn’t notice Kevin sitting outside the new Gino’s Gelato on O’Connell Street. He saw me.

He called my name and asked me if I could buy him an ice-cream. I agreed. Mint and vanilla flavour was his choice. Quite dull was my thought but who am I to judge. I was horrified that a medium double scoop costs 6.80 euro. I handed him his ice-cream, wished him a good day and made my way home.

I called into my local shop on the way and saw that the owner was behind the till. As I was paying for my brown bread sandwich with butter, ham, coleslaw and red onion, the owner pointed out the new additions to the shoplifters’ gallery pinned to the cigarette machine behind him. These were cctv shots of the women entering the shop. There was nothing remarkable about either save for the quantity of cosmetics on their faces. I marveled at their ability to keep their eyes open so heavy were the false lashes and jet black mascara.

‘Hmmm’ I replied non-committedly, not knowing where this conversation was going.

‘I heard the one on the left teaching her six year old how to steal’ he spluttered in indignation.

‘Wow’ was my response.

I didn’t nab them as I wanted to share the pictures with the other shops.

‘Good idea’ said I.

‘Then I followed them at a distance to see where they lived. It’s a brand new council house.’

‘There’s no such thing as a council house anymore’ thought I to myself but I merely nodded.

‘I reported them to the council to object to their tenancy as they are criminals, and I have informed the Limerick Leader, who say they will run a story on them.’

I was a little shocked. Why was he telling me? He knew me obviously from my boring daily sandwich choice. But our relationship hadn’t developed to this level’.

‘Best of luck’ I chirped as I exited rapidly from the shop.

Sometimes I just want to be left alone.