THE FAT GUY

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

It's funny the inspiration you can get as a writer; sometimes it's something just "right out of the blue". That's the case with what I'm writing today. I had no intention of writing anything for public consumption this morning. I stopped at Market Basket supermarket in Ashland to pick up two items: a packet of cough drops (I like to suck on them throughout the day while I'm on calls at the answering service) and a one liter bottle of seltzer, which I will enjoy with my supper.

Immediately upon exiting the store, there on a bench was "The Fat Guy". My daughter Rachel has given this man that name "The Fat Guy". We don't know his name. He gave me a big smile, but was not able to engage me in conversation because he was already engaged in a conversation with someone else. As I drove away, I thought about "The Fat Guy". He must be about seven years younger than I am, which would put him at about age fifty. This man has been a staple in the Framingham area for decades. I moved into Framingham in early 1987, and even in those days, you'd see "The Fat Guy". I want to make it clear that he is not morbidly obese. I'd say he is probably about sixty pounds overweight. He's not a bad looking guy- not really "handsome" but not bad looking. He's almost always smiling, and frequently engages people in conversation. Most often, he is seen hitchhiking. I think hitchhiking is much less common than it was, say forty years ago. But this man hitchhikes all the time. In the late 1980s, he was probably only about twenty-five pounds overweight. He'd be out on the streets (mostly Concord St./Rte. 126) of Framingham and environs hitchhiking constantly. Most of the time, he'd just stand there with his thumb out. Rarely, you'd see him walking and waving his thumb at cars as he walked. Usually, he just stood and thumbed. It was around twelve years ago that Rachel gave him the monniker, "The Fat Guy". I remember that she said, "If he would just walk instead of hitchhiking, maybe he wouldn't be so fat!"

There was one fireworks show my kids and I went to at the Natick Mall in the 1990s. I vividly remember "The Fat Guy" being there; walking around greeting people, and obviously thrilled to be in the middle of the action. The last time I spoke to him was about five weeks ago as I exited Stop & Shop at Old Connecticut Path, Framingham. He was standing outside of the store with his usual big smile displayed.

"I know this guy!" he exclaimed upon seeing me, "He's the guy with the Firebird!"

I quickly corrected him and explained I was not the person he was thinking of.

"Yes, but I do know you!" he said.

I smiled and nodded. It's been twenty-six years since I first saw "The Fat Guy" in Framingham. To this day, I don't know his name. I don't pick up hitchhikers. Now, I really don't think "The Fat Guy" would be any more dangerous than Bill Murray's "Bob" character in "What About Bob?". I just don't pick up hitchhikers, though. I almost wonder if that was a mistake on my part. Who is this guy, really? What's his name? Is he on disability? Does he have a job? Does he have a family? Is he really as happy and carefree as he appears to be? Is there value in a life that consists of hitchhiking every day, hanging around store parking lots, smiling at people and talking to them? He is a soul. Will God someday tell me that as a pastor in Framingham I "blew it" by not witnessing to "The Fat Guy"? Even now, the next time I see "The Fat Guy" should I ask him some of these questions, or would that be much too personal? No, I never planned to write this today, but "The Fat Guy" hitchhiked into my time and conscience.