34 man. He does not look for popularity because he is satisfied with his life as a
window-cleaner. It can be inferred from his speech and character as seen by others.
“How long ago was this?” I asked “Thirteen years.”
“And you’ve been washing windows ever since?” ‘I really enjoyed it,’ he said, laughing. “I like being outside, I meet
a lot of people, go to lots of different places. Like, where you saw me-that’s my biggest gig. Takes a week, once a month. The rest of
the time I’m all over the City and the West End, doing everything from hotels to shops to restaurants to private houses-you name it.”
“It’s still just cleaning windows though, isn’t it?” I said. “I mean, after having your own company…”
“God, the hassle in that,” he countered. “Fussy clients, architects, the spec always changing, or guys never showing up for work, or
skiving off, or always trying to cut corners. No. what I do is simple, straightforward, gives me enough to live on, and when I
finish a job it’s finished. I go home, no worries, no paperwork in the evenings, and I sleep bloody well.” He smiled and toasted me
with his beer. A contented man. 160
After his marriage ends and he loses his company, he tries to start a new life. In the situation of having no money, he borrows some money from his friend
to buy a bucket and starts becoming a window-cleaner. The job as a window- cleaner is considered not a prestigious job. Even so, Geoff does not care because
he enjoys his job as a window-cleaner. He can meet a lot of people and have different workplaces. Though it does not give him a lot of money, but it gives him
enough money to live and he does not have to be worried because of paperwork and he can sleep well.
35
d. Wise
Since his job as a window-cleaner is not a prestigious job, he is so wise not to tell it to Ed. It is seen through his speech. Once Ed asks Geoff about what he is
doing for life, but Geoff does not answer it. He just says that his job is helping people to see clearly at all levels. When Ed works in Regence House, which is
near Geoff’s workplace, Geoff still does not tell Ed until one day Ed finds him cleaning windows. Ed is very angry. He accuses Geoff of telling a lie about his
job. He thinks that Geoff is some sort of life-coach. He looked uncomfortable. “I didn’t tell you because … well, I
didn’t know how you’d react.” “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t think you could take knowing what I did.” 145
Geoff does not tell Ed because he does not know how Ed will respond to it. He does not want to disappoint Ed because he knows Ed has considered him as
his best friend and as his best friend, Geoff does not want Ed to keep at a distance from him. He understands that Ed has many problems and he wants to help him
solve the problems.
e. Attentive
Geoff is an attentive person. It is seen through character as seen by others. During his meetings with Ed, Geoff always gives attention to Ed’s problems. He
listens attentively to Ed’s complaint without any interruption. It makes Ed assume Geoff as a life’s radiator because Geoff makes him feel relief only by listening to
him.
36 My mother used to say there are only two types of people in the
world. No, not people-who-say-there-are-only-two-types-of- people-in-the-world and people who don’t. Her pair was ‘drains
and radiators’: people who drain away your energy, and people who give you theirs. If that’s true then Geoff was definitely one of
life’s radiators. He listened to me moan on for a good fifteen minutes, just sipping his beer and lighting and relighting his roll-
up. Then, when I’d exhausted my whinge, he smiled wryly. 56
Geoff is not only a good listener but also a person to whom Ed can talk to. He can give some advice to solve the problems. Moreover, Geoff is always
available every time Ed needs him. Geoff listened without a word as I filled him in on the latest
installment of the soap that was my life. We were in a snug little pub he knew in Paddington. It was the end of a hard week and we
hadn’t met since I’d chucked him out of the hospital. I was starting to realize how much I’d come to rely on him-not just for advice,
but for a sympathetic ear, someone to really talk to. 126-127
Geoff does not complain even though during his meetings with Ed he just listens to Ed and never discusses himself. He still gives full attention to Ed and it
makes Ed start depending on him.
f. Straightforward and Talkative
Geoff has habits to speak straightforwardly and likes talking about Buddhism. It is seen through his speech and character as seen by others. When Ed
argues with Angie and she leaves him, Geoff does not ask him many questions about what they argue about, but he just asks him whether he loves her or not.
“Do you love her?’ Geoff asked. He had a habit of going straight to the heart of things” 127. As mentioned before, Geoff likes talking about Buddhism. He likes
