Old Pete was a doorman on the Upper North Side.

For thirty seven years he’d stood in the foyer of the twenty story apartment building attending to all manner of duties.

Dressed proudly in his charcoal grey uniform with its brightly polished brass buttons, Old Pete was as familiar a landmark as the apartment building. He did a lot more for people than his job required him to do. He just liked helping.

In the winter he shoveled snow away from the front door so the building’s occupants could access their home without obstacle.

He carried bags. Husbands’ bags, wives’ bags, shopping bags, carry bags. He was always there ready to lend a hand.

He would save his old subway passes to give to the tenement children just so he had something to give them. It was the thought that counted as far as he was concerned.

Everybody loved Old Pete.

He was kind to humans and animals alike. When taking out the garbage, tenants were clued in to keep aside bones and table scraps. Old Pete took them home and stored them in his refrigerator. Then once a week, every Tuesday, he would bring them in to work and distribute them to the neighborhood animals.

One of these pampered pooches was Dennis Dog.

Dennis wasn’t very bright but he knew enough to present himself on Tuesdays outside the apartment building for his handout.

Now Old Pete had never married and his only interest outside the apartment block was baseball. To be precise he was a huge lifelong fan of the Hawks. He often said that if he could see his beloved Hawks win another Championship Series he could die a happy man.

When he was off-duty Old Pete would sit in his favorite armchair in his basement apartment and watch his beloved Hawks on his ancient TV set. If he happened to be working while a game was being played he caught the replay. He never missed a game.

At long last the time drew near for Old Pete to take off his gold braided peaked cap and hang it up for the final time.

The residents of the apartment building, many of whom were long term tenants, decided to all chip in and buy Old Pete a retirement gift.

The tenants were sad to see him go but the time comes for everyone eventually. Everybody wished him all the best for a long and happy life of leisure.