I was delighted to read my friend Chris Fischer’s recent commentary about the fawn, the rib eye and the man named Jay. It was a nice piece of writing. But the comments by readers of the piece, extolling the magic of the Vineyard and the spirit of Island hitchhiking, brought to mind of a phrase used by the wise John Early: “Sometimes we just ‘special’ this place to death.” There is a side less magical on this Island; we don’t comment about it too often.

I too picked up a hitchhiker. Last week, about midday, on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven. He carried a backpack and held a paper shopping bag. The shopping bag was filled with clothing.

As he climbed into the truck, he told me that although he had paid a month’s advance rent, he had just packed most of his stuff and left his apartment while his roommate was away. Apparently, there were too many drugs and other stuff. And as we pulled onto the road toward Oak Bluffs, I smelled alcohol.

My hitchhiker told me he was headed to a church in Oak Bluffs that offered shelter; he thought it was a Presbyterian one, did I know where it was? And did I have any work he might do around my house for a couple of dollars?

I said I was sorry but I had no work for him. He then mentioned that he owned a house in Boca, had a condo in Cape Cod, had family on the Island that didn’t get along — oh, and he was born in California. I left those comments swirling in the air of the truck; I couldn’t think of anything helpful to say. At Jim’s Package Store, he got out, asked again for a couple of dollars’ worth of work and then wanted to know my phone number. I gave him $10 and bid him good luck. I wished I knew how to make more of a difference. He headed up Circuit avenue.

Yes, we are lucky to live on this Island. It is special. But sometimes our focus on the special ignores the other side of this Island’s coin. Life here is not all farm fresh eggs, salty fishermen, fresh venison and generous camaraderie. There is life here with domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse, hunger, cold and untreated illness.

Those of us able to enjoy the “special” of Martha’s Vineyard, either year round or in the summer season, need to pick up more of our Island’s hitchhikers — literally and figuratively — more of the folks at the side of the road, more souls without the security of a ride. We need to do this for more than a dinner chat, or a tale well told, or a celebration of this special Island. We need to pick them up and carry them as far as we can, for counseling, for treatment, for shelter, for housing. For support. Working at this — with time, money and good will — can make this Island even more special.

Jim Malkin lives in Chilmark.