Saved

Early yesterday evening I only did two jobs in the first two and a half hours. In the lead up to Christmas that’s brutal, even for a Monday. By the end of the peak period the situation had only marginally improved and I was facing one of those shifts where my income would be less than the pay-in, meaning below ten dollars per hour.

All I could hope for was a big job after midnight so I camped on a late office rank for an hour. Finally, after reaching the head of the queue a fella emerged, looked at my cab then boarded the cab behind, who immediately accepted and took off. I was pissed off, more upset with the driver than the fella, figuring a certain espirit de corp would have him directing the fare back to my cab. Then I looked at the meter and realised my Vacant light was off. Doh !

After waiting another half hour until 2am I gave up and slowly departed for home, thoroughly dejected. A few minutes later on a deserted Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills I was hailed by an Asian staffer from a restaurant/bar/casino/brothel. I can never work out what the joint is but they’re renowned for pouring drunken Asian patrons into cabs, after footpath farewells from obsequious staff and tittering girls. The more important the patron the longer the leave-taking and this cove got such an prolonged farewell you’d think he was Genghis Khan.

He was middle-aged and virtually legless so the manager directed me to take him home to the western suburbs. Bingo, an unexpected meaty fare which would land me close to home and a 3am finish. Even better he was joined by a younger Asian fella who appeared sober, so I wouldn’t have any trouble determining the exact address.

However within five minutes, whilst stopped at a red light, Genghis flung open the back door and violently threw-up, once, twice, three times, then recovered as the light went green. Class. Seriously, I’ve said this before - ‘class’ in the cab game is throwing-up outside the cab.

At the next red light he repeated the action. It was excruciating to listen to as he heaved onto the roadway, expelling the expensive food and booze right down to his stomach lining. That’s probably too much information but you get the dispiriting picture, excuse the pun.

After that, no problems. Found his home easily enough and he was carefully escorted to the front gate. Thence more head bobbing and puerile waving from the remaining passenger who then requested I take him back to Surry Hills. Bingo, my lousy night was saved, despite a late finish at 3.50am. Cab driving, it’s a funny ‘ol game.

Comments

[Walter]

I do remember those days and nights where I wouldn't even make my "nut" or buy-in as you call it. Particularly as my income was pretty marginal anyway, that uncertainty drove me out of cab driving.

[Lee]

Just be thankful he threw-up each time out of your cab than in it, Adrian...at least that was a plus! ;)

[Col]

The joys of being a cab driver!!!! I drove cabs in Perth back in 1985-87. I had a women vomite in her handbag, bless her soul.
Saved me a big clean up.
I found women more likely to spew in a cab than men.

Col.

[Krupo]

I feel weird sharing this, but whatever - consider escorting someone in a similar condition. You leave the pub with a cup full of chicken wings - yeah, weird enough.

Well soon enough, forget about the wings because they catch a full blown up-chuck. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeough.

The now horribly full cup is promptly discarded - thank goodness it didn't overflow or spill - a small miracle.

I can only imagine how badly that driver felt - although I imagine he must've been relieved when he figured out we had 'contained' the situation, so to speak.

So are cups and handbooks semi-class? ;)