Daughters

September 09, 2007

Often I've reported on obnoxiousness behaviour by private school girls under the influence of alcohol. They confuse assertiveness for aggression, their exuberant self-assurance presenting as plain boorish. A common story.

To be fair though, I guess learning how to modify drunken over-excitement is all part of their maturing process. It’s just that sometimes I wish they would practise this in another cab.

Anyway, late last night a mother dropped off two seventeen girls at my cab. They had attended a Year 11 school formal after-party. During the long journey home they sat quietly chatting, without profanities, and made no demands for music, loud or otherwise.

As have other kids this week when travelling home from school formals. Their consideration for cabbies has been refreshing, making it easy to grant discounts when they sometimes struggled to meet the full fare.

Last night’s model passengers were not only sisters but identical twins. On approach to their home one rang their father. "Dad, we’re in a taxi and nearly home. But I’m going on to see a friend, but I won’t be late." She imparted this information more as a respectful notification, rather than an overt request. However the father must have instinctively objected. "It’s just this boy I know...aww, please Dad..?"

Her sister then took the phone and softly said, "Dad, she’s just doing the responsible thing and letting you know first....Yes, I know, but she’s finished her exams and now she want’s to see this boy. She reeeally likes him and he’s really nice...okay I’ll tell her." Ringing off she told her sister, "You have to be home by two o’clock." Too easy.

It must be hard for a father to resist the will of a besotted seventeen year old daughter, especially when subjected to the gentle determination of twins. But from what I observed he had no reason to worry. In my cab his daughters were angels.

Permalink | Posted by adrian neylan in On the job | Comments (3)