Indulgence(2)

A few weeks back I reported how cabbies can sometimes win rather than lose, from passengers’ excesses. Over the weekend I again encountered such a fare.

A thirty-something fella staggered out of a Darling Harbour nightclub and opening my front door thrust a twenty dollar note at me. “This is your tip, on top of the fare,“ he said. “First I need you to wait for my friend...don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of money.”

As with the aforementioned fare, we hung around while he continually attempted to contact his mate by phone. After ten minutes I suggested he go inside the club and haul out his mate. This he did, after flicking me a fifty dollar note and checking my number plate. I turned the motor off and settled in.

The mate eventually emerged drunk and stoned. Falling into the back seat he announced, “Fuck man, what a night...where we going now?” “Kings Cross,” the mate said. “But l I’ve only got two pills left...let’s smoke a joint.” He addressed me, “Hey driver, I’ll give you a hundred bucks if you let us smoke a joint in here.” I just laughed, “Mate, weed stinks, forget it.” They didn’t mind, they were already too wasted.

The rear passenger decided I was his new best friend and made introductions, laughing and joking, the usual bullshit. At Kings Cross he gave me a business card and fifty bucks. “Mate, give me you number cause we’ll need a lift home in a few hours. It’s a good fare for you – out to Bankstown.” I jotted down a number and handed it over, agreeing to drive them home.

They were so high and pumped it was a relief to finally see them alight and leave me in peace, despite the 20 minute hiring reaping $120. Then I checked the back seat and found the clown had left his wallet there, bulging with notes. Luckily they were still mucking around near the cab and responded to the horn.

Upon seeing the wallet he almost kissed me and I was again subjected to vigorous handshaking and declarations of friendship. “Mate, you’re the best cabbie in Sydney. We’ll definitely call you around five o’clock.” Yet he never did because he didn’t have my number.

Comments

[The Devil Drink]

You're a mensch, Adrian. Bless you.

[Anthony]

What they do for a living didn't happen to come up in conversation?

[adrian]

Anthony, the business card related to the housing industry.

[Rainer the cabbie]

Sounds to me as if they specialise in the fitting of concrete boots, not much money in the housing industry right now.

[truck]

Reminds me of the time I was waiting outside a hotel in the early hours for a fare going to the airport, when a bloke pulled up in a Mercedes and withdrew money from a money machine. His car was parked across the road and a couple of young jokers must have done something to his car as they walked past. He yelled out to them, ran to his car, and pulled a wheel brace out of his boot and chased them up the street. As he did so, I noticed paper fluttering to the footpath. He swaggered back to his car, got in and drove off. I got out of my cab and picked up the two $20 notes off the footpath, yelled out to him (quietly, as I didn't want to wake the hotel guests) but he was already gone. If anyone knows who he is, I will be happy to return the cash to him...

[taxi service]

the housing industry is getting slammed with foreclosure becuase people cant pay their rates, hopefully more opportunities will arise in the next couple years helping with this drop