Weathered

At an eastern suburbs beach this morning I was hailed by a dishevelled young woman walking on the road. Instead of withdrawing to the kerb and waiting she advanced further into my lane, showing no fear or regard for safety, indicating other cabs had refused to stop.

Climbing in the back seat she requested, “I need to go to a servo then come back here.” As ‘here’ was adjacent to the surf club and outbuildings behind the beach, I wondered if she was roughing it in the dead of winter.

Next she wanted to smoke. When I refused she insisted, seemingly unaware it was a public vehicle. I explained this, ready to cancel the fare but she reluctantly accepted it.

“I need to buy a toothbrush,” she said. “At two o’clock in the morning?” I asked incredulously. “You know when you get the gunk in your mouth, it’s really foul.” No surprise given she carried an open bottle of Coke and cigarettes. By now I had suspicions about her condition - it may have been drugs but I sensed trouble.

At the service station I watched as she ordered at the night counter and decided to take an image, just in case something went wrong back at the beach. Then she sat down on the bare concrete step and smoked a cigarette, hunched and shivering whilst the meter ticked.

Back in the cab she requested, “Do you know where I can sleep tonight; a hotel or motel?” I asked her, “How much money do you have?” After she counted out $170 I suggested the cheapest option was a local backpacker hostel.

To be honest, though, I just wanted to be rid of her and fortunately the hostel was open and displaying a vacancy sign. Happy with that she gathered her boots, climbed out and hitched up her jeans.

Watching her cross the road, barefoot in the freezing temperature, I wondered why she looked familiar. It was only after arriving home that it came to me.

Last Christmas whilst visiting a friend in an acute mental health unit, I had observed this same woman across the exercise yard, laughing, boisterous and clearly manic. At the time I was struck by how young she was to be in such a place, yet now she looks much older, weary and weathered.

Poor thing, hope she escapes the cold soon and finds some proper care.

UPDATE:; Last night I visited my friend in the mental health unit, who is having another 'time-out'. By sheer coincidence the first patient I saw was Ms Weathered, draped in a white hospital blanket and roaming the corridor. Unlike our encounter earlier in the day she was looking refreshed, relaxed and ten years younger. A good result.

Comments

[The Mutant]

Be it self induced or not, you can't help but seel a little bit sorry for someone like that. Well spotted though if you remembered her from last Christmas!

[manly cabbie]

adrian you need to get into a different line of work,you would make a great socal worker only problem is they get paid less than cabbies.

[crjc]

Social worker? Ugh. Don't.

Do you know the legends of the dog faced men, whom the Christians call Saint Christopher? He is the patron saint of travellers, and of cab drivers.

To carry someone (or herd them) to where they *need* to be, that is the happiest fare, and a cabbies greatest pleasure!

The town whore cannot pay me enough to take her into the city, and I drive slowly... 10 under the limit. But to deliver her to her father's house -- it is *his* job to care for her -- that I do gladly. 10 over.

Adrian.... you are a credit to all Dog Faced Men. Keep it up!

[lost legionnaire]

The abilities of the cabbie memory are fantastic.People are the business after all-and sometimes it's all about heart and instinct.
I still recall faces and places, even now, after leaving 'the biz' 7 years ago.To help, I wrote fares and destinations(some just 'Cooge M6'!!) on the back of cabcharge yellow blank dockets,i still have them. A comment about each passenger/s-tragic lives, happy lives, whines, compliments and complaints.I wrote and performed a show about it years ago (1996) at the Wayside theatre, called "Kings of the Road"....anyone see it?

I digress.Sorry!

Always love the tales Adrian, thanks for keeping up the blog.I warms my heart, makes me happy, makes me cranky, and always rings true to my memories.
And thanks to all you fabbo cabbie bastards out there-love your work!!!!