Misconception Part 2

The taxi cab pulled over the curb on 34th.The windows at Frugal Feliz were dimmed, just like they always were. It was always hard to see what level of activity happened to be taking part inside. So Jason checked his watch. It was 6:30 pm. Just before the dinner rush, he was sure. He handed the cabbie an extra $20.

“With speed like that, my boy, you could be a winner on the trading floor,” he said.

But it wasn’t right. The restaurant was packed. Face after face illuminated the rather dark restaurant and the smiling waiters were scurrying like rats in a cat chase. It was 6:30 pm, but it was still not soon enough.

Jason immediately ran outside to fetch both the cab and his $20, but they were both lost to the New York evening. Upset, Jason called another cab and one immediately found him – an unusual circumstance for even the whitest of men.

“Battery Park Diner, now,” Jason barked.

The taxi sped off, just like the last one. But it kept picking up speed and was soon slicing through the vegetative traffic like a fine knife. Jason screamed “SLOW DOWN!” but the cab driver refused to heed his call and simply kept going and going, the speedometer likely about to burst. “WATCH OUT!” The cab driver peeked back, his green eyes vacant and his mouth fronting a crooked smile. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” The car made a quick left and narrowly avoided a young man selling cheap knock offs to tourists on Canal St. It then made a left on Broadway and was at Battery Park in a lightyear.

“Holy shit, what the fuck do you think you were doing? Did you fail the driver’s exam? Is this even a real cab?

The cab driver, a short man with a weathered brown face and those green eyes, simply looked forward, refusing to look Jason in the eyes. Fed up with awaiting a response, Jason looked at the sky, which had become a malevolent rich shade of plum and shook his head. He then smiled.

“Alright, do that again, but this time get me to Merci Diner just after it opens at 7:30 pm. There is $40 in it for you if I arrive in on piece at that time.”

The chariot was off.