I’ve been threatening to start a HEY TAXI! blog because as a taxi driver in Bermuda, I daily have some interesting conversations and often encounter an almost noteworthy event, but so far nothing has seemed truly “blogworthy” until yesterday, when I had a nice little experience worth passing on.
I took the job like any other.
“You’re picking up Harbour Paget west x63…you’re number is 535-1573,” crackled the dispatcher over the radio.
“Roger, roger,” I respond. That’s local radio talk for “cool.” I call the fare and tell him I’m on the way.
“Cool,” he says.
I pick him up and drive him into town. We have a nice chat along the way about nothing in particular and soon arrive at his destination, Port ‘O’ Call on Front Street.
“Eight dollars will be fine,” I say.
“OK, give me $30 change,” says the fare, handing me a $50 bill. My brain is on cruise control, and I deal out $30 and hand it to him when the penny drops.
“Wait a minute,” I say. “It’s an $8 fare. I think you need more than $30 change.”
“No,” says the fare. “When you called me, your number showed up on my phone as ‘taxi I owe.’ You see, about a year ago you were meant to pick me up, and I got in the wrong cab by mistake. When we talked on the phone, I said I’d make it up to you, and you said, ‘I’m sure you will.’ Well, today’s the day I’m making it up to you!”
I thanked him and we parted ways, both of us better for the exchange.
