As an underemployed writer moonlighting as a cab-driver in a small
I received a call to pick up a lady and her son, some 20 minutes further into the country than the burgeoning rural town I call home. As I parked in her driveway, mildly warmed by the redneck charm that growing heaps of discarded appliances and furniture impart, I radioed the dispatcher to give him my twenty, which is cab-gab for whereabouts. I was half an hour early. A hint of recrimination in the dispatcher's voice inclined me to understand that he felt I had more than just flirted with the speed limit in getting there. He was partially right. I had in fact had my way with the recommended speed, but modestly, enough only to color its cheeks, as I steadfastly believe speed limits are simply helpful suggestions tempered by the ability of the driver and the capabilities of the vehicle.
My upcoming passenger poked her head out the door of her home, called out to let me know how early I was, and promised that she'd make an effort to be ready in five minutes. I smiled and waved, and picked up the biography of Ben Hogan I'd been wading through, thankful for a moment for the opportunity to get lost in someone else's world. Before I could lose myself, there was a bustling at the cab's back door, and a pre-school lad landed on the rear seat, while his mother fussed about strapping him into place.
"Locked and loaded?" I offered, in what I thought was good humor, as she poured herself into the front passenger seat. She appeared confused by my question, looking at me quizzically, so I moved ahead to the business at hand.
"Where are you go..."
And that's when she hit me. As the door slammed closed, I was enveloped by her aura, albeit nothing remotely new-agey. It was rather more like a pestilent cloud: a gut-kicking, stomach-turning, gagging stench of body odor that she seemed not the least to notice she was clobbering me with. As my eyes teared, I started again...
"Where would you like to go?" My voice had changed, as the level of available oxygen in the car was diluted by her all-encompassing presence, and it occurred to me as at once profound and funny, in my desperation to breathe, that this woman's odor was so powerful it flirted with the boundaries of time, by both preceding her arrival, and remaining long after she'd passed by.
She smiled, and gave me instructions as my olfactory glands red-lined. I headed down the road, cognizant that I had at least 15 minutes to share this confined space, and thankful that I'd partially rolled down her window earlier to let the air circulate on an otherwise pleasant Spring morning. I cranked my window down further, just as she found the handle to roll hers up. This was clearly not going to get any easier. I thrust my hand against my nose, seeking desperately to smell anything else, and found momentary relief. But it was short-lived. I drove faster, determined to get this fare done with as quickly as possible.
My guileless passenger was in a cheerful mood. She tapped my arm to get my attention, and commented on the lovely weather. She tapped again to ask about my job. Did I like it? Had I been doing it long? I refrained from commenting on how some fares seemed eternal, whilst others seemed too short. She tapped me again, and I began to wonder if my ongoing struggle for fresh air made me appear insensate, in need of her constant prodding to get my attention. I was beginning to feel thankful she didn't have a stick when she said something about a skunk. I glanced across, curious to see if she was lifting her tail, when a small voice in the back piped up about the now obvious skunk-odor invading the cab. I breathed it in, relieved at the fresh new scent, and almost laughed at my preference.
As the drive took us into town, I found myself getting used to her. I wondered at my ability to adapt, to become quickly desensitized to unpleasant sensations. Not quickly enough, however. I was seeing the home stretch, and breathing shallowly, hoping to limit my absorption of her, when a train whistle jolted me from my focus on the finish. Sure enough, the gates at the train crossing dropped in our path, and I sat dumbly, disbelief settling in, as the train approached the intersection, then rumbled loudly through. I can't fairly say if it was the longest train I have ever seen, or if I was simply experiencing relativity. But the train just kept rolling by, slowing as it passed through the town, and creaking almost to a stop before mercifully clearing the intersection. The gates remained in place until the train had cleared an unspecified, interminable distance, maybe 20 yards, before rising, and allowing us to proceed. I began to smile as she described in detail exactly where we were headed, and I wondered if my stupid grin was evidence of oxygen deprivation, or simple relief at the impending end to our journey.
We pulled into the school where the young lad was to attend playgroup. The fare was $22, charged to a social program that I wasn't aware existed. Nonetheless I smiled as she opened her door, then reached across to tap my arm one more time.
"See ya at
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Fare Maiden
Labels:
Ben Hogan,
Carleton Place,
dispatcher,
employment,
journey,
moonlighting,
odor,
olfactory,
Ontario,
playgroup,
public school,
red-lined,
relativity,
skunk,
social program,
train,
writer
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
24 comments:
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link
patient preparation portal vein sonography [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/kytril.htm]kytril[/url] deep health http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/herbolax.htm lanthanum calcium boron http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/bupropion.htm
radiation heart disease breast cancer [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/accutane.htm]accutane[/url] ancient egyptian veterinary medicine [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/eurax.htm]humphries diabetes center[/url]
http://rxmeds.in/allegra/allegra-from-dreampharmaceuticals
[url=http://rxmeds.in/coreg/prescription-coreg]european monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction[/url] what drug cutting agents leave white residue [url=http://rxmeds.in/aceon/manufacturers-of-acetazolamide-sodium]manufacturers of acetazolamide sodium[/url]
will trazodone show up on a urine drug screen http://rxmeds.in/accutane/on-accutane-to-control-oil
[url=http://rxmeds.in/aceon]buy cialis ebay find tadalafil[/url] buy levitra online gameday de [url=http://rxmeds.in/hytrin/hytrin-side-effects]hytrin side effects[/url]
federal drug arrests texas http://rxmeds.in/abilify
[url=http://rxmeds.in/aleve/pain-medicine-aleve-surgery]how do i make my breasts bigger with out drugs[/url] homade ways to pass drug test [url=http://rxmeds.in/actonel/actonel-not-working]actonel not working[/url] tizanidine drug test [url=http://rxmeds.in/fda/fda-approved-estradiol-cream]fda approved estradiol cream[/url]
http://xws.in/anacin/ansaid
[url=http://xws.in/divalproex/divalproex-na]mercer school of pharmacy[/url] generic viagra without a prescription [url=http://xws.in/amoxicillin/peninsellin-or-amoxicillin-on-line-doctors]peninsellin or amoxicillin on line doctors[/url]
sleepy household drug http://xws.in/abilify/abilify-a-treatment-option-for-bipolar-1-disorder
[url=http://xws.in/doxazosin/doxazosin-pills]ky board of pharmacy pharmacist lookup[/url] drugs street name ecstacy [url=http://xws.in/allegra/bozo-and-allegra]bozo and allegra[/url]
erectile dysfunction blogs http://xws.in/altace
[url=http://xws.in/emsam]treatment and prevention of described diseases and drugs[/url] illegal drug store [url=http://xws.in/dostinex/what-is-dostinex-used-for]what is dostinex used for[/url] cialis in uk online [url=http://xws.in/amoxicillin/ampicillin-amoxicillin-for-pets]ampicillin amoxicillin for pets[/url]
http://meen.in/celebrex/abuse-celebrex
[url=http://meen.in/fexofenadine]levitrabuy levitra online viagra[/url] alergic reaction to sulfa drugs [url=http://meen.in/fenofibrate/fenofibrate-interchange]fenofibrate interchange[/url]
a list of famous drug addicts http://meen.in/citalopram/wellbutrin-citalopram-combination-dosage
[url=http://meen.in/fluoxetine]new ptsd drugs[/url] paul hager drugs [url=http://meen.in/cefpodoxime/dog-prednisone-cefpodoxime]dog prednisone cefpodoxime[/url]
notre dame orthopedic sports medicine http://meen.in/escitalopram/is-escitalopram-a-benzodiazepine
[url=http://meen.in/evista/evista-drug-leg-cramp]how many people smoke and drugs in america[/url] drugs for staph infection [url=http://meen.in/cardura/generic-for-cardura]generic for cardura[/url] will zanaflex show up on drug test [url=http://meen.in/cipro/intestinal-infection-from-cipro]intestinal infection from cipro[/url]
new travel magazines http://greatadventures.in/motel/wingate-motel-cleveland-oh travel sites that moniroe airfares
[url=http://greatadventures.in/expedia/expedia-coupon-code]riick steves travel[/url] companions to travel [url=http://greatadventures.in/inn/holiday-inn-express-canon-city]holiday inn express canon city[/url]
travel cheaply http://greatadventures.in/airlines/vergin-airlines
[url=http://greatadventures.in/airlines/saudi-airlines]travel trailers weights[/url] europe travel advice [url=http://greatadventures.in/plane-tickets/hawaii-plane-tickets]hawaii plane tickets[/url]
long travel a arms blaster http://greatadventures.in/car-rental/alamo-car-rental-website nz travel insurance [url=http://greatadventures.in/map/outline-map-of-india-showing-union-territories]outline map of india showing union territories[/url]
teen designer wallpaper http://topcitystyle.com/m-sweater-size5.html fashion runway [url=http://topcitystyle.com/denim-blue-dolce-amp-gabbana-color7.html]shoes for diabetic[/url] audio shoes
http://topcitystyle.com/grey-navy-blue-on-sale-color100.html charles jourdan shoes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/black-shirts-with-colar-color2.html]hand beeded designer wallcoverings[/url]
north american adult reading test http://pornrapidshare.in/tits-free/grannies-huge-tits
[url=http://pornrapidshare.in/toon/free-video-clips-toon-sex]adult sadomasochistic bars in nyc[/url] free adult xxx download paypal [url=http://pornrapidshare.in/best-xxx/xxx-soundtrack-vin-diesal]xxx soundtrack vin diesal[/url]
dildo demonstration http://pornrapidshare.in/teen-chat/teen-breastfeeding
[url=http://pornrapidshare.in/teen-model/teen-haircut-magazine]taxi and porn[/url] hentai anime streams [url=http://pornrapidshare.in/pre-teen/satin-panties-teen-pussy]satin panties teen pussy[/url]
anal with daddy http://pornrapidshare.in/virgin/traditional-ethnic-dress-virgin-islands
[url=http://pornrapidshare.in/teen-high/teen-raider]sexy lesbian anal[/url] adult blueray [url=http://pornrapidshare.in/for-teens/table-manners-for-teens]table manners for teens[/url]
free shemale adult http://pornrapidshare.in/tits-free/bbw-tits-movies
[url=http://pornrapidshare.in/free-xxx/amanda-bynes-xxx]sexy doctor costume[/url] adult mature glamour model hire [url=http://pornrapidshare.in/best-xxx/xxx-loose-panty-fuck-clips]xxx loose panty fuck clips[/url]
adult ps3 games with sex http://theporncollection.in/moms/stay-at-home-moms-keeping-house-clean-and-organized
[url=http://theporncollection.in/free-hentai/flowers-of-hentai]anal fat grannies gallery[/url] sexy girls tgp [url=http://theporncollection.in/masturbating/lolita-masturbating-torrent]lolita masturbating torrent[/url]
wife fucking husband with dildo http://theporncollection.in/hentai-porn
[url=http://theporncollection.in/orgy/group-orgy-xxx]blog glauque amateur[/url] tarzan and jane hentai game [url=http://theporncollection.in/porn-galleries/gregs-porn-blog]gregs porn blog[/url]
girls with dog porn http://theporncollection.in/lesbian-video/free-lesbian-porn-videos-cuming
[url=http://theporncollection.in/sex-mature/mature-women-sex-videos-free]kelly kline porn[/url] penalty for adult providing alcohol to a minor [url=http://theporncollection.in/hentai-porn/doujinshi-hentai-games]doujinshi hentai games[/url]
adult catalogue http://theporncollection.in/gay-male/underage-gay-boys-porn
[url=http://theporncollection.in/porn-dvd/cute-couples-porn]sexy hot blonde naked[/url] wife fucks huge vibrator dildo [url=http://theporncollection.in/hentai-sex/free-hentai-vids-pics]free hentai vids pics[/url]
tranny anal http://xwe.in/blowjob/blowjob-clip
[url=http://xwe.in/thongs/motley-crue-thongs]youjizz hentai[/url] really young 15 16 17 sex video porn [url=http://xwe.in/shemale/shemale-angels]shemale angels[/url]
free adult porn streaming movies http://xwe.in/thongs/latina-girls-in-thongs
[url=http://xwe.in/adult-xxx/adult-girl]adult yerli[/url] free real young porn videos [url=http://xwe.in/orgasm/mpg-incredible-orgasm-blowjob]mpg incredible orgasm blowjob[/url]
tiavia free porn http://xwe.in/girl-anal/anal-sac-expression
[url=http://xwe.in/condom/elmo-condoms]young love porn[/url] amimal porn [url=http://xwe.in/oral/brother-bob-oral-roberts-university]brother bob oral roberts university[/url]
babes sexy taco http://xwe.in/gay-boy/gay-baths-new-york
[url=http://xwe.in/ass-video/videos-of-girls-shaking-ass-and-dancing]specific adult content searchn engines[/url] gay anal insertion [url=http://xwe.in/blowjob/nicole-kidman-giving-a-blowjob]nicole kidman giving a blowjob[/url]
cars used in transformers movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-colditz/6854database/]Colditz[/url] appollo 13 movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-juncture/6509database/]Juncture[/url]
gillian anderson new movie [url=http://worldmovs.co.cc/full_version-die-filscher/5250database/]Die Filscher[/url] movie too many girls [url=http://worldmovs.co.cc/full_version-the-ron-clark-story/6080database/]The Ron Clark Story[/url]
out on a limb movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-christiane-f-av-padde-79/9257database/]Christiane F Av Padde 79[/url] synopsis of movie then and now [url=http://worldmovs.co.cc/full_version-after-dark-horrorfest---8-films-to-die-for/24884database/]After Dark Horrorfest - 8 Films To Die For[/url]
every movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-david-icke---may07/16060database/]David Icke - May07[/url] milf wife movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-murder-on-spec/20449database/]Murder On Spec[/url]
seersucker clothes http://www.thefashionhouse.us/shoes-roberto-cavalli-type4.html britany spears clothes change [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/versace-sweaters-brand1.html]cheapbaby girl clothes[/url] where can i buy calvin klein underwear
http://www.thefashionhouse.us/?action=products&product_id=2236 gilmore girls clothes [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/?action=products&product_id=1872]designer handbag knock off purse[/url]
reliable medical sites [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/uroxatral.htm]uroxatral[/url] ilatibal band syndrome http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/skin-care.htm
patents on allergy relief medications like allegra an [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/antibioticos.htm]antibioticos[/url] cheap prescription eyeglasses [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/anti-depresseur---anti-anxiety.htm ]robotic surgery prostate [/url] fda jan marini eyelash conditioner
uinary track infection [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/avandia.htm]avandia[/url] pill imprint identifier http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/allopurinol.htm
fda approves balli diet pill [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/neurontin.htm]neurontin[/url] great depression in the ozark mountains [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/gums.htm ]foreign dental work info [/url] tel drug
old fashioned font free http://www.thefashionhouse.us/grey-black-blue-dolce-amp-gabbana-color66.html shoes for teen girls [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/xl-funky-size6.html]shoes with removable insoles[/url] tying shoes rhyme
http://www.thefashionhouse.us/?action=products&product_id=292 classic boys shoes [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/takeshy-kurosawa-t-shirt-for-men-black-item2020.html]lauren graham naked[/url]
travel supreme closing http://xwl.in/flight/cheap-air-flight-to-los-vegas travel advisory txdot i20
[url=http://xwl.in/inn/shawnee-inn-stroudsburg]wyoming highway travel information[/url] stories about travel [url=http://xwl.in/tourist/holland-tourist-guide]holland tourist guide[/url]
travel mugs insert http://xwl.in/tours
[url=http://xwl.in/tourism/us-funding-of-guatemala-tourism]tommy bahama parfum travel case[/url] isles of scilly travel insurance [url=http://xwl.in/map/map-skills-worksheet]map skills worksheet[/url]
cooks travel seattle westlake http://xwl.in/disneyland/first-grad-night-disneyland snoqualmie travel [url=http://xwl.in/disneyland/hotels-and-across-from-disneyland]hotels and across from disneyland[/url]
va lottery numbers win for life http://xwn.in/slots_free-flash-slots joker air art
[url=http://xwn.in/jackpot_tocotronic-jackpot-maxi-cd]prairieknights casino and lounge[/url] alberta lottery corporation [url=http://xwn.in/gambling-online_florida-gambling]florida gambling[/url]
lottery giving money every year to schools http://xwn.in/jokers_jokers-drawings
[url=http://xwn.in/roulette_online-game-bonuses-free-internet-roulette]blackjack reindhart kuhkri[/url] greek election betting [url=http://xwn.in/jokers_gypsy-jokers-australia]gypsy jokers australia[/url]
blackjack enter the unlock code http://xwn.in/online-casinos_new-no-deposit-required-casinos betting arbs [url=http://xwn.in/slot_professor-motors-slot-car-controls]professor motors slot car controls[/url]
celtic shoes http://luxefashion.us/white-color4.html funky clothes [url=http://luxefashion.us/black-v-neck-color2.html]discount wide shoes[/url] website designers derby
http://luxefashion.us/s-casual-size10.html runescape how to get lederhosen clothes [url=http://luxefashion.us/pink-long-sleeve-tops-color10.html]the buckle clothes[/url]
pennylvania casinos http://lwv.in/roulette/roulette-sniper-review betting services
[url=http://lwv.in/casino-playing-cards/lenormand-cards-by-playing-cards-sample-reading]plane shapes bingo[/url] affiliate bingo online program [url=http://lwv.in/casino-online/casino-inspecters-courses-gold-coast-australia]casino inspecters courses gold coast australia[/url]
north state casino travel http://lwv.in/bingo/classic-bingo-desro-session-times
[url=http://lwv.in/casino-playing-cards/bicycle-vintage-1800-playing-cards]new mexico lottery results[/url] homemade casino cake [url=http://lwv.in/slot/slot-wall-brocure-holders]slot wall brocure holders[/url]
quinalt casino wa http://lwv.in/lottery/ga-land-lottery-maps lottery systems that work [url=http://lwv.in/slots/south-of-the-slots]south of the slots[/url]
movie lords of dogtown [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_cadillac_records/]cadillac records[/url] arizona sunset movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_a_jitney_elopement/ satc movie release date
naruto movie high quality [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_girl_in_the_park/]the girl in the park[/url] burlington iowa movie theater http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_expert/ downloadable movie tailer of avp 2
porn asian younge movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_capote/]capote[/url] movie theaters in knoxville
aimee graham sexy movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_picture_perfect/]picture perfect[/url] blown up movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_fear_and_loathing_in_las_vegas/ movie peter faulk olympia dukakas
sugarhouse movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_sin/]sin[/url] swim fan movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_merlin_70/ porno movie by william in 1939
talladega nights movie soundtrack [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_trombone_trouble/]trombone trouble[/url] sideways movie clip sex http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_caprica_2009/ disney princess movie clips
finding nemo movie comes out [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_postman_always_rings_twice/]the postman always rings twice[/url] playboy movie torrent http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_tripper/ hilarious movie quotes
windows movie maker [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_brown_sugar/]brown sugar[/url] andy griffith movie preacher
download rape movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_shrek_4_d/]shrek 4 d[/url] helen hunt movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_broken_lance/ new he man live action movie
memorable movie quotes 2007 [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_push_2009/]push 2009[/url] movie belphgor http://moviestrawberry.com/hqmoviesbygenres/download-genre_sci-fi-movies/?page=5 movie clip search engine
Post a Comment