The Nerve

Why is it suddenly appropriate for a very old man, a cab driver with no teeth, who after he just mentioned wanting ten kids, to ask a passenger out young enough to be his great, great, great-grandchild after stepping into his cab during an emergency situation? Hmm…is it desperation? Here’s the story:

The other day, Daisy, who lives in the city, decides to help her friend Barbara, a hysterically nervous and crying pregnant woman, into a car and accompany her in the cab through the tunnel into her home state of New Jersey. Barbara’s pains subsided and by the time they reached the other side of the tunnel, it was non-existent. Barbara asked the chauffeur to drive Daisy back to the city since she thought it would be a long and strenuous commute for Daisy to travel back into the city later in the evening, especially since Barbara was feeling better. Although doubtful for a moment, after Barbara’s persuasion—who would want to argue with a pregnant woman anyways—Daisy decided to adhere.

As soon as Barbara was dropped off, not even ten seconds after the chauffeur started the engine and not having reached the entrance to the tunnel, the old man turns around and asks Daisy, who is half his age, for her number and out to dinner. He mentioned that he was aware of the emergency but was admired by her nobility at accompanying Barbara into Jersey. Of course, having lived possibly two centuries already, he comes out with the line, “It’s just friends, going out with friends…nothing more.”

Oh please, thinks Daisy, a native and streetwise New Yorker…as if she has not already heard that line before. Luckily Daisy literally sees the light at the end of the tunnel and quickly tells the chauffeur, no to the dinner offer and a quick drop off at the nearest station. As soon as Daisy is about to get out of the car, the chauffer’s last attempt was handing her his business card, telling her to give him a call any time she may need a cab service, with a wink 😉 Great!!! But, Daisy gives nothing more than a half-smile, not wanting to make the situation any more awkward and books it out of the car in amazement. Bad timing and wrong century.

Ah…the lovely New York encounters.