Sat nights carry on

Sat night I got a one off shift in a Falcon Station Wagon. I have only rarely driven station wagons and it didn’t take long for me to be reminded of one of the reasons I dislike them.

I arrived at the second job of the night, a pick up at a well known workers pub for a fare supposedly to the city. One bloke got in the front and started the well worn barrage of “I’ll offer you $10 bucks if you’ll squeeze 5 in” To which I replied rather forcefully “I’m not risking my license for a lousy $10 bucks, there are 4 seats and 4 seat belts and that’s how many people I’m taking.”

So 4 guys pile in and suddenly a guy appears bashing on the tailgate window shouting at me to open it. I refused and thankfully due to a redesign of the tailgate which means there is no door handle and the only way to open it is via a button on the dash there was nothing he could do. What is it with people? They just assume because there’s space there and they have too many people that it’s okay to ride in the luggage area.

I already had the meter on as someone had told me to start it while they gathered the troops around and so when they spent time arguing over who was staying and who was going and where they were going to meet up once they got there I was quite happy to sit there wondering how long it would take someone to notice the ever increasing fare.

Finally we got going and less than a kilometer into the trip we stopped at a red light. The idiot sitting in the rear left side jumps out saying he needs a leak and can I wait. This wasn’t some quiet suburban intersection at 2 in the morning rather it was the intersection of Tonkin Hwy, Great Eastern Hwy and Brearley ave (the airport access road) at 7:30 in the evening. I turn around and tell this bloke in no uncertain terms to get back in the cab or when the light goes green I’m going to leave him standing there. Would you believe it he’s standing there at the intersection in full view having a leak with ten cars lined up behind us.

I look up and notice the light changing so true to my word I took off open door and everything leaving him standing there holding it. His mates were still in the cab and I admit I was a bit worried as to the response I’d get but they shut the door for me and slapped me on the back saying “You did the right thing” and “That guys an idiot”

I dropped them off in town and they were still more than happy that I left their mate stranded. I got the fare and a nice tip and drove off shaking my head.

Just when I thought I’d seen everything.