A Cab Ride

  I was online talking to friend jack instant messaging , and we started talking about a strange rumor about a story online circulating about a magical cab ride where it takes you where you have to go not where you want to go. I said

“ jack your spending too much time reading to many crazy stories remember we can’t believe everything you see on the internet

“ steven I’m telling you its real !

“dude I’m going to bed talk to you tomorrow” I googled this mysterious cab ride. I had 25,000

 references from   different place around the country I fell asleep doing my homework and looking up  this cab . I was woken up at 11pm  to my mom talking to someone in the kitchen , I looked around the corner it was police officer explaining what happen to my dad he was mugged and shot two blocks away.  The  officer left  Mom walked  down the hall into my  room after  the police left staring at me. She yelled         

“ godman you  look what happen  because your father didn’t want you to stop your home work !!.. slurring her words  smelling of  scotch . Pop wasn’t thrilled about her drinking  and tried  to make the best of it . The next few months her and my older brother Eric both alcoholics  made me feel guilty as guilty as possible  blaming me  For my dad’s death. I developed  sever anxiety and stress living at home                 

     I woke up on my 18th birthday realizing  I needed  a change , living in toxic house  was  very un-unhealthy living an alcoholic  and abusive environment .I always had dream of writing, but I was made fun of constantly buy my  mom and older  brother , I was suffering form unhealthy anxiety I was always very jittery . I needed to get out of the environment, but I need a job to survive. I went for a walk  to the pier to clear my head watching the boats come in  always made me feel good,   a cab pulled up it had Gotham can company.  

“ Hey, you need a ride “ I noticed his named it was Kevin Garner

“ HI Kevin  I’m steven

 “  where you headed ?

“ the pier need to relax

“ I can see  you look very jittery

“ yeah very  toxic  at home at home after my dad died.     

         We go for a 1o minute drive  Kevin said

“ before we leave we have new technology were trying out  put your hand on the pad it’s all good”  I played along. I put my hand a hand size screen like a I pad  it took   me to the office building next  to the pier where wanted to go.

“ I don’t get it ; the cab knows where need go “ .Kevin pointed to the big sign hiring. 

 I was tired I played along seeing I need a  job. .   

 “ I didn’t want this place but    I’m glad it stop here   I need a  job

“ how did you know I need a job “

“   The cab  knows  “ I paid him walked In the building and filled out an application . I got job as a building porter. I walked back  home took money out of my secret for an apartment  and told everyone  mom and my brother

 “I’m moving out “ I heard  

 “you will be back you  .can’t survive by yourself” my brother said stumbling around the house.

“ I took  my clothes and left .Within a month I was all settle in     

                    I started talking night classes an online line college In journalism. The  first  2 years  living on my own was good everything was going well. I had chance to see the new york times  up close, IT didn’t go very well on the tour the school set my anxiety ruined it for me. Could not speak clearly jittery.             

   The next month had to go home to get some mail I forgot  to forward . I  opened the door to get mt mail  my  mom came stumbling in

“ I knew it you could stay away” I held my mail in the air  “           

“You and Eric just don’t give up do keep trying to blame me for your failures  pushing  my buttons, I just walked out. It was a cool summer night I went for a walk  get some ice cream walking back a rain popped up and Kevin the  cabbie  showed , I smiled

“ don’t you work other areas  besides here in Brooklyn ?

“yeah  I was just in the area jump in its on me” I got in he stared driving  I   started talking more about my home life    

“ it sound like you need help “

“ I’m not sure what to do “

 “ touch the pad again “ I played along it brought  me home but 2 blocks away  

 “ you need what’s in this building “ I was confused I played along 

“ what’s so important in here for me? He said

“read the board  3^rd floor office 3c. “  

            I paid him his money and got out said good bye I looked at the directory 3c was psychiatrist office a DR. Kelly Stevenson.  I walked home listen to my answering machine it a counselor at the EAP program from work . They gave me a doctor’s name who highly recommended it Dr. Stevenson the same building I was dropped off at. 

         I made my first appointment spoke with doctor. We  talked a lot about the last year of my life       my job my dreams etc. I talked about the night my father died and the following months and all the anxiety that went along with it. The next few months I was feeling good but still something bothering me. The doctor said 

“You should go to church maybe it might make you feel better” . I took her advice went to the local church for services. I stood after the service to light a candle . I went to the front row kneeled  down

 “ dear lord can you help me with my emotional anxiety from my past”.  The priest t walked up

“Son is everything okay “

“ kind of father I have some  serious  emotional issues taking a toll on my  everyday life I am looking for guidance”

‘well you’ve come to the right place   take leap of little faith and believe before you know it  your problem will disappear” I paused

“ faith in the unknown 

“yes, my son

“ thank you father “                        

    I walked out  of the church just trying to get some fresh air , walking down to the local deli to grab a drink Kevin  was outside

“ Hey steven how was church? 

“ It was good  the priest said to  take leap of little faith have faith in the unknown and believe before you know it your problem will disappear, I touched the iPad size device and we began to drive ,  The meter didn’t move as drove  .I asked  Kevin how come the meter isn’t moving “:

“ don’t worry’ smiling             

                  We were ten minutes in  we passed the cemetery  where my dad joe and  my uncle tommy are buried

“you have a lot of family steven “

“yeah    mom and brother  not very supportive boarding on abusive , I  can see you seem  always  uneasy tone  very nervous

“ Yeah  unhealthy anxiety” We stop a block away the cab pulled up to the 13^th street cemetery gate

“ what are ewe doing here Kevin “

“ this is where the cab took you after touching the pad its special cab remember” smiling . A bright light started shining  from the top of the hill

“that s where my dad and uncle are buried ”  

 “that why we’re here”

 “I’m confused “. Just then the cab Pass through the locked gate . I looked back the gate was still locked  the  car  no damage”

“Kevin what s going on “ he just smiled as we drive up the hill I saw the light I got out it was coming from the plot area where my dad and uncle are buried. He looked at me said

“ walk up it will be okay remember what the priest said something  have faith “  I got out walked up my dad and uncle tommy were standing there clear as bell. My  dad said

“ steven sit, we sat on the ground uncle tommy  walked up  holding a wine glass. My dad said

“ your uncle still loves his wine ‘ smiling . I am looking back and forth at them 

“I haven’t been drinking how is this possible ‘ My uncle tommy said   

“ don’t question it its needed” My dad said

 “ I’m not sure where to start the night I took the dog for a walk and fell   your mother shouldn’t have blamed you ; you did nothing wrong sometimes bad things happen to good people , your mom and mew weren’t  happy for a while and your brother is just a mess   I tried to straighten him out believe me, I hope he can find help. You do not need to keep blaming  yourself for what happen to me. I was just trying to protect you. I knew your brother did what he could to pile on it was a wrong. My uncle tommy patted me on the shoulder stares at me.. 

 “ I also should have done more my nephew your brother is a cocky pain in the ass treating you like a source of humor instead of being supportive. I should have done more to help” I sat there for a second taking it all in got up stretching my legs  I got up  there images faded away  the moon light blew the trees around they were gone . I stared walking down the hill talking to my self      

 I’m not sure how I got in seeing the place is locked down, I just hope I’m not dreaming” . The cab pulled up Kevin said

“how was your visit?

“ you were watching?

“Yes “

“It was eye opening something I needed”  I got in the cab drove home Pulled up at home . I got out went to say good by the cab was gone . I went into all night store bought a six pack “ I need a drink only drank two   bottles of beer . I woke Saturday morning went the cemetery stared at   my dad and uncles tommy headstones thinking  about last night. I asked a  cemetery   worker if anything  strange went on here last night flashing lights. They said no. I went home             

               I woke up the following morning after my strange can ride feeling 1, 000 better about myself after talking to my dad and uncle still scratching my head  after my cab ride.   I had gotten a message    for an interview  Monday at the Ny Times, not sure why but I will not question it.  I arrive at the new  times  building for my interview . I spoke with Mr White who I saw in a trip to the paper while still in school. He said.

 “ I have to be honest I wasn’t interested but I got as message from the priest at the 13^th avenue church father Johnson recommending you for an interview a friend of yours steven ?

“ I had a talk with him last night “ 

“ you seemed very different from the last  visit more  relaxed”

“ I am Mr. White thank you I had eye opening experience last night “  he shook his head in approval 

 “ glad to hear it “

          We had an excellent interview   I showed him my writing samples one hour went by in a snap, before I knew it I was being hired as a reporter at the paper a lifelong dream accomplished.

I left the times with a new job and lots of confidence. I wanted to stop buy  my old house , looking for some clothes I couldn’t find . My mom and brother was sitting in the living room eating ben & Jerrys looking unkept .

“ what are e you are doing here” mom snapped at me                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

“ look for some clothes I left here

“ check the dumpster “ My brother said

“ no that’s okay I can buy new stuff  just got a new job.

“ where did you get a job “ a  very snide mom

 “Here” I dropped  a copy of the welcome aboard letter they gave me at the times when they hired “

 My mom looked at me 

 “How did you get this job?

“ a friend who cared “ and walked out .and wanted to go by the Gotham cab company to thank the Kevin .  I walked in found the dispatcher and asked

 “ is there a Kevin Garner? The dispatcher said 

“ there is no body working here with that name son  sorry    

“ really one of you cabs  and drivers helped  me the past  few night the driver was really nice listen to a lot  of my po problems “

“ that’s nice to hear but no one hear you sure it was the company.

“ maybe I didn’t get enough sleep last night”

“ Well I’m glad you’re okay son"

“ Thanks”

    I walked out wondering if what happened was a dream I am not sure walking back to my apartment scratching my head either way the mysterious driver and the cab ride changed my life .