It was about 12:15 on a warm Thursday night in August. I drove my cab down the street, humming to the tune on the radio as I aproached my detination.
By the time I reached the Sheriton, it had started raining. The windshield wipers slid back and forth in front of my face as the door opened and two passangers climbed in.
"236 Spruce Street please," grunted the gentleman.
"Sure thing buddy." I spat out my usual reply as I began driving and listening to the conversation unfolding in the back seat.
"I just don't see what was so wrong with what I did," the gentleman spoke questioningly to his companion. She just glared at him, her eyebrows raised and her lips clenched shut.
"Well, ok, maybe I shouldn't have insulted his mother but he was asking for it."
"Tom, he was just being friendly. He didn't want to ignore me."
"Look, a wave or a casual hello is being friendly. Walking up and giving you a back massage is more than that. And then when you kissed him!"
"Oh, don't be such a child. You know that I still see Jim fairly regularly. You are not the only man in my life."
"It's just that I don't understand how you can like that moron."
"Sometimes you are just such an imbecile!" She let out a loud sign and turned to glare out the window. He just sat there and stared straight ahead.
In the rear view mirror, I could see the angry expression on her face. Right then, we stopped at a red light. She turned from the window to speak to Tom again.
"Why can't you just be civil to him? Especially since you know your behavior will upset me."
"I'm sorry. It's just the way that he acted and the way that he spoke to me. I just can't stand him."
"Well, I can stand him but lately it's been getting harder to stand you."
"Alright, I'll try to behave better next time."
"Thanks," she said half-heartedly as she rested her head on the window. She stayed that way, silent for the remainder of the ride.