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 crawled in.
"236 Spruce Street," called out the gentleman as he entered.
"Sure thing buddy." I spat out my usual reply as I began driving and listening to the conversation unfolding in the back seat.
"There was nothing wrong with what I did," the gentleman shouted at his companion. She just turned away from him, her eyebrows raised and her lips clenched shut.
"He was really asking for it. He shouldn't have been coming on to you like that."
"Seriously Tom! He was just being friendly. He didn't want to ignore me."
"No. A wave or a casual hello is being friendly. For him to walk up and give you a back massage like that is not being friendly. It is so much more than that."
"Oh, why are you such a jealous fool. You know there's nothing between Jim and me any more."
"If there's nothing between you, then why does he think he can put his hands all over you like that?"
"Oh Tom! Sometimes you are just so. . . so..." She trailed off and turned to face the window. He just sat there and stared straight ahead, mad.
In the rear view mirror, I could see tears running down her cheeks. I watched as she wiped her face with the back of her hand. I almost didn't notice the red light and had to stop short. The sudden change in motion made my pasangers jolt forward slightly.
"Sorry 'bout that," I shouted to the back seat. I recieved no answer. Instead they continued to sit in silence. Tom was the first to speak again.
"He just acts that way and he speaks to me like that. I don't want him to be around me and I don't want him to be around you."
"Well, you will just have to deal with it," she shouted at him, "I just wish you could be a tiny bit civil to him. After all, I am still friends with him even if you're not."
"Well,, I would prefer that you not be friends with him either.."
"You are imposible!" she screamed and then turned and glared out the window. He turned and stared out his window. They both stayed that way, staring at the other cars silently for the remainder of the ride."