I hailed a Taxi. I fucking hate taxis and taxi- drivers in general, the conversation is usually unbearable. My own car was getting serviced so in a case of needs must I had to get a taxi.
I got in the back, the driver called me by name, then I recognized who the driver was, an old friend from primary school, we were on the soccer team together, then years passed and our paths crossed again when we were 18 and he did me what I always considered a tremendous favour. Over 20 years had passed again. My first impression was he didn’t look good, the face was too red, flushed almost. We started talking. He got right down to it, ” Im an alcoholic, its a fucking disease, I can’t stop, I don’t touch the shorts though, only pints”. ” sorry to hear that man” I said. ” Im gonna drop you off and then Im gonna have a pint” he said. ” what is it, the froth, the fizz, the taste?” I said. “Stop man, you’re making me thirsty, Im gonna drop you off and then Im gonna have two pints” he said.
I went to primary school with this guy, we went to different secondary schools, I showed academic promise and won a scholarship to the countrys best school, he went to a regular school. One day our paths crossed again at age 18. All my friends from school were on the other side of the city, so I was lonely. His friends were in the locality because he went to the local school. As a rule of thumb nobody will want to know you in this world but from time to time someone will say by word or by deed ‘ my hand is out, will you shake it’. And so it was with him, he said to me ” you should come down to the pub and have a drink with your old mates from the soccer team”. I took him up on his offer and never forgot the gesture, so sorry I was to see him like this a full blown alcoholic.
” Listen man, its none of my business but my missus said to me about a year ago she saw your missus out with another bloke” I said. ” Yeah I know about that, he treats her a lot better than I ever did, thanks anyway man. We arrived at my destination, the fare was 11.50, I handed him a twenty. ” Keep the change man” I said. ” Thanks so much man, Im gonna let you out and then Im gonna have six pints” he said.