Mide’s Abor with Olamide Longe
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During her last trimester, she employed a taxi driver. It happened serendipitously. She was waiting at her usual spot when this neat taxi stopped before her.
“Where to, madam?” the driver asked.
She told him and he asked her to hop in.
Her brows went up. Hop in was not a word one normally heard from a taxi driver. She gave him a second look. Oh, well. He didn’t look like a typical taxi driver; he was smartly dressed. Even the car smelled good. None of the musty smell she’d learned to accept. It probably had to do with it being quite new, she mused. Give it a month or two, and it will begin to resemble its siblings.
When he made to pick up another passenger, she stopped him. “How much would it cost to take me to my place?”
He smiled. “Where is your place?”
She told him and he named a price. Her brows went up again. It was lower than she envisaged. She asked him if he was sure.
“Yes, I am. I am giving you a pregnant woman’s discount in case you were wondering.”
Her mouth formed an O. This was no ordinary taxi driver. “You are very kind.” How lucky could one get? She wondered. When they reached her stop, she acted on impulse. Could he pick her up at this same spot tomorrow morning? She asked as she paid her fare.
He dug in the drawer to give her change. “No problem. What time?”
“Seven-thirty, latest.”
“Okay. I’ll charge you the same rate as this afternoon.”
“That is very kind of you, sir. So, see you tomorrow?”
He smiled at her. “Definitely.”
She waited until he drove off before walking the short distance to her apartment complex, bemused by her good fortune. He was too good to be true. It was quite unfortunate that someone obviously as learned as he was a taxi driver, but hardly surprising. Admirable, too.
The ride home had been so comfortable and not having to do two stops before reaching home was wonderful. She wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before. She could certainly afford it.
When he picked her up the next morning, she asked if he could pick her up after work. Again, he agreed. She also asked if she could have his phone number and he willingly gave it.
Tejumade couldn’t wait to tell Francesca about her good fortune. Francesca obliged her with a visit at home after work.
“I can’t believe you are this excited over a taxi driver.”
“Wait till you meet him. He is a gem of a find.”
“I am going to meet him?”
“Of course. I mean, I hoped you would. I want to hire him. I don’t know why I didn’t think about it before. It is no fun pushing myself around at this stage.”
“Have you lost your mind? How can you just casually hire some random taxi driver?”
“When you see him, you will understand.”
“I don’t care if he speaks like the queen. If you want to hire a cab driver, go to the motor park nearest to your place and get one. That way we would know where to go if the need arose.”
“He is all right, Fran, don’t be so negative. His cab is painted and he has a hackney permit. He is so careful and solicitous. I think he makes an extra effort for me.” Tejumade had this sweet smile on her face.
“Hmm. I wonder why,” Francesca said drily.
A month ago
Felix sat across from his best friend, nursing a drink in his hand. His friend Benson’s mouth was agape, an incredulous look in his eyes.
“Say what you are thinking,” Felix commanded.
Benson reached for his own drink and took a gulp. His eyes burned. “I wish you hadn’t told me,” he said, when he could talk.
“Well, too late, man. And, I am sorry. Deeply so. But I needed to unburden myself.”
“Then you should have found a priest. Damn. I feel somehow.”
“Say what you are thinking,” Felix said again.
“Okay. It is unethical and immoral.”
Felix nodded and then sighed deeply. “Unethical maybe, I’m not so sure about immoral.”
“Well, I am sure.”
“All right, it is immoral. It is unethical. However, it is done. My conscience is killing me. Man, she hounded me and I just did what I had to do to be free.”
“She hounded you? I know you Felix, you and your crazy so-called modern ideas. I’m sure that’s what she played on.”
Felix avoided Benson’s scrutiny. “What I want to hear from you is the way forward.”
“Is that so? Well I have nothing. You come up with something.”
Felix sighed. “I saw her couple of days ago. She is about five months gone.
“Congratulations.” Benson’s tone was cold as ice.
Felix grinned suddenly. “She has this glow. She is so beautiful.”
Benson’s brows almost merged with his hairline. “You are mad.”
Felix shrugged. “I couldn’t help myself, I cried afterwards. The thought that my baby is the reason for that peculiar glow had me blubbering.”
… continues next week
