My passenger Jennifer

Dear Friends..as you already know that this week the traffic in mid town was horrible because of the United Nation Week..so I was trying to go far way from the mid town especially from the East side. I was driving on 9th Ave and 21st street and was stopped on the traffic light. I saw a beautiful girl was coming towards me with a beautiful mischievous smile and I am a sucker of beautiful smile. I knew something is up and sure enough..she came in smiling and told me that she wanted to go to Brooklyn..

I had no problem taking her there even though the destination was very inside of Brooklyn and it would take about an hour to go and I also knew that I would not make any money taking her there. But as a sucker of beautiful faces and smile I was happy to take her there. So I asked her the reason for the flirty smile and she answered,” I stopped about 6 cabs and no one wanted to to take me so I decided to use my smile to get a cab and you came along. I told her that she choose the right person for that.

I started to drive towards East side and Williamsburg bridge and started to ask her questions. She told me that she was in a party and was a bit high because she took a little pot. I was listening her story..she told me that she came from Los Angeles. Father is in Arizona with another wife..and ( I am sorry I forgot what she told me about her mother..)…

What made me feel like crying when she told me,” You know I still don’t understand why did my father and mother fight for my custody for 10 years and when finally I was awarded to my mother..it seemed like she never wanted me..or she never cared..I was alone..had no friends..no uncle and aunts…did not know what to do..”

I remembered my own situation..I have a 21 years old daughter I love her more than anything else..I would never leave her..in fact whenever I am alone driving..I remember all those old times when my daughter was so small that she could not even hold her own milk bottle..in every little thing she needed her Papa..when she was born ..she had jaundice when she was born..so many nights I could not sleep knowing that my little daughter is in pain..so many nights when she could not sleep because her nose was clogged ..I had to go to get nose blower and cold medicine in the middle of heavy snow…but she is older now..she does not have time for her Papa…I remember I used to wait for my father to come home…if one day he was late I would be so worried that I would not concentrate on my study even though he used to work very near. anyway forget it..

I was drinking coffee and she asked me if I could give her my coffee..I was kind of surprised but I knew that she was comfortable enough with me and that’s why she did not mind to share my coffee. I gave her my coffee and she drank with a huge long breath..I told her to drink that fast otherwise since she was sleepy she would definitely spill..and guess what..she did..and I had to give her some paper towels to clean .

I asked he name and I almost hit the brake on the middle of the FDR Drive when she answer back that her name was Jennifer. It reminded me of my ex girl friend. I went back to 1986/87 when I had a relationship with Jennifer. She was the most beautiful girl in the whole planet. She used to live in Birmingham, Alabama and I was in Dallas, Texas. In those days there was no cell phone or internet that I could easily see her or talk to her. So I used to write one letter everyday.

I used to drive almost 1200 miles twice a month religiously just to see her face. I would take interstate I-20 from Dallas to straight Birmingham, Alabama..I would drive straight 17/18 hours on Friday night so that I could reach there by mid day. I was young..had a new car..I would only take break for coffee and bathroom. Now I wonder how did I do that..? I can not even drive an hour and I become tired…

Anyway, I dropped her off in her apartment. She paid me handsomely and I was happy coming back to Manhattan.