It was one of those squirelly nights: Groups ditching some of their 'friends', Bewildered dichees wondering whether to go home, or try to guess where their 'friends' went, Clueless ditchees chasing the cab that has the 'friends' speeding away.
Rarely some older creep will try to ride with one or maybe two extremely drunk young people. One tried to go home with a blind college student.
It seems like the creeps all come out on the same nights together.
So last weekend..........probably Friday night, during that frantic last hour before the bars close, I'd decided to head in the direction of home, and pick up anything I saw on the way. On L. Street, with 10th in my sights, I saw a hand go up in front of the Senator. It was two dark haired white guys in suits, one draped over the other. I pulled over toward them, lowered my window, heard one say: "no, I'm not going with you." to the other. And something told me to leave them there. I pulled a little away. They had started toward me, and I loudly uttered: "No". Sober guy says: "No?", as I pull away.
I continued on to 10th, and stopped at the red light next to the first taxi in line on the stand at 10 and K. A woman looked at me, and walked past the line up to me and asked me if I was free. Off we went to Capitol Towers. She gave me a good tip. I told her about the guys I rejected just before she got in.
Ok, now I'm on my way home for real. Phone call: It's Richard. He was parked at the Hyatt when I almost picked up at the Senator. He was just leaving the line up there, saw me leave the two guys, and pulled over to get them himself. Sober guy gave him 40 bucks to take the drape to Land Park. Drape turns out to be a pain in the ass all the way down Land Park Drive: Making noise, touching stuff, saying absurd things, and not telling Richard where on Land Park he lives. Richard drove up and down the road asking him over and over where his house was, and the Bozo just kept up the lunacy. So Richard just told him to get out. He wouldn't get out. Richard, exasperated, just drove the guy to the only place he knew for sure there was a cop: 16th and L. Four blocks from where Sober guy had given him 40 dollars to take the drape home.
At least Richard got paid. But he wanted to know why I rejected them. Something just said: NO!
There were lot's of flags out that night. It took me another hour to finally get home. I didn't lose anything listening to that little, and sometimes big voice that guides me away from trouble.
Kinda funny too: I knew the guy wasn't dangerous. I just wasn't in the mood for that kind of bullshit. Somehow I knew the guy would act like that. And the dangerous ones: I actually get a shot of fear that makes me check the locks as I drive away. That shot of fear is physical too. I feel it in my gut, and my heart pounds.
I picked up four women once in front of Chargin's, who turned out to be just what I thought they might be, but looking back: I believe I was in the mood for a challenge. I took them. I won that one.
copyright 2011
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