FIRST DAY OCT. 1998

I started Cab driving in 1998. I picked up my Taxi in the late afternoon that day. Drove my Taxi straight to the car wash to clean and vacuum, finished, then went to my house in South Austin to show my roomates and girlfriend. We hung out for a while to shoot the breeze. After a while, it was night. It was around 8:00pm that night when I decided to go out in the Taxi and try to make some money. I was wet behind the ears, rookie to the business,a victim of crime waiting to happen. Who cares. I was in it to make an income. I did not know a thing about Cab driving or the things you should look out for. I started to drive around South Austin, listening to the dispatch radio, booked in the zone hoping to get a call. I was driving down a street named Oltorf by South Congress. I saw a black guy hailing me down. The guy looked late 20's to early 30's, carrying about 4 white plastic bags the size fo grocery stores bags. I pulled into the empty parking lot and pulled up to the guy. The guy jumped in the back, behing the passangers seat. I looked back at the guy and asked "where you going". He replied an address in East Austin. I wasn't familiar with any address other than South Austin. He said to go down 7th street to Bolm Road and take a left. I was kind of familiar of main streets though. I said cool. The guy was lost in his mind. He was talking about 'white bread' this and 'white bread' that, 'white man' this and 'white man' that. I told the guy he was my first fare ever, but he kept rambling loudly to himself.
This guy was wierder than wierd. Lost soul or on drugs or something. We finally arrive at the Bolm and 7th intersection. He spoke. He said make a left here, go to the stop sign and make a left again. He was quiet, but still ramblig on about nothing. I'm at the stop sign and made the left. He spoke again. Wow. He said make the first left then first right. I said "you go it". Left then right. I noticed this was a dead-end street with two houses in each side. He didn't say which house, but my instinct told me to pull up in a driveway anyway. The meter was around 14 dollars and some change. I looked back at the guy looked down and saw a gun strapped to his ankle. I then looked at the guy directly in the face and said "nice shoes". He paid me 15 dollars with a ten and a five, got out of the car, slammed the door and walked into the deadend. I thought to myself, this guy wanted to rob me. I showed no fear. It is what it is... I personally have been involved in the criminal side of life, so, it was a language I spoke. Call the man's bluff with no fear and you will be all right. If that was the best the Cab business could throw at me(talking about Karma). I was going to be O.K.. I headed back South. 1o years later, I am still here.