Carol Ann Duffy Monologue

I grew in the back seat of the taxi cab, my dad’s taxi cab. I watched the seats deteriorate, the smell of the car worsen after the umpteenth drunk passenger left their Saturday night entree inside of it. The cab had accumulated so many battle wounds, but that was its appeal. It had character. It encapsulated the moments that I wasn’t privy to. It was a living memory capsule.
I was never able to witness what it was like while it was alive, I didn’t know what it was like to have strangers in your car or what it was like to be in the front seat but my dad did. He knew it all too well. From the drunk and disorderly, the fare dashers, to the full on therapy sessions with his passengers. He had seen it all. Yet, I hadn’t. I wanted to see it first hand. And I was determined to do so.
“Aabo”
“Yes,”
he said monotoned. “Umm…Can I come with you to work?” I said He didn’t reply right away. He gave a confused look and said “Why”. “ I just want to see what it’s like,” I said hoping that this answer would suffice. I was sure he’d give a smart answer like “When you learn to drive you can”, but, to my surprise, he didn’t.
“Okay,” he said shrugging his shoulder, “Is that it”
Okay? I couldn’t believe it was that easy, I didn’t care to ask any more questions either. “Yes. That’s it” I said as I skipped gleefully to my room.
I am going to finally be in the front seat, the passenger side of course, but that didn’t matter, I get to see the stories of the seats and the smells take place first hand.I couldn’t believe it, today is the day. I am finally going to see how the toaster on my counter was paid for and a get a glimpse of the life that I am only aware of through my dad's stories and the wear on the cab. I quickly put my hair into a sleek bun and put on my favorite jacket as my dad screamed out my name, telling me it was time to go.
“I’m ready! “ I called out. It was a Friday night so I knew it’d be a busy night with a lot of stories and I was ready to be a footnote in one of them.I walked into the car, the passenger seat this time, and fastened my seatbelt. I looked back at my dad and said “Let’s go”, and with those words, we were off to pick up our first fare.And right on cue, it came.
“Beeeeeep” the computer screamed, signifying a fare on Capitol Hill.
“Yes!” I shrieked “Let’s go”
Zooming through the streets towards Capitol Hill I felt a rush coming over me, I felt giddy, like I was on my way to meet Mrs.Carter-Knowles. I stared out the window waiting for us to arrive at the pickup stop. Five Mcdonald’s, 5 Starbucks and a Costco later we had arrived.
The car came to a halt and the passenger approached the cab. He was a middle-aged, slightly balding, white man. He entered the car and told my dad where he attended to go and then sulked back into his seat letting off a sigh.
“Long day?” my dad said
“You have no idea” the passenger repeated. And before my dad could let off another reply the passenger began to give a preliminary report of his day. My dad smiled and nodded and added commentary when need be, and the passenger kept talking and talking and-
“Screech” the tires went, signifying a stop.
“We’re here,” my dad said
“Ooh really that was fast!” the passenger proceeded to pay his fare and then asked my dad for his personal cab phone number, “Thanks for listening man, I’ll definitely call you”.
“Okay, anytime you need a cab give me a call” my dad
replied
From then out the fares piled up and each time my dad’s interaction with the passengers was different. It was like he knew exactly what to ask them, or exactly what they needed during their ride. Whether it be complete silence, someone to listen to them or just a lighthearted conversation. It was amazing. He had mastered the art of catering to his passengers and human need.In a world where human interaction is superficial and surface level it was great to see real conversations between humans.And his passengers seem to think so too. After each passenger arrived at their destination they would shower him “Thank you’s” and “Can I have your card” on their way out. There was more to my dad's job than driving passengers from Point A to Point B. His connection with his passengers weren’t in the seats, but, they were a special thing that we need more of in this world.