Unconscionable City

As Andrew grudgingly pulls himself out of bed, beating his alarm by one minute, he contemplates whether he could just stay home on this Saturday evening.

His 6PM-6AM taxi driver job can be brutal, picking up little old ladies and crackheads all in the same night. The little old ladies wasn't a problem but the the crackheads was annoying, and could be dangerous. The 'fare' would always want to go in bad neighborhoods, where the products they desired was located.he usually received a bigger tip from the crackheads than the little old ladies. In some ways he had a lot more respect for the crackheads than the grannies.

Andrew's life seemed to have been spiralling out of control for the past few years. At 32 years of age, being divorced was the deciding factor of his personal changes. His son was his first priority, always sending in his required child support and alimony payments on time. He would make sure that his ex got what she needed to keep his son clothed and belly full.

Langston Texas was where his parents moved to after he had grown up in Covington Kentucky. Andrew, started his school year as a Freshman at Langston High, he blended in with every other student.

As time went on, Andrew got into the wrong crowd, eventually quitting school. Job after unsatisfying job, he finally settled for a taxi driver job at The Brussels Taxi company.

Brussels Cab, which it was colloquially known, provided Cash money at the end of his shift. He sometimes would bring home $200-$300. Eventhough to others, it seemed like that was a lot of money, it really wasn't that much. The long hours contributed to a decline in health, and he had to pay for his own gas out of the 50% take after each shift. He got tips also but not nearly as what he wanted.

"Andrew Ferguson." Leo, the owner/operator said as he stubbed his cigarette out. Leo took a gulp from his latte as he looked over the list of drivers for the next twelve hour shift.

Leo's wife work at the 24 hour restaurant located in the Ramada Hotel, just 150 feet from Leo's taxi business.

Helen Rogers could look out the window and see Leo's taxistand. Not that she was worried about him, since he hardly ever drove a taxi anymore, but she felt like it was her wifely duty to check up on him

Helen remembered falling in love with Leo when they both were 26 years old. Six wonderful years together, both securing leases to their current businesses at the same time.

While Leo was in the Navy, he purchased a large tract of land, that eventually was zoned commercial. He used the land as collateral for his and his wife's bank loans to open their respective businesses.

"You have cab number 6." Leo instructed, shuffling his paperwork, spreading them out on his desk.

Leo met Andrew as a freshman at Langston High School. They became friends but Andrew drifted towards the partying crowd. Leo finished High Shool, then enlisted in the Navy.

"Okay boss." Andrew said, ribbing his good buddy, Leo Rogers. Andrew wished he would have finished High School, possibly join the Navy also. He could have went to college on a G.I. Bill and made something of himself.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you wise guy. I assure you Cab 6 is the best we have." Leo informed Andrew.

After the Navy, Leo went to Junior College and received an Associate of Science degree in Electronics technology engineering. That is where he met Helen in business 101.

Leo worked on electronic gadgets, after graduating as Helen worked as a cook at a restaurant, while continuing her college, earning a bachelor's degree. Living on a tight budget, soon the two saved the money they needed to start their businesses. Obtaining bank loans jointly, they suceded in their startup careers.

"Shazam! Now you're talking. After work, come by and we can watch the Sunday morning programs. Drink some beer and watch that animated movie 'Heavy Metal', that i bought at Video Zone.".Andrew said.

As, Andrew walked through the parking garage, he noticed Robert, whom he had known since the first day of high school.

"Robert, you're getting uglier by the day." Andrew said while he did the standard auto check.

"You could use to lose about 10 pounds yourself, wise guy." Robert said.

"Come by when you get off work, if you want. Leo and Helen will be there, say about eight." Andrew said trying to sound somewhat apologetic, because Andrew threw up at Rober's duplex the week before. Not too apologetic though, because Robert was an a-hole most of the time.

"Okay Andrew, I'll be there." Robert said as he shut the hood of his taxi. It had enough oil as the dipstick showed. Robert liked to party as much as Andrew, having big get togethers at his duplex than he owned.

"Did you watch 60 minutes Tuesday evening?" Robert said as it was the first thing that popped in his mind, wanting to bury the hatchet, so to speak.

"No I didn't see that one." Andrew said to his friend.

"There was this lady lawyer that swoops down from the air to her court cases. Let me explain, she jumps from an airplane that her husband is piloting to the courthouse." Robert said, making a swooping motion with his hand.

"Yeowza. I wish I would have seen it. Okay we have to go. 8 O'Clock, be there." Andrew said eager to start work and make some money. He was very excited about his get together he had planned as he would be off for the next 2 days. His Dad Walter, said he could have his friends over, as long as it was just a hand full of people, not like the wild parties that Robert Hauser threw.

Walter will join them as he was off of work also.

Walter was a maintenance man at the Langston Tool and Die Company, 5 miles away. He worked 1st shift, usually seeing Andrew getting off work as he was preparing to leave for his job.

Andrew worked all evening picking up calls from a lot of strange people. As darkness fell, more and more strange passengers frequented his cab. A lot of his fares looked like they were, either drunk or on some kind of drug or another.

"I just dropped off the last fare." Andrew called in to the taxistand.

"Go to 123 Farm Road 9. That convenience store on the corner, a few miles out" Leo said as he wrote down Andrew's name as the person who would make the pickup.

"Okay Leo. I hope this one is better than the last 2." Andrew said as he glided into traffic.

Andrew continued out of the city towards Farm Road 9 convenience store. There were fewer and fewer houses and businesses as he went outside of the city. The convenience store was out there by itself, a mile in both directions with woods to the back only a few yards away.

There, as Andrew came to the store, a man stood by the payphone, at the other end of the store.There was only one car at the store, Jill Anderson, the night cashier. Andrew made a point to look into the window as he approached. He didn't see anyone inside as he slowed his cab down as the man came to Andrew's window.

"Did you call for a taxi?" Andrew asked as he cautiously looked the man up and down. He was always careful because he heard about robberies from other cab drivers and had heard about convenience stores being hit.

"Ah, yeah. I did." The man in the black 'Members Only' jacket said.

"Okay, get in." Andrew said as he pointed to the backseat on the passenger side with his thumb.

"Where too." Andrew asked the man as he got into the backseat of the cab. The man's destination had to match the destination from the dispatch station.

"In town, at "Raven's Bar and Grill." The Man said, then, putting a pistol to back of Andrew's skull.

"Put down the mike, Asshole!" 'Members Only' man said, as Andrew was about to call in the pickup.

Andrew went immediately still, putting the Mike back on the clip.

"Look. I just put it back. Ya..ya..you don't have to get excited..I'll do what you say."

"Shutup A-hole!" The would be robber said, looking all around. Then, the man whilstled, still holding the pistol to the head of the now shaken Andrew.

Two other Men emerged from the woods, both carrying black bags. The two men got in the cab, one in the front seat, the other joining his comrade in the back.

"Drive Cabbie!" The big man in the front said clutching his black bag. Andrew looked at the bag, which was bulging, had money visible at the partially opened top. The money possibly came from the Farm Road 9 convience store but more could have come from another place. He didn't think they had that much cash here, 'did they'?

"Don't look at me punk! I said Drive!" Crook in the front seat yelled. Who was very agitated because Andrew eyeballed him, which he didn't like.

Andrew now facing another gun, this one pointing directly at the back of his head. The third man in the back seat, was fumbling with something in his hands but he couldn't tell what it was. The feeling of dread came over him as he drove and followed the directions of the men.