Night Shift

​Night time is definitely the most eventful time of the day. More gets done during the night than you think more lucrative work anyway. Unfortunately, this is not my work. I drive people from where they are to where they want to be, while I never leave the same seat. The streets are complicated and never lit by proper lights. I have to follow neon streaks and hope that what I'm driving on is the right road. However, despite all my jobs faults I enjoyed it. There was a certain relaxing appeal to it.

Lucky for me I'm a professional after all these years as well. A few more years and I would able to drive down these streets blindfolded, but I'm sure as hell not going to be driving a taxi another year. It was a stepping stone for me on towards bigger things, or less taxing things if I'm honest. I may be a night owl, but my body still fights me now and then to go to sleep or enjoy some sunlight.

This week I would have raised enough money to move up town and take that night time job with better pay and benefits. There are no benefits working as a taxi driver. A week is a long time to a taxi driver and something told me it was gonna feel even longer, so I braced myself.

I was driving down the 'food district'. That's what I've come to call it anyway. Steam rose from the stores like an invisible fire burning its way up from the savoury foods into the stars. I always loved driving through this district and hated it at the same time. I loved the smell, but it made me hungry. I drove through here because there was always someone looking for a ride. Away from work and all the way home, usually too far away to walk. Perhaps a customer who wanted to quit walking for the night, something like that.

As predicted someone did raise their hand and call for me. I stopped the car and he climbed in. I didn't get a good look at them before letting them in, which was a stupid move. I've had my share of drunks who climbed into the taxi and didn't leave till drove them home for free. This always involved me having to get some help and drag them out of the car. For a moment my mouth twitched into a cringe as I recalled the worst one, but I got rid of it with a deep sigh.

When the person climbed into the backseat I was relieved to see a suit, but the face with most of the rest of him was in shadow. Normally the drunks wore ragged sweatshirts or tank tops, sweat sticking to their body from the humidity with stains that smelled strongly of vomit or alcohol. Seeing a suit was a basic guarantee that the client was sober and that they would tip, so it eased my mind greatly.

I asked him where he would like to go, but he handed me a piece of paper in reply. I guess he wasn't much for talking. I read the card and navigated a path in my head. It was a small business type of building, but I didn't know what they did. The building was called Shift. I threw the card at the foot of the passenger seat and started the car. The make a clunking noise as I change gears, an annoying and slightly worrying sound, but it was an old car.

We were soon on our way, gliding through the streets without fault. No talking and whenever I looked in the rear view mirror at the man he just sat there in darkness. I asked if he wanted the light on, but he just shook his head. I did a mental shrug and looked at the counter on the dashboard. It steadily ticked up with amount of Yen he would have to pay. I returned my eyes to the road.

It was a long way off, which was good news for me, but I had to get comfortable with the silence. Lights flashed past and every time a particularly bright neon sign approached I flashed a look at the rear-view mirror to see if it lit the mans face. It never did and I soon stopped the habit. I had the funny feeling he was watching me through the rear view-mirror as well.

At last we arrived and the man climbed out. I looked at the building as he did. It wasn't exactly an upper class work area. It was old and falling apart on one side of the roof. Maybe he didn't work here and was just someone who would provide money to repair the building. I didn't really care; I just wanted him to provide me with money.

Before I asked he handed me the right amount of notes. I nodded my thanks, rolled up the window and made to reset the counter, but it already said zero. Another mental shrug. I threw the money into the passenger footwell. I heard a papery sound in the darkness, confirming I still had money to add to it. I revved the car into motion and was soon off. I marveled at how curious that client was for a moment. I don't think I've had a stranger passenger before. Still, nothing that really concerned me now that he was gone. I turned a few corners until I found familiar roads. A week is a long time to a taxi driver and something told me it was gonna feel even longer, so I braced myself.

I was driving down the 'food district'. That's what I've come to call it anyway. ​As predicted someone did raise their hand and call for me. I stopped the car and he climbed in. I didn't get a good look at them before letting them in, which was a stupid move.

When the person climbed into the backseat I was relieved to see a suit, but the face with most of the rest of him was in shadow. I asked him where he would like to go, but he handed me a piece of paper in reply. I guess he wasn't much for talking. I read the card and navigated a path in my head. It was a small business type of building, but I didn't know what they did. I threw the paper at my feet and started the car.

The building was called Shift.

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