TAXI driver (HIATUS)

01

"To Leytonstone."

"Ma'am I'm not licenced to go Leytonstone."

"What do you mean? You're a taxi driver, you're licenced to go anywhere."

"..."

"Anywhere but there."

"Ridiculous! This is ridiculous!"

"I'm sorry ma'am but you're free to call another cab."

The woman shuffled herself deeper into Teddy's leather backseats, "I'm not getting out of this cab until you take me to Leytonstone."

Teddy was tempted to hit his head against the steering wheel. He'd been in this situation twice before, and in both cases; refused to take his cab into that dreaded part of town.

He couldn't explain to the Human woman how there were ghost cats he'd earned a bad reputation with in Leytonstone. They'd probably told their fellow cat brothers and cat sisters all about him. He had no will to go back there and have his lungs scratched out a second time.

"Please ma'am, I can't --"

"Oh yes, you can!" Suddenly, the short stocky woman looked like she'd yank out Teddy's eyes from their sockets if she could.

"But ma'am--"

"No young man, I have a son waiting for me in rehab and if I don't get there in the next hour, you have a lot of explaining to do."

Teddy was suddenly terrified of the woman.

"But Leytonstone is more than an hour away!"

He saw the middle-aged woman glare at him from the rear mirror, "Not my problem."

"Ma'am I--"

"Find a short-cut."

"But there's--"

"I'm sure an experienced driver as yourself can avoid the roadworks."

"I don't--"

"It said on your profile you've had six years in this career, no? It should be easy for you."

"But I--"

"No buts."

Teddy's shoulders slumped. He didn't usually let a client get the better of him like this, but behind the firm bravado, Teddy could see the woman break out in sweat and clutch her purse extra tight. She was genuinely worried about her son.

Teddy cursed softly under his breath.

"I heard that young man. Don't think that having a son for as long as you've been born has taught me nothing. Manners." She snapped.

Teddy jumped slightly in his seat.

"Sorry ma'am." slipped involuntarily from his lips.

His eyes widened. Silly humans tugging emotions out of him like wool from a hairy jumper.

Leytonstone?

What harm could there be in going back there just once?

Teddy winced as he rubbed a sore spot on his chest.