Staring at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital at 34th and Spruce at approximately 2:30am on a Friday night isn't usually a good thing. Typically, in this moment, you'd expect to be entering the hospital because of a freak accident or even worse an emergency. All I want to do is go home. Home is Mt. Airy, a neighborhood within the Philadelphia city limits, but about a twenty cab ride home. Tonight, I stand here before an institution aimed at helping people, without a chance of it helping me. Tonight, I cannot help myself get home. Tonight, all I have left is ten dollars, for a cab fare that is about forty dollars for the twelve-thirteen mile journey. Tonight, I might be sleeping on what all urban areas have an abundance of. Concrete.
"What's your name", says the taxi driver.
In the midst of zoning out to the notion that a hospital is designed merely to diagnose, offer treatment for disease, or help with injury and not help idiots that are bad with money and goods, a dark skinned cabbie had pulled up right in front me.
I looked down and answered him, "Liam", then looking up at the McDonald's stationed in near the Hospital Lobby.
"Where you going man", the taxi driver said.
"I'm going to Mt Airy man, but all I have left to my name is ten dollars and change," I said.
"Well, why don't you tap mac or something", the cabbie said.
"I would but you wouldn't believe me," I said.
"Try me", said the cabbie.
"I was in a cab earlier tonight and I must have left/lost my phone and wallet and I didn't realise it until I left the New Deck a few minutes ago," I said, "at least I found this ten bucks".
Presuming he would leave, I started staring off in thought, thinking I could possibly break into the Palestra to sleep for the night.
"Get in", said the cabbie.
"Are you serious man, I don't have any other money at home either, are you serious?!!" I told him.
"Don't worry about it, I'm heading that way anyway," the cabbie said. "Where to?"
"19 Mt Pleasant Avenue, right off, Germantown Avenue," I said.
Jumping in, I couldn't believe my luck and remembered what my father always use to say to me, "Son, good things happen to good people." I didn't know if I qualified yet for the good person part, but I definitely knew a good thing was happening to me. I realised I was smiling.
The taxi driver is driving down Spruce making a left onto 76, with the windows rolled down, with the volume up high and and Stevie Wonder's Boogie on Reggae Woman pumping out of the manufacturer speakers. Flashes of downtown Philly pass by. First Liberty place, then 30th street, the Art Museum and lit up Boathouse Row.
After the song end, I had to ask the cabbie, "Hey man, if you don't mind me asking, why are you doing this? I've never met a cabbie who'd give away a fare. Ever. And, believe me, I've tried."
"Well, I figured it was the right thing to do. You don't seem to be the type that will last very long in University City or West Philly," the cabbie says, laughing when saying the last part.
"No, seriously, I don't mean to come off new agey or anything, but why are you doing this?", I said, basically repeating the first question in a very similar way.
"Look, you seem like a decent person, and I think if someone is in need then we as humans should help out, don't you think", the cabbie said.
"What's your name?", I said.
"Frankie," he said.
"Well, Frankie, I think what you say is right but I don't think we do it as much as we say we do it, you know what I mean?", I say.
"Liam, I did it for you, now your duty is to do it for others. That's how it works. You are now duty bound to do it, or this chain of goodness and charity ends," Frankie said.
"Ok, a pass it forward kind of thing, I get it", I said.
"Yes, but unlike the movie, this isn't make believe," the cabbie said, "I'm doing it in real time."
"Ok this is your stop. Liam pick your head out of your ass every now and then, and look around. There are plenty of options and time to help people," the cabbie said.
"Thanks alot Frankie, I can't thank you enough, but know I will take your message, and spread it like it's the Gospel of Frankie," I said.
"Not necessary. Just do good, and good will come to you son, and take care," Frankie said.
I jumped out of the cab, and Frankie drove off with a soft honk, pulling upwards toward Germantown Avenue.
I realised I was still smiling.
"What's your name", says the taxi driver.
In the midst of zoning out to the notion that a hospital is designed merely to diagnose, offer treatment for disease, or help with injury and not help idiots that are bad with money and goods, a dark skinned cabbie had pulled up right in front me.
I looked down and answered him, "Liam", then looking up at the McDonald's stationed in near the Hospital Lobby.
"Where you going man", the taxi driver said.
"I'm going to Mt Airy man, but all I have left to my name is ten dollars and change," I said.
"Well, why don't you tap mac or something", the cabbie said.
"I would but you wouldn't believe me," I said.
"Try me", said the cabbie.
"I was in a cab earlier tonight and I must have left/lost my phone and wallet and I didn't realise it until I left the New Deck a few minutes ago," I said, "at least I found this ten bucks".
Presuming he would leave, I started staring off in thought, thinking I could possibly break into the Palestra to sleep for the night.
"Get in", said the cabbie.
"Are you serious man, I don't have any other money at home either, are you serious?!!" I told him.
"Don't worry about it, I'm heading that way anyway," the cabbie said. "Where to?"
"19 Mt Pleasant Avenue, right off, Germantown Avenue," I said.
Jumping in, I couldn't believe my luck and remembered what my father always use to say to me, "Son, good things happen to good people." I didn't know if I qualified yet for the good person part, but I definitely knew a good thing was happening to me. I realised I was smiling.
The taxi driver is driving down Spruce making a left onto 76, with the windows rolled down, with the volume up high and and Stevie Wonder's Boogie on Reggae Woman pumping out of the manufacturer speakers. Flashes of downtown Philly pass by. First Liberty place, then 30th street, the Art Museum and lit up Boathouse Row.
After the song end, I had to ask the cabbie, "Hey man, if you don't mind me asking, why are you doing this? I've never met a cabbie who'd give away a fare. Ever. And, believe me, I've tried."
"Well, I figured it was the right thing to do. You don't seem to be the type that will last very long in University City or West Philly," the cabbie says, laughing when saying the last part.
"No, seriously, I don't mean to come off new agey or anything, but why are you doing this?", I said, basically repeating the first question in a very similar way.
"Look, you seem like a decent person, and I think if someone is in need then we as humans should help out, don't you think", the cabbie said.
"What's your name?", I said.
"Frankie," he said.
"Well, Frankie, I think what you say is right but I don't think we do it as much as we say we do it, you know what I mean?", I say.
"Liam, I did it for you, now your duty is to do it for others. That's how it works. You are now duty bound to do it, or this chain of goodness and charity ends," Frankie said.
"Ok, a pass it forward kind of thing, I get it", I said.
"Yes, but unlike the movie, this isn't make believe," the cabbie said, "I'm doing it in real time."
"Ok this is your stop. Liam pick your head out of your ass every now and then, and look around. There are plenty of options and time to help people," the cabbie said.
"Thanks alot Frankie, I can't thank you enough, but know I will take your message, and spread it like it's the Gospel of Frankie," I said.
"Not necessary. Just do good, and good will come to you son, and take care," Frankie said.
I jumped out of the cab, and Frankie drove off with a soft honk, pulling upwards toward Germantown Avenue.
I realised I was still smiling.
