Taxi Driver

When I’m driving around the city, I often see a certain taxi driver. I don’t know the man but I recognize his vehicle. He drives a white taxi cab, and his taxi has two short “flagpoles”, one on each side of the vehicle near the rear window, that display New York Giants flags. It’s a very distinctive vehicle with those flags flying. It always amused me slightly to see him driving down the road; I thought he must be a real die-hard Giants fan. I saw his taxi so many times around the mall, taking people to shop, taking people home.

Last night the local TV news announced that a taxi driver had been found shot dead in his taxi cab. When they showed a picture of the taxi, it was that distinctive white taxi with two Giants flags near the rear window. Seeing it made me a little sad. I had seen that taxi so often I felt almost as if I knew that driver. So far, no one has been arrested for his murder.

The same taxi cab company lost another driver five months ago. He, too, was found shot dead in his taxi. No arrest has been made for his murder either.

The owner of the taxi cab company said that “every job has its dangers.” Maybe so, but taxi driver and convenience store clerk are two jobs that seem to be in the news a lot, and not in a good way.