A CabCorner Valentine’s…

Alone once again, he paid his tab. Like so many Valentine’s Days in the past, he would return to an empty apartment, kept spotless just in case. The flowers he’d purchased the day before would be only slightly wilted on the windowsill, yet would nonetheless serve as the painful reminder that Valentine’s Day would again be stale, and celebrated in loneliness.

He lingered at the bar and pulled out his web browser-enabled cell phone. As the couple in the booth across from him snuggled and giggled and snacked on candy hearts over a pitcher of ale, he navigated his way to CabCorner.com. “Home,” he whispered to himself through a painful smile, as he created his trip back uptown. No pre-existing routes had shown up when he’d entered his destination address; was he the last man in New York? Of course not. At least there would be the cab driver to deliver him, via bright yellow cab, back to loneliness.

With cash he paid for one last beer. And when his phone chirped, signaling the arrival of the CabCorner email notifying him that a fellow traveler had signed up to join him on his ride north, he felt relieved; at least he’d have someone to pass the time with… for a little while.

He left the bar. He had five minutes to walk the block and a half to the “Hot Spot” where he’d meet that city stranger for their shared carbide up the East Side. For a second, he reflected upon this novel website. “I might not have given the world to a special lady this year,” he thought, “but I’ve made sure it’ll be around and healthy for her ten years from now.” Maybe that was too grandiose… maybe CabCorner’s environmental benefits weren’t that drastic. But at least he’d save a few bucks. And anything was better than the subway.

“Heading uptown?” she said. He looked up, realizing that in a trance he’d already arrived at the Cab Corner meeting Hot Spot.

“Yes ma’am,” he mumbled. And then quickly: “I meant ‘miss’!”

She laughed. “Well then I think you’re my travel date! Or, they call it a ‘Cab Companion,’ right?”

How wonderful! he thought to himself. On this Valentine’s Day, for a few moments, he’d be sitting next a beautiful, charming young woman. Suddenly, uncharacteristically bold, he ventured: “Well, shall I hail us our chariot?”

“Yes you may, fine gentlemen!” She grinned as he held up his hand and stepped courageously into the street. First one, then another, then another free cab passed him. He began to panic, feeling sweat surface around his neckline.

“Perhaps this is a job for that which a cab driver seeks,” she said playfully. In an instant, and with a swish of her dress, she had hailed a cab.

“At least you’ll let me get the door,” he said, as he opened it for her. Once inside, they explained that it would be a two-stop journey, and they gave their addresses. She would be getting out fifteen blocks ahead of him.

“I’m so glad there was someone else willing to head uptown at this hour,” she said, adjusting herself on the seat. “I doubt I could have afforded a cab myself!”

“Actually, I’m a CabCorner angel,” he responded. “I wait around and create CabCorner routes when my sixth sense tells me there’s a damsel in distress.”

Where the fuck did that come from? he thought. Was it too cheesy? Am I being a creep?

Before his self-doubt could wholly consume him, she asked for his name. And then his number. And then why it was that he would be spending this Valentine’s evening alone.

“I ask myself that every year,” he replied softly.

The cab decelerated to a halt, as it pulled in front of the lady’s address. She opened the door and pulled out her wallet to give him her share of the fare.

Then she paused….

Turning to the driver, she said: “My apologies sir, please continue uptown. This is a one-stop journey.” And with that she closed the door and looked at him with a smile. “You’d better have some lovely flowers at your place,” she said.

He laid back, sitting deeper into the cab’s leather seat. He closed his eyes, and felt love and laughter bubble inside him. Taking her hand in his, he squeezed it.

“Apparently I’m not the only CabCorner angel,” he said.

Never again did either angel spend a Valentine’s Day alone.