Grocery Cart Cabs

Grocery Cart Cabs


Big City lives up to its name.  Towering skyscrapers reach into the atmosphere, and the busy streets form a labyrinth for anyone not intensely familiar with their layout.  Traffic is a constant, streams of lights that never stop accompanied by a symphony of horns.  People who call Big City home call it beautiful, and revel in its quirks and rhythms.  People who don’t call it home call it confusing, a sentiment its residents certainly don’t discount, and they struggle to find a way through its fast and dangerous streets.

Big City is a home to legends, though, and peculiarities not found in the world’s smaller metropolises.  Perhaps the most famous of these is the Grocery Cart Cabs.  GC Cabs, to the initiated, is a group of boys and girls who live on the streets of Big City, and have banded together to provide an alternate means of transportation to the harried citizens of their hometown.  They adopt forsaken grocery carts, rehab them into sturdy vehicles, and use them to ferry people around the city.  Nowhere else in the world can you see business men in suits and ties hunched in the basket or clinging to the sides of a cart as they go zooming down the street or sidewalk, whichever is clearer, propelled by the teenager running behind them.  So adept are these youngsters at their craft, and so much more affordable than the taxis, that the GC cabbies have become an unofficial, but sanctioned, part of the traffic of Big City.

Reginald had heard of these strange kids who pushed people to their destinations, but had never had the chance to see them in action until now.  He and his mom had lived just outside the city for his whole life, and it was only now, when he was seventeen, that he finally accompanied her into the city.  She was there on business, and he went with her with the intention of preparing for his eventual succession to her position.  But they had gotten separated, and at the moment our story begins he stood on a corner completely lost, bewildered and intimidated by a city larger than any other in the world.  He wandered for a little bit, never straying far from the location where he had lost his mother, and he eventually spotted a grocery cart cabbie taking a break.  Figuring such people had to know the city inside and out, he approached her.

“Um, excuse me,” he said.  She looked at him over her water bottle for a moment, then lowered it with a customer service smile.  He tried not to think too little of her.

“Where to?” she asked.

“Oh, um, I don’t need a ride,” he responded.  “Just…directions, I guess.”  She frowned a little, as if seeing his disdain, but switched right back to customer service.

“Directions to where?”

“The Chamber of Commerce.”  She whistled silently.  “I…and my mom, we have very crucial business there,” he added, feeling the need to show her how important her was compared to someone like her, breaking her back every day for pocket change.

“That so,” she stated, now clearly aware of his contempt and losing the will to hide it.  “And, uh, where’s your mom?”

“We got separated.”

“And now you’re lost.”

“Look, it’s not like I’ve ever really needed to get anywhere on my own—“

“Oh, I can see that.”

“—I’ve always had the benefit of a private chauffer.  Not that that’s something you would understand.”

“Naw, you’re right.  I only earn everything I get.”

Reginald decided it was time to give up on this difficult person.  “Look, clearly you can’t help me—“

“No, I’ll help,” she interrupted him.  “In fact, I think I’ll help more than you expect.”  She smiled in a way Reginald wasn’t sure he liked.  “What’s your name, kid?”

“Reginald Wellcey.  Don’t call me kid.”

“Ginny.  Here’s the deal.  You’ll never find your way anywhere in this town without my help.”

“What’s to stop me from just asking a real cabbie?”

“I’ll bet you don’t actually have any money on you, right?”  Reginald’s silence confirmed her guess.  “’Real’ cabbies, as you call them, won’t even look at you if you don’t have money.  I’ll also bet you’ve never worked for anything in your life.”  Reginald opened his mouth to protest, but she gave him an eloquent look, and he reconsidered.  “So, here’s my proposition.  If you can do my job for a day, I’ll help you find your mommy.”

Reginald laughed shortly.  “Ha!  I don’t know my way around.  How can I do your job?  I’ll get the customers lost!”

She shrugged.  “Necessity is the best teacher.”

“You’re crazy!”

“You’re choiceless.”

Reginald could have walked away.  He could have found a policeman and asked directions, he could ask random people on the street, store clerks, city officials.  He could just wander around looking for some sign of the building in question.  A city this big provided plenty of alternatives.

But she was laughing at him.  Maybe not outwardly, but he could see it in her eyes.  She thought he was spoiled and entitled and completely helpless on his own.  She expected him to give up and walk away, and then she would laugh out loud.

“Fine,” said Reginald, determined to prove her wrong.  “You’re on.  Give me the stupid cart.  My mom’s gonna be in the Chamber of Commerce until six, so I’ll come back here at five and you tell me how to get there.  Deal?”  He held out his hand.

“What happens if you find it during the day?” she asked.

Reginald supposed he could just stay there, then, and forget this ever happened, but something about that felt wrong.  “No.  We're making a deal.  I’ll honor it.”

Ginny took his hand.  “Then we have a deal.  Good luck, kid.”

Reginald walked over to her cart.  “Don’t call me kid.”  And he started pushing it resolutely down the street,

Big City is a home to legends.  It was at this moment that a new legend began.

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Reginald wondered what he had just gotten himself into.  He walked down the street pushing the cart in absolute dread of someone hailing him for a ride.  Maybe he’d just pretend he didn’t hear them.  But if he didn’t bring back any fares, Ginny might not honor the agreement.  What had he gotten himself into?

The cart rocked and Reginald almost fell over as someone came out of a building and jumped onto the side, shouting something he didn’t hear.  He was busy noticing the weighted panels folded into the basket, and he flipped out the one opposite the rider to counterbalance his weight.  “Sorry, say again?” he said.

“I said, to the Saver Solutions building on 442nd and Pine,” the passenger repeated.  He was a younger man in a business suit and a red tie.

Reginald took a deep breath and, with an effort, started pushing.  “You’ll have to give me directions.”

The passenger looked surprised, but more amused and intrigued than annoyed.  “Okay.  Right at the next light.”

“Got it!”  Reginald built up some speed, but not so much he was afraid to take the corner.  Apparently a veteran of grocery cart cabs, the passenger leaned as they went around, easing the turn.

“Take another right three lights down, at the car dealership,” the businessman said.  Reginald was starting to feel winded, so he didn’t answer and concentrated on breathing and running.  He counted the traffic lights as they whizzed by overhead, and, sure enough, the bright neon signs of a car dealership became distinguishable amid the blur up ahead at the third light.  Bracing himself, he swung around the corner.  He had more speed that time, and had to fight the cart to keep it upright.  Up ahead, a large group of people jammed the sidewalk.  Reginad didn’t have the breath to yell at them.  “Into the street!” yelled his passenger.  There was no time to argue.  At the next lip down, he angled the cart into the street.  The sound of horns came from behind him.  Panicked, as soon as he was passed the crowd he pushed the cart back onto the sidewalk.  “Turn left at the next light.  We’re almost there.”

Reginald nodded, almost completely out of breath and staring fixedly at the light ahead.  He’d have to cross the street to make the turn, and he stared it down, willing the light to turn red before he got there.  It turned yellow the moment he got to the corner.  With a prayer he charged into the intersection.  He saw his passenger raise his eyebrows and whistle silently, moments after a gust of wind whooshed by right behind him.  It was only as he mounted the curb on the other side that he realized it had been a car.  “Four blocks down on the left,” the businessman instructed him before he had the chance to freak out.  Reginald mustered the last of his energy to finish the run.  He wrestled the cart to a halt in front of the building and promptly collapsed to the sidewalk.

“I have…no idea…fare,” he gasped as the businessman retrieved his briefcase from the basket and stepped down.

“S’alright.  I do this run a lot,” he said, handing Reginald some cash.  “You’re new at this, aren't you?  Well, hang in there.  Guys like me, we need guys like you.”  Then he turned into the building and was gone.

Reginald took a few long moments to catch his breath, then stood and set off at a relaxing pace down the street, wondering if he could manage to do this all day.  He started angling back toward where he had started so he wouldn’t get too lost.  He just hoped no one would take him too far out of his way.

He concentrated on breathing deeply and recovering his strength while he walked, but was suddenly snapped out of reverie by the sound of screeching tires.  He looked up and noticed he was in a bad neighborhood.  He’d heard it could happen that quickly in this city, but hadn’t really believed it before now.  Up ahead a car peeled off, leaving a homeless man looking on helplessly as a homeless woman cradled something in her arms, crying and screaming “Flynn!  Flynn!”  Reginald left the cart and ran up to them.

“What happened?” he asked.

“My baby girl,” the woman sobbed.  “My baby girl.”  Reginald could see now the form in her arms was a young girl, probably around seven or eight, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow.  Reginald looked around hurriedly, spotted a pay phone, and ran up to it, digging out what little pocket change he had.  He pushed it into the slot and dialed 911.

“Big City Central Emergency Dispatch, how can I help you?” a voice said.

“I need an ambulance at, at, damn!”  He realized he had no idea where he was, and was about to call over to the family and ask when the dispatcher interrupted him.

“I’m afraid all the ambulances are out at the moment,” the voice said.

“What?!”

“But as soon as one is available we'll send it to the location of your pay phone.  Please be patient and do not panic.”

“This little girl’s been hit by a car!  She might not have that kind of time!”

“Please remain calm, sir.”

Reginald made an exasperated noise and looked toward the family.  Hopelessness was written all over their faces.  They expected the dispatchers to know what sort of neighborhood this was, what sort of people they were.  They didn’t expect anyone to hurry to their rescue.  In their minds, they were about to lose their daughter.

Beyond them, Reginald could see the cart.

Leaving the phone, he went over and carefully gathered up the stricken girl, along with any clothing or blankets nearby.  “Where's the nearest hospital?” he asked the parents.

“North,” answered the father, realizing what he was doing and helping him carry the girl to the cart.  After they got her securely nestled in the basket, he pointed.  “That way.”

“Okay.”

The man laid a hand on Reginald’s arm and looked him in the eye.  “Her name is Flynn Samuels.”

“…I’ll get her there safe, sir.”  Reginald turned his cart the way the man had pointed and, slowly building up speed, set off.

About the moment he was starting to worry because he had no real idea where the hospital was, he heard a siren approaching from behind.  It was too much to hope it was coming for them, but, if all the ambulances had been out, this one must be returning, and it would lead him to the hospital.  He put on a burst of speed as it zoomed past, determined not to lose it.  He didn’t care if his legs fell off and he had a heart attack, as long as he got the girl to the hospital first.  “Hold on, Flynn,” he told her.

He ignored every traffic law the ambulance ignored, ran every red light, bringing cars screeching to a halt and sending horns blaring.  The ambulance pulled steadily away, but he kept sight of it as long as he could, and followed the sound of its sirens when it slipped out of sight.  When he finally ploughed into the hospital’s parking lot, half delirious from lack of oxygen, he almost didn’t realize he had made it.  With an effort he pulled himself together and followed the signs to the emergency room entrance.  He pushed the cart right up to the door, gathered up the girl, and carried her in.  “Help!” he gasped.  “This girl needs help!”  His legs buckled, and he ended up kneeling on the floor with the girl in his arms, exactly as she had been held by her mother.

The staff had about a second of surprise before experience and training took over.  “What happened?” one of the nurses asked.

“She was hit by a car,” Reginald answered, not sure why no one had moved to help.

“Name?”

“Reginald Wellcey.”

“Hers.”

“Flynn.  Flynn Samuels.”

They all exchanged a look.  “Well, this is certainly the most dramatic attempt so far,” one of them commented.

“Huh?”

“We’re all quite familiar with the Samuels family.  They’ve tried similar ploys in the past to scam room and board for a night.”

“What?  No!  This is real!  She’s hurt!  Just look at her!”

“They’re all good actors.”

“She’s not--!  Ergh!  Look.  It doesn’t matter what's happened in the past or what you expect of them.  What if you’re wrong this time?  Then this little girl will be dead, and it’ll have been your prejudice that killed her!”

There was silence for a moment, then a nurse stepped forward and picked up the girl, saying, “Get a gurney.”

“Thank you,” Reginald sighed, surrendering his burden.  “Thank you.”  Then he hauled himself into a chair to wait, more exhausted than he’d ever been in his life.

-----------------

Reginald sat in the hospital waiting room with his eyes closed, barely conscious of the passage of time, until a familiar voice sounded from behind him.  “Hey, jerk.  Where’s my cart?”

“It’s next to the bus stop by the outpatient door,” he answered without opening his eyes.

“Tryin’ to get rid of it?” Ginny asked, annoyed.

“No.  I just figured that was better than right in front of the doors here.”

Ginny supposed this was fair.  “How many fares didja get?”

He dug in his pocket and pulled out a small wad of cash.  Very small.  “One.”  He slapped it into her hand.

“One--?!”

A doctor entered the room and Reginald shot to his feet, completely forgetting about Ginny.  “How is she?” he asked.

“She has some pretty serious internal injuries,” the doctor answered, “but she should be fine.”

“Thank god,” Reginald breathed.

“I can’t imagine it was the smoothest ride, coming here in a GC Cab, but you probably saved her life,” the doctor continued, then smiled over his shoulder at the nurses.  “As well as teaching my staff a valuable lesson.”

Ginny opened her mouth to ask what was going on when the automatic door whirred open and another GC cabbie walked in, followed by a middle-aged couple who appeared not very well off.  “Hey, Bill,” she greeted him.  The couple rushed up to Reginald, greeting him and showering him with thanks.  “What’s goin’ on?”

“I dropped off a fare here and this kid chases me down and says he wants me to go pick up these homeless folks and bring ‘em back here,” Bill answered.  “That’s about all I know.”

“Excuse me, doctor,” a nurse appeared.  “But the little girl in 102 is awake, and she’s asking for someone named Reggie.”

The room went silent, then Ginny clapped Reginald on the shoulder, saying, ”I think she means you, kid.”

He smiled and moved to follow the nurse down the hall.  “Don’t call me kid.”

--------------

From that day on, a new legend was born on the streets of Big City, and it wasn’t long before everyone seemed to know the name of Reggie, the best GC cabbie on the road.  No one knew the streets better or ran faster.  No one cared more about getting you to your destination, and cared about it more than anything else, be it money or his own safety.  He became a symbol of the freedom to be found amidst the towering buildings, and the legend of Reggie joined the neon lights in the unending symphony of vibrant life that is Big City.