Live or Memorex

If asked if I made this story up......yea....

Off the record it's very true. I once recieved a call for a fare in Old Sacto. During the mid 80's this was one of Sacramento's Hot Spots for underground Discos. The Discos in Old Sac. went way out with spinning glitter balls, strobe lights, the lighted dance floors and the whole 9 yards. The interesting thing about Old Sac. was that there was only one way in and one way out. I remember it like yesterday,.....it was raining that night and as I pulled into Old Sac. I noticed an ambulance and several police cars with lights blaring in the darkness thru my rain covered windshield, reflecting off the droplets of rain.

This was a time in the 80's when Sacramento was called the murder capitol and we cabbies were experiencing a rash of robberies, shootings and stabbings during the graveyard shift. It was a common occurrence at night to hear the dispatcher say, "Stay away from XYZ area, we just had an infraction. Don't pick up any flags over there." Which meant, don't pick up anyone trying to wave down a cab in a certain area (XYZ), because of some type of shooting, robbery, stabbing or attempt to do so.

Anyway I had just pulled into the front entrance of Old SAc., and before I could get my bearings, this guy dressed in a nice three piece suit jumped into the front seat of my cab and said, "Take me south on 99 to 3274 Fogol St." I was a little startled with this individual jumping into the front seat without asking if it was ok.

I looked over to him calmly and said sure. Thinking to myself, "strike one!". Then this individual said, "By the way, I may not have all the fare for the trip." I said, "No problem....we'll ride as far as your money will take us". Thinking to myself, "STRIKE two".

So we exited the rear of Old Sac., and headed south. We had barely gotten onto the highway when my mysterious passenger pulled out a bottle of Bacardi 151 Rum, popped the cap, and started drinking in the front seat, with not enough fare for the entire trip. I thought to myself, "STRIKE THREE..., I better talk to this guy and find out where his head is". So I started up a conversation. "Hey", I stated, "What was with all the police and the ambulance at the front entrance of Old Sac"? Looking over to my mysterious passenger for a response...... Then this nut explodes and starts going off with, "I tried to blow that son-of-a-$#@$^@'s brains all over the table. I told him I was gonna do it. I told that $#@$^%$#(*& to quit %$#%^*=%ing with me!"

I looked at him and with out missing a beat said, "Man what the hell is your problem?" He replied, "What do you mean?" I continued with, "You get in my cab, start drinking and don't even offer me a damn sip". He said "Man, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Did you want some?" I replied, "Hell yea, you know I do,....and by the way, since you're providing drinks, don't worry about the fare".