Page 61 - Charlie MacDonald: Cab Driver Tales, More Stories from 58 Years Behind the Wheel

ISSUE : Issue 53

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1990/1/1

over, and who comes out but a great big black cop. And he had a stick swandling on his arm, in his hand. "Where in the name of God do you think you're going!" I said, "These men here hope to get a flight out. They want to get home." "Well," he said, "boys, look in there," he said. "They're sleeping in there since months, on the floor: 200, 300, 400. On a weekend, 600. Can't get a flight out. Get in line." And he said, "The best thing you boys can do with that big Buick and that driver: go," he said, "in the cab." One fellow said, "Charlie, that Buick is only new. How much did you pay for it?" I said, "Twenty-two hundred and forty dollars-- that's what I paid for her." The other fellow said, "You didn't pay cash." I said, "No. A note in the bank--I've got to pay it so much a month." "Ah ha!" said the boys from Montana. "We've got you. How 'bout," he said, "if we pay that Buick off, and give you $200 to buy coffee coming back all alone from Arizona." I said, "Okay, boys." Well, the black fellow tapped you on the shoulder, "My God," he said, "I wish I was going to Montana! I'd go with you." good, now. There's watch dogs there." I was going along, and I saw this lovely gate, all painted white and green. I came in. By God, the farmer that owned the ranch--he probably owned 2000 acres, you know, the ranch. And I pulled over. He was just coming out with his car. I said, "I don't belong to United States, I belong to Canada." "Oh, Canada!" he said. "I know Canada, too." So, I told him. I said, "I would like"--it was 9 o'clock in the morn? ing. I said, "I would like to have about 10 hours sleep. But I can't sleep on the highway in case I'm hijacked." "I'll give Ended up in Arizona. I was away 11 days. You see, I had three stops before I hit Ar? izona. And I'd lose a little time. But, when they'd have a little party at the fel? low's house they were let? ting off, I'd have, a sleep. There was one day there, go? ing down through Idaho and Montana, you could see 500, 600 miles ahead, because it was all prairie and flat- land. Corn on one side for 500 miles. And bakeapples, or peas, or something else on that side. So, I got down there, paid me and left, started back. "Now," they said, "get home --safe." (You didn't have a fare to take back.) No. There were no motels then, you know, in those days. (Where did you stay?) Well, I didn''t see a hotel unless you went into the city or the town. So, of course, always thinking when you're on the road. I said, "All those nice beautiful farms." And you'd see the name--foreign, of course. And, "Watch Dogs Beware," "No Parking." Watch dogs at the gate of the big farm. "By God," I said, "that's BUILDING SUPPLIES 21 McKeen Street, Glace Bay Our Carpet & Paint Displays are all set up... Waiting For You! Our Hardware and Building Supplies are arriving daily. Come and visit us in our bright new surroundings. HARDWARE, BUILDING SUPPUES, CARPETS & VINYL FLOORING BENJAMIN MOORE PAINT, BONNEVILLE WINDOWS r'?sS:tlU 849-0047 849-1100 People In The Same Boat nm Help One Another In our multiracial and ethnic origin, national origin, multicultural province women physical or mental disability, and men of all ages and sex, marital status, age and abilities can build a society of source of income. But the best peace and prosperity protection against together. discrimination is YOU. Your The Nova Scotia Human attitude amd behaviour are Rights Act prohibits the best guarantees that discrimination on the basis of equal opportunity is indeed race, religion, colour, creed, for all of us. HEAD OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICES P.O. Box 2221 Basin Place Provincial 176 Archimedes St. 68 Water St. Bldg. P.O. Box 728 P.O. Box 1029 Prince St. New Glasgow, N.S. Digby. N.S. Sydney, N.S. B2H 2P8 Honourable Thomas J. Mclnnis BOVIAG B1P5L1 752-3075 Minister 245-4791 563-2140 >c ' Human Rights Commission Halifax, N.S. B3J3C4 424-4111 or 424-7690

Cape Breton's Magazine