A Gentleman and a Cabbie

I was heading over to one of the PAC docs to have dinner on Saturday night, and I needed a bottle of wine or beer to bring. (My mom taught me always to have a hostess gift). However, I live on the outskirts of Maseru, and I can’t easily walk to a liquor store (or any store, really). I figured that I could have the cab stop, but I only knew of one store open past 3 pm on a Saturday, and it was pretty far out of the way.

So, when I got in, I asked if we could stop somewhere along the way, and that I knew of one place. He was silent for a moment, and replied, “Hmmm . . . let me think of a place that’s safe.” He was very concerned that any store still open would be unsafe for me. We started to drive, and I took a lesson from the Rafe Petty School of Taxi Etiquette, and we had quite a lovely chat. We stopped at a place that I will admit, looked pretty shady. As I got ready to hop out of the car, he got out as well. My cab driver insisted on escorting me into the store, stood directly next to me the entire time, and even carried my beer for me. He didn’t even get back into the cab until I was in the car and the door was closed.-- and all that for a flat fee cab ride, with no extra charge. He was such a gentleman.