like all of my favorite people, she was out there waiting
for me
one of many twentysomething blondes in what at first looked like a scene from a disaster film.
it was only 115 am but all these young women were amassing outside a trendy washington blvd venice bar in their party dresses, either laughing or crying or worried or plotting
did the early last call confuse them? had there been a raid? where were the dudes?
as i made a u-turn to get her, i noticed three coeds sitting on the curb in tiny tops with a long blonde in the middle weeping uncontrollably, her friends on each side.
she was not my passenger, rachel was.
did the boy she liked kiss someone else? i asked as rachel got in
one sec, she said apologizing. she was 24, with a black skirt, black top, sheer, silver necklace disappearing down there
in an available but not trashy way
she was on the phone
is it cool if i swing thru? she asked him quietly, knowing the answer.
when i accepted the ride it was from the marina to downtown. a straight shot once i got on the 10. no traffic. the robot could do it so easily.
when she said bye, i asked, is it cool?
she said yeah.
whats his address?
rachel pointed at her phone and said its the one i had in there.
you bad b-word, i laughed.
and this is the problem i have. you dont get these rides at 1pm. you only get them at night. yes it gets messy, but now that ive put down my rubber mats im not so paranoid that someone will hurl,
but it’s still dangerous.
theres bad drivers, bad cops, even a few bad passengers. i seriously need to get a dash cam.
if i had one, though, would she have told me what she said? i wonder about this because if you have a dashcam, lyft and uber tell the passengers, which is good,
but it can be bad if they clam up for fear of being recorded saying:
hes rich, short, the ding dong is weird, but he smells nice and his view is better than mine. and he’s not far from me.
whats he do?
producer, she said. and usually i ask what kind, but right then i saw what looked like a spotlight to my right. cops? did i not signal?
then i saw a cop copter. it was a very bright light. unusual angle. what was he looking for?
then a car sped by me. faster than ive ever seen a car go up lincoln. a minute later a black-n-white. then another. truckin’.
within minutes the copter was circling, then wider circles, beam of light zigzagging down unto west la like it had lost a contact.
they fucked up, i told her
they sure did, she agreed, both of us fascinated with our front row seats to a real car chase and escape.
i always hope they get away with it, rachel whispered
MEEEE TOOOOOO i agreed. hey siri play the clash police on my back
cranked it.
later on the 10 i was all, so he just lets you come over booty call-like? as if he were just a hunk of meat?
well, it’s not a given anything will happen, she corrected me.
at 2am it’s not a done deal?
absolutely not.
you would seriously come over, ride that elevator up, look all cute, drink the man’s champagne and then bail?
nothing in life is free, sir.
was she a hooker? no. a gold digger? hmmmm. maybe?
oh, you’re saying he’s got to work for it? even at this hour?
she scoffed. this is The hour. he better be showering, steaming a clean shirt, brewing some tea, tidying, setting the mood. yes, he’s got to work for it. im doing my part, he has to do his part.
omg do you know that janet jackson song?
i doubt it.
siri play, what have you done for me lately, by janet
we listened and i forgot there was a tiny skit before the song, the twentysomething loved it.
facts, she said when i turned it down.
every day you have to prove your worth, i asked?
every day we all do, she said.
so if he doesn’t have the rizz, then you won’t mind waking up tomorrow alone in your place?
where did you learn that word, she laughed?
every night i listen to you kids struggle with all the things we went through
like what? she asked, downtown lights sparkling down on us through the moon roof.
like being ok with boning ppl you dont love yet
thats not what this is, she said with a lilt in her voice
of course not, but if it were… i have a trick for you. that is, if you want to hear it.
what do you got?
it dont count if your standing