The Taxicab

 
Mortimer sighed, finally sitting up, as his alarm rang the third time. It was going to be another long day of work. He threw his legs off the bed and wobbly walked to the bathroom. There he brushed his teeth and combed what little hair remained on his balding head.
Mort was a pudgy fellow, with an average height. He normally wore an amiable smile
and a twinkle in his green eyes. Currently, however, his face was in a pout. Most people did not like their job, and Mortimer was no exception.
Though meeting new people was always a joy, he never saw them again, and could never really make friends. Still, Mortimer liked to be friendly. You never knew when you’d need a smiling face.
After dressing himself - a light blue button-up shirt, brown suspenders, and tan slacks - Mort took a look at his humble abode. Though it was small, it was still home, and leaving meant leaving the comfort. He shut the door, locking it beforehand. Though that seemed a silly notion, no one would get in his house here.
He slipped into the seat of a rundown taxicab, with a few dents on the side. The leather on the backseat was ripped in a few places, but overall intact. Mort patted the dashboard, “Time for another day’s work, Addie.” He knew the car couldn’t hear him, but it often felt like Addie understood him.
Mortimer turned on the car and before he knew it, was driving through the empty street. No one was ever close to home. After a short trip - and a turn onto the highway - Mortimer slowed the car to a halt. He rolled his window down, startling the befuddled woman standing on the side of the road. “Um, hello,” she said. Her dark brown hair fell onto her flower blossom dress, cut just after her shoulders. Her black eyes were now staring at Mort.
Mortimer smiled, “Hello, ma’am, I think you need a ride.”
She furrowed her brow, but nodded, opening the side door and slipping onto the seat behind him. “What’s your name?” Mortimer asked. She looked confused again but blinked when he spoke. “Akira...yes that's it.”
They were already speeding down the highway again. “Hello, Akira, nice to meet you!”
She didn’t respond, rather she was looking at her hands with a strange expression. A few moments later, Mortimer stepped on the brake again. He stopped next to an old man walking down the side of the street. The old man smiled when he saw Mort, and promptly crossed the car to the other side, entering the passenger side door.
Mortimer chuckled, “Been waiting a while, have we? What’s your name, my good chap.”
The old man closed the door after he sat, “My name is Ron. Ron Sweets. What about you, friend?”
This was why Mort kept doing what he did. For the few moments of talking to someone, the little bit of time he got to connect with people.
“Good to meet you, Ron Sweets. I’m Mortimer, though my friends call me Mort,” he said with a wink at the last part. Ron’s smile widened as Mort stepped on the gas again.
“So why did you choose this profession, of all things?” Ron asked. Akira still sat, staring at her hands, having not said a word the entire time.
Mortimer thought for a moment, “I didn’t entirely choose this path. It chose me, I suppose.” Ron nodded, “That is the way of the world I think. I became a pilot after being drafted for World War Two, and that was no picnic, but it made me the man I am today...”
Ron continued talking, though Mortimer had stopped listening.
A lump formed in his throat. There, sitting on the edge of the street, sat a young girl. Possibly about six or seven years old, with bright blonde hair and a lavender dress. She looked up from the rock in her hand as Mort pulled up beside her. Ron stopped talking but looked confused.
The girl looked at him curiously as Mortimer rolled down the window, “Hey there missy. What’s got you out here?”
She smiled at him, “Mommy said not to talk to strangers. But… I don’t know where mommy is. Well, you’re not a stranger now I guess.”
Mort chuckled, “I don't know where your mother is, but I can take you somewhere nice. Hop in. Akira, scoot over if you please.”
The Asian woman blinked as if realizing she was in the car for the first time. “I have...hands...”
Mort closed his eyes for a moment, “Akira, please, move over.” She finally complied, sliding over to the seat behind Ron, who leaned over to Mort. “There are children here?”
Mortimer shrugged in return, “ Yeah.”
Ron frowned at that. The little girl opened the door after a moment of struggling, then happily jumped onto the seat.
Mortimer plastered on another smile, “So what’s your name, princess?”
The girl rolled her eyes, “I’m not a princess. I’m a queen. Queen Sandra.”
Ron and Mort laughed as they began driving once more. There were no more stops this time, as he simply listened to the grinding of tires on asphalt, passing a few more people standing along the road.
He vaguely understood that Ron and Sandra were talking, but did not listen to them. Just him and Addie on the road. Nothing else, no one else.
Finally, after turning onto a small road, they reached their destination. He stopped in front of a white double door that hung in the air with seemingly no support.
Ron exited first, “Thank you, Mort, and Goodbye.” Sandra followed soon after and grabbed the old man's hand as they opened the white door, stepping into the light beyond. Akira went next, without a word.
Mort gave a heavy sigh as he turned around and traveled home, already exhausted after only three passengers. Delivering souls was a hard job, and once in a while, you had to end early.