Trafika Europe 8 - Romanian Holiday

Elise Wilk

that’s less popular, I can’t remember what it’s called. I inherited the CDs from a buddy of mine, also a taxi driver like me. He died last year. You know how some drivers hang crosses and rosaries and those tree-shaped air fresheners from their rear view mirrors? Well, I’ve got a baby tooth hanging from mine. And that’s from a dead person too. Well, not quite dead, but almost dead. I don’t really like to tell this story. But I want to tell you because you seem like good people. Really, you do! In 20 years of taxi driving, I’ve become an expert at reading people. I can tell you’re decent. I don’t just say this kind of thing to anyone, so you should feel proud about that.

The baby tooth belonged to my son. It happened one Thursday. Next month will be 12 years since it happened, but it feels like only yesterday. My son was 9 years old and his friend from the block was about 10 or 11. His namewas Bobby and he had this thick unibrow. Hewas at our house all thetime.Heateeverymeal at our dining table where my wife would serve himand our son. On that particular day, I was home sleeping because I worked the night shift. The kids were out on the balcony. This boy, Bobby, had an idea for a ‘competition.’ Whoever could lean over the balcony the farthest would win. I found out about this game a few days after the accident, from a neighbor’s son who was watching from his window.

136