Take the Cab

Not wanting to be late, I decide on taking a cab. It only takes me a few seconds to find the number to the local Yellow Cab and make the call.

A couple of short minutes later, I'm exiting the apartment building. When I glance down the street, I can see a cab rounding the corner at the end of the block, heading my direction. At my wave, the cabbie pulls the car to the curb and I get in.

For the first half of the ride, the cabbie tries to make small talk with me, but I'm far too focus on the conversation, and the cabbie finally gives up.

My mind is filled with daydreams of four and five digit paychecks, accompanied with pictures of myself on the front of magazine covers.

When the cab finally slows, and I start to pay attention to my surroundings again, I realize that I'm no longer surrounded by highrises and skyscrapers, but instead, the street is lined with old businesses and abandoned buildings.

A sense of unease fills me as I look at my surroundings, wondering if I might have written down the address wrong.

After paying the cabbie, I double check that I still have my cell phone, then slip from the cab.

Above the door to my right, I see a sign, much nicer, and newer, than the old brick building. Nervously, I walk to the door and push the doorbell.

"Coming!" Someone calls from inside. A few seconds later, the door creaks open, revealing a well kept blonde man, wearing a pair of slacks and a Hawaiian shirt, unbuttoned nearly to his navel, revealing the course hair on his chest.

"You must be Jade!" He says happily, extending his hand in greeting, "I'm Daniel." Instead of shaking my hand when I take it, he instead raises it to his lips, kissing its back lightly. I feel a momentary thrill that I quickly suppress. "Please, come inside, I'll show you to the studio and we can get some forms signed so we can get started."

Glancing once more at the street, the cab now long gone, I step inside.