In one trip to Croatia as a journalist, many years ago, I had to go to meet with a very important person to make an interview. He was traveling, coming to Zagreb from another city, and told me that he would be at his home at eight pm.
So I decided to have a drink with my cousins near my hotel waiting for the hour, because I had many things to tell them after years without seen them.
Suddenly I got a call in my phone telling me that the person I had to interview had already arrived, half an hour before time, and was waiting for me. I had to left in a hurry and catch a taxi.
The driver was a talkative man. I told him I was in a hurry, and he asked me why. I told him very briefly the reason. I don’t know how, in a few seconds, he was telling me his story. How he was in fact a Geography teacher in the University, but there was no way to live with that salary in those days, so he decided to become a taxi driver at nights to have an extra income to survive and provide for his big family.
I listened without paying much attention because I was nervous with my interview.
We arrived. I paid him, and faced my job of the day.
When I was in the middle of the interview, I realised I have forgot my phone in the taxi. When I finished my work, I called my cousin who was still at the bar were we had meet an hour before, explaining the situation.
I didn’t know anything about the taxi nor the colour or the brand of the car, nor the license plate, nothing. Only that the driver was a Geography teacher.
My cousin went to the taxi station and said aloud: Who of you is a Geography teacher? Me! Said one of them Immediately. They went to the parked taxi and began to search. And certainly, right there on the back seat was my phone.
Lucky for you (THIS time!) That’ll teach ya, eh?
absolutely!
Brilliant! Chattiness has its uses. Just as well you were listening!
Of course Margaret. I was lucky he was so nice and willing to talk. I hope his situation has improved since those difficult days.