22nd May 2010
Going my way?

It happens to the best of us. Probably happens to all of us. All of us vehicle drivers, that is. Here’s the scenario: let’s say that you’re driving down the Gros Islet Highway, into Castries.
You’re alone, driving at your own pace, not too fast, not too slow. Let those who wish to overtake, overtake. You’ve either got your favorite cassette playing the music you love, or the radio has seen fit to oblige, and is somehow playing all your best-loved songs, one after the other.
The weather’s just fine, you have nowhere to go in a hurry, so you’re at peace with the world, cruising down the highway, with a smile of contentment on your face.
Suddenly, you notice somebody ahead of you, standing by the side of the road. There’s something vaguely familiar about him, and as you draw nearer, recognition slowly but definitely creeps in.
It’s one of those people whom you know by sight. Don’t know his name, but you never pass him on the Boulevard without his hailing, “What’s happenin’, boss man? You alright?”
And your customary reply, “I’m alright. How about you?” and you keep on going. This routine has been going on for years.
You know the kind of chap I mean. If anyone were to ask him, he’s your friend. You’re his friend. He probably wouldn’t let anyone harass you on the street without interfering on your behalf.
But you still don’t even know each other’s names; and you were happy with the situation. You were prepared to let things continue in that vein forever … and ever.
But whoops! Here it is. He’s caught your eye, and is signalling for a ride. The way that you’re feeling now, on your cloud number nine of contentment and bliss, you really weren’t looking forward to taking on a passenger, having to engage in hollow conversation and changing your mood completely.
Yet, it’s too late to pretend that you didn’t see him. Eye to eye contact has been made, and you can’t just brush by nonchalantly and ignore him completely.
You’ll never be able to face him again on the Boulevard. And if somewhere in the future, some ragamuffin gives you a hard time, he may just stand by and watch, without springing to your defence. Or even hold the guy’s hat while he roughs you up.
So you don’t want to pick him up, and you can’t just whiz by. What do you do? You wave and when he signals that he wants a lift, you point out your window, indicating that you are about to turn at the next gap – any intersection will do: Corinth gap; Choc; even the Mall – and that you’re so sorry that you cannot take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to offer him a ride and engage in some pleasant chit-chat, so that you may get to know each other better.