Make money

By the end of Saturday night two youngsters stopped me on Oxford St. "Boss! Take us to our car! It's parked two blocks away. K'mon! Good price boss!" First of all I made sure where I was supposed to go. It really seemed close. "Ok guys! Give me a fiver and I'll take you." One of them had some change in his hand but the other passed me quickly a lovely, brand new 20£ note. Smoothly done. One of them got on my trike already... The note look impressively true. However when I touched it I didn't even need to look for a water mark. "I don't want it guys." The seated got off quickly. "What?! Why?!" "It looks too new... Too good... And the paper when you touch it..." "What?! Too new?! To good?!" The "bad" one looked at me with a scowl. "Ok. Leave him!" - said the "good" one. "You don't want to make money, maaan!" - exclaimed the "bad" one. I always admired a doubtless acting skill those people possess. They could, honestly, use it better than that...

Never mind the money!

Late at night I was getting through Brewer St. There was a smartly dressed gent in the corner with Upper John St. He flagged me down. Even though his clothes looked decent his face was livid and swollen. He was clearly well soaked. He held a mysterious wooden box. "Hey! Can I sleep in your rickshaw for five minutes?" "Excuse me?" "I need to wait until that shop there is open." It was about 4am. "So would you let me sleep in your rickshaw, for a while?" "A brilliant idea!" - thought I. Now, it was a pure conjecture of mine, but I thought he might be a compulsive gambler waiting for some antique shop to open, so he could sell everything except the kitchen sink of his own or even somebody else's. Anyway my rickshaw had never been a hotel and I felt good about it. "Look! Let me take you to Balans Cafe on Old Compton St. They are open 24h. It would take us two minutes!" "Ok! How much?" "Just a fiver!" "What?! You said it was only two minutes away! A fiver to go there and bring me back here!" "I'm sorry but I'm not gonna wait for you there... I'm just trying to help..." "Oh! It's all right! I will survive!" He seemed offended. "Well, your life is not in a danger."- I agreed - "Have a good night!" "Never mind the money, mate!" He shouted after me reproachfully. Surely he didn't...

Urinal

Once I stopped in Cambridge Circus to use that urinal there. (Btw it's a great touchstone! One can tell newcomers from London dwellers straight away, while peeing... First ones giggle and try to take a picture of you. Others just pass by or join in...) So I left my rickshaw behind and approached the "touchstone". Much relieved I let my mind to drift away for a sec. All of the sudden, out of the tail of my eye, I spotted a rickshaw passing by. There was a customer sitting on it and a driver... "Hey, wait a minute!" - I said under my breath - "No way that guy is a rickshaw rider!" I took a closer look. The trike already moved on from Cambridge Circus and actually was crossing Charring Cross Rd., heading for pavement leading down Shaftesbury Ave. It was nearly on that paving when I realised everything. It was my rickshaw!!! Those bastards were basically taking her away! I dashed in pursuit of my lovely baby! They moved on through Shaftesbury Ave's pavement. I got them quickly. They were drunk, friendly and very proud of their prank. We shook hands and I offered them a lift.

Underestimated

In Old Compton Street, right in front of Balans Cafe, someone was exercising his tenor. I was impressed, for he was doing pretty well. A group of minicab drivers, gathered on a corner nearby, didn't share my views though.
"Shut up!"- shouted one of them and they laughed loutishly and loudly. You could tell that they really felt self confident and important, standing like that, on that corner, together.

Healing prayers

Late at night one can see an Asian woman around Old Compton St. Is she a spooky K-Horror female ghost or a Yūrei? Maybe! However she seems quite alive and rather interested in money. She holds a notepad and a sheet attached to it says "Healing prayers". "I'm a Christian." - She explains. - "I used to be an alcoholic but God helped me and now I want to help other people. As anybody else I expect a reward for doing my job." She has a strong accent but nevertheless her English is quite good. Thus for just a little consideration we can get blessed and our burden can get alleviated. Alternatively one can set oneself free by offering her some healing chocolate coated raisins. After an instant of indecision she will probably partake them with a smile. No healing prayer will be bestowed upon thou, though.

SCOOBY DOO!!!

My customers - three Englishmen in their late forties, fancied some Subway sandwiches. Two of them went to buy food, while the third one was waiting outside. Suddenly appeared a bunch of young people shouting something unintelligible. One of them approached that customer of mine. "I'm frrrom Basque Countrrry! Do you know Basque Countrrrry?" The asked moved his head in denial. "Basque Countrrry!" Young man didn't give up. "Euskadi! Do you know? Pais Vasco!!! It'a a countrrry between Spain and Frrrance!" Englishman watched him in puzzlement. Finally answered him with question: "Do you know Scooby Doo?" "What?" Now the youngster was surprised.
"K'mon! You must know Scooby Doo! That big dog from a cartoon..." After a while both young Basques and Englishman were shouting loudly and enthusiastically together: "SCOOBY DOO!!! SCOOBY DOO!!!"

Occupied

A fat car stopped in red light next to my trike. A cute black girl asked me: "Where you from?" "Where YOU from?" - was my answer. Two black guys sitting in car with her found it, for some reason, very funny. She seemed a bit confused but answered: "I'm from Eritrea. What about you?"
"I'm from Zimbabwe." Guys inside the car burst again in a boisterous laughter. "You are lying! You are from Algeria!" - said she. I laughed. "You smart cookie! How did you know?!? You are not just beautiful, you are smart too!" She was watching me closely. "Your boyfriend must be a happy man!" - I added. "I haven't got a boyfriend..." "She will be occupied with a man soon!" - driver exclaimed quickly. She poked a face. Lights went green. I wished her good night...