In a moment of personal crisis, how much help can you expect from a New York taxi driver? I began studying this question and answers are interesting. One morning, I got into three different taxis and announced,"Well,it's my first day back in New York in seven years.I've been in prison."Not a single driver replied,so I tried again."Yeah,I shot a man in Reno."I explained, hoping the driver would ask me why, but nobody asked.The only response came from a Ghanaian driver,"Reno? That is in Nevada?" Taxi drivers were uniform sympathetic when I said I'd just been fired."This is America,"a Haitian driver said."One door is closed.Another is open."He argued against my plan to burn down my boss' s house.A Pakistani driver even turned down a chance to profit from my loss of hope;he refused to take me to the middle of the George Washington Bridge--a $20 trip."Why do you want to go there? Go home and relax.Don't worry.Take a new job." One very hot weekday in July, while wearing a red ski mask and holding a stuffed pillowcase with the word "BANK" on it, I tried calling a taxi five times outside different banks.The driver picked me up every time.My ride with a Haitian driver was typical of the superb assistance I received. "Let's go across the park," I said."I just robbed the bank there.I got $25,000." "$25,000?" he asked. "Yeah,you think it was wrong to take it?" "No, man.I work 8 hours and I don't make almost $70.If I can do that,I will do it too." As we approached 86th and Lexington, I pointed to the Chemical Bank. "Hey,there is another bank,"I said,"Could you wait here a minute while I go inside?" "No,I can't wait.Pay me now." His unwillingness may have had something to do with money--taxi drivers think the rate for waiting time is too low--but I think he wanted me to learn that even a bank robber can't expect unconditional support. Why did the Pakistani driver refuse to take the author to the middle of the George Washington Bridge?
Because he was able to help the author to find a new job. Because he wanted to go home and relax. Because he thought that the author would commit suicide. Because it was far away from his home.