A few weeks ago, I pick up this guy in my cab. He is going to the airport so I have about fifteen minutes to chat briefly. On the way, we discuss Iran. The guy wraps himself in the American flag and starts proclaiming terrorist. I say, National soveriegnty. He thinks America should have world domination because might makes right. I say humanitarian before economic. Thus, I dropped him off at the airport, everything is done. He asks for the 20% discount and gives me the difference as a tip. (The company doesn't compensate us for the discount and I explained that to him.) So basicly, no tip.

     Last week I pick him up, I do as I do for everyone, knock on their door, as if they have any baggage, put it in the cab, check if he wants the heat up or down, etc..

     I start by saying, "So, I thought about what you said last time..."

     He cuts me off. "I don't want to talk. I just want to check my emails. So, please just take me to the airport."

     No problem, no big deal. Not a big issue. I get him to the port in silence. We get there he hands me his credit card. Its not running and he's getting impatient. I flip through the screens and finally get his card to run except that I passed the discount button, while trying to satisfy his urgent nature and ran the card. I hand him the slip to sign.

     He looks at it. "Where's the 20% discount?"

     I say I must have passed the button. He tells me that I can just take that as my tip and leaves a big fat zero in the tip section.

     At this point, I'm like "Alright, sure." The guys an uptight prick, no big deal.

     From what I understand, later he called and requested that I no longer pick him up.

     This week, I get dispatched to pick him up again. This time, I recall the lack of a tip and how rude he was last time. So, no knocking on his door, no helping with the luggage, no service bells or whistles. He wants me to ignore him during his ride to the airport, I'll do that. Cut and dry.

     He comes out dragging his luggage. Sets it down and runs back inside for his other luggage. Apparently, he expected me to help him out. He goes back in to grab the rest of his luggage, I'm reading consumer reports on tire wear and grades...interesting stuff.

    The door opens and he sticks his head in and barks, "Turn your music off."

     No big deal. I turn it off. He starts loading his luggage.

     His wife and him get in. We pull out and they proceed to act as if I didn't exist. No big deal. We go through an intersection and he says, "Isn't it faster to go the other way?"

     The other way has less lights and longer straight aways so I can drive faster AKA:speeding. This time, I'm driving the most direct way and going the speed limit. You know, another courtesy bonus.

     My reply, "I don't know, never timed it." But, I figured he must be concerned about time, so I figured I would make up for it by hitting Delta to Beltline, longer, but faster.

     We finally get on Delta Highway. I turn off the heat and roll up the windows.

    He then demands that I turn off the heat.

    "I already did." I say.

    "Then crack the windows." he barks.

    I do it. No big deal.

     He continues to ignore me as I do him.

     I get on the phone with another driver and asked him a couple questions. I'm in my world, he in his.

     We get on to Beltline Highway and then he starts smacking me on the arm and says, "GET OFF YOUR PHONE!"

     I turn around and tell him to check his email or something.

     He starts getting on his phone and calls my dispatcher. He tells her that I'm on my phone while we are driving through thick fog and heavy traffic. He mentions that he is not going to pay for this trip. I'm already getting off the phone.

     He's not going to pay for it?

     I have three options at this point. 1. wait till we get to the airport and argue with him that he has to pay for the ride. 2. Call the cops and have him charged with theft of services. 3. Kick him and his wife out of the cab.

     I pull of an exit early, pull into a parking lot across the street and tell him to get out of my cab.

     "You little shit! You don't know who your messing with! I'm going to have you fired! Take me to the airport right now!" he's irate.

     I get out of the cab, open the back and start unloading his baggage. He gets out and gets back on the phone with my dispatcher and starts bitching her out.

     I walk over to the passenger door and look at his wife and I tell her she has to get out of my cab. As she is getting out, I tell her, "If your husband was more polite and cordial, this would have never have happened."

     I left them on the side of the road and went to turn in my cab.

     I would have done it to anyone. He's no exception.