7.

        When I lyft, I like to present myself fairly well, I don't treat it merely as if you're in my car, I want to maintain a clan presentation. I vacuum and clean out my car. (Aside from the trunk) there is little on the passenger seat, perhaps a book or sweatshirt at times. But rarely will someone sit up front unless there are 3-4 people coming. I wear nice clothes most times and offer to load luggage if they have it. I wash the exterior and make sure everything is in working order.

       One particular day I spent the time finding a place with free vacuums. This was a rare occurrence, but I found one. I spent extra care this time as I had no time limit. Under seats, in between, sucking up every single chunk of dust, debris, hair, trash and wrapper. My car, was spotless. I got in, turned on the app, and immediately got a hit within the time it took to pull out onto the street. It was about 15 minutes away, but I was ready. Usually the further out, the longer the ride. I was game. 

     I pulled into a pretty dead street. Not many streetlights, little traffic, a typical suburban road. As I pull up, what seems like a young couple are standing in the driveway. They both have dogs with them, they are safety dogs, harnesses and all. I think nothing of at first but,  "how are all of them going to fit in here? Is a dog going to sit in the front seat?" As I pull in to the driveway, the couple barely move. They don't even look at my car. A bit slow on the uptake it seemed. 

    "We have dogs is that okay?" The guy asked. "Sure! No problem." i respond, what choice did I have anyway?  amazingly, they ask fit in the back seat, two humans, and two full-sized dogs. A yellow lab and a German Sheppard. "Got enough room back there?I can move the seat up if you need it." "Oh no we're alright. We're used to it." They laughed. We hit it off. They were very nice people. It was winter now and we talked about how everyone rushes around when it snows out. "The bread and milk!" She joked. "Everyone needs bread and milk! Why bread and milk?" 

     "Right?" I responded. "Why those two things? If the power goes out, your milk is going bad, how is it imperative to surviving? Is there an increased need for cereal during a power outage? Or dairy? Milk is probably the worst thing to get during a storm. Canned goods, alcohol and water I guess." We laughed at the hysteria every time a storm came around some more as I drove. The conversation died about halfway through as they talked to each other. The dogs were completely silent and behaved like saints. 

            We passed a gas station. "I can't believe gas is that low." He commented from the back. Nobody answered. About five minutes later we were approaching. "Is it this place?" I said pointing. "Uh, it should be the train station." He said. I was confused why they didn't simply take a peek out the window, it was clearly the station. "Alrighty, this is the place. You guys have a good rest of your night!" My signature sign off for riders when we reach our destination. "You too! Thanks so much!" They shuffled out the door with their doggies. I pulled away, they stood there blankly. I was confused.

              I pulled off a bit down the road and looked back. Dog hair was everywhere. You'd of thought 6 dogs had lived in my backseat for a month. All over the seat,the doors, headrests, the backs of the front seats, the floor, in every crack and crevice. I was peeved at first. I had JUST vaccumed, for FREE. I was nowhere near that part of town anymore. So I took the hit and found a Cumberland Farms with a vacuum and went to town. "fuuuck, it's everywhere." Damn. 

          It was at that moment I realized they were blind. The dogs, the blank looks, the odd comment about the train station after I pointed it out. Plus well, the insane amount of hair. They were very kind and thankful I agreed to let them in the car with dogs, there's no way they were aware. I felt like a jerk. I kept thinking about his comment about the gas. But the legally blind can still see huge signs and make out certain things, it's not unheard of. "Welp,I feel like an asshole." 

      They didn't tip me, and I didn't mind. But I was out $1.25.