SmokeLong Quarterly

So I see that you drive a cab for a living. How autobiographical is this story then?

Yes, I drive a cab for a living. This story is pretty darn autobiographical, like most of my work.

So what is your favorite part about driving strangers to their destinations? And, perhaps more interestingly, what’s the worst part?

I don’t really have a “favorite” part. It’s a job and I don’t like working for a living. The worst part of the job is being in the cab with an asshole, somebody who will puke on the floor, refuse to pay, or threaten me. The best part of cab driving, I suppose, is the freedom, the movement, not having a boss hanging over my neck all the time.

Why do you think the Buddhists want to go to the casino? Do they win?

I assume they wanted to go to the casino for the same reason everyone wants to go: to get something for nothing, to win big. I do know that a lot of Asian people like to gamble. I have no idea if they won, because they never called me back for a ride home (the fuckers).

I like how simple the telling of this story is. It’s one of those bizarre moments in life that just is, and I like that you don’t make it seem overly profound or meaningful. Did you always intend it to be that way, or did the writing/editing of the story bring that out?

Thanks, Tara, I’m really glad you liked the story. Yes, I intended it to be that way, simple, straight-forward narrative, without trying to make it seem more profound than it really was. I just thought it was strange, and there really was a look in that girl’s eyes that made me think she was unhappy. The fact that they all nodded off so quickly was also pretty bizarre, and I knew I would write it down as soon as I dropped them off. I do rewrite/edit extensively, but mainly for clarity and brevity and to make sure the prose flows.

If you could just get into a cab and tell the driver to go anywhere, where would you go?

I would tell the driver to drive to the Grand Canyon. I have lived in Arizona for 14 years and still haven’t seen it.

Thanks for everything, Tara and staff!