Morning Fog - Short Story
“A man really only needs to live by some sort of code to be considered a man. Many might not be able to understand his code, but as long as he lives by it his life will have incredible meaning and value.”
Silence entered the conversation. It was neither welcomed nor turned away. It just appeared. The smoke from his cigarette reflected the flickering light of an old Toyota Camry as he exhaled a bellowing breath. He drove with an arrogant confidence yet it seemed so utterly effortless. The dimly lit two-way roads gave a certain amount of clarity for him. It only showed the path going forward. Though nothing more than 15 feet ahead of him was ever revealed, he fearlessly drove into the dark.
“So kid. What code do you live by?”
“I’m not sure. My own I guess?” Kai uttered without a single ounce of confidence.
“What’s your code all about then? What are the things that you are completely certain? Are you certain it’s really your own code?” The man in the driver seat said in a stern and offended voice.
Kai was caught off guard. It wasn’t really something he ever really thought about. He floated between jobs following the next order without any objections. When the time came or when he just felt like he needed to move on, he would put his two weeks notice and place everything he had in his car and moved to the next city.
“My code is simple. I live my life my way.”
“Disappointing.” the old man sighed. “It’s a selfish way to live.”
“I’m not sure if that’s completely true.” Kai rebutted without hesitation. “It may seem selfish, but what would you know about me. It’s just my way of life. The code that has allowed me to survive this long.”
“Maybe you’re right. I do know you’re still alone. Who hires a taxi at this time of an hour to drive 3 hours up a mountain? Only the loneliest people. I know this much. You don’t drive a taxi for nearly a decade and not learn something about people.”
“You seem to have all the answers, old man. Tell me everything you know about me then.” He smiled. He waited for this moment. He stared in his rearview mirror at this young man. It was the first time his eyes ever left the road. The next 15 feet didn’t seem as important. He was now searching for the truth. Though Kai could feel the old man’s eyes, he did not feel uncomfortable or intimidated. He had nothing to hide. The truth to his being was never hidden. Kai waited patiently.
“You’re half Japanese. You played basketball, got injured, and lost your opportunity to play at the next level. Your last job required hard manual labor, probably construction. The last time you shaved was nearly a week ago. You have been alone for many years now. You’re either estranged or your parents are dead. You certainly have not felt the warm of a woman’s body in nearly a year.”
Kai remained completely calm. An unfamiliar feeling took over his lower abdomen. He was nervous. Though the truth was that the last time he slept with someone was 10 months ago, he felt like he looked like the type to have women at his side. The old man attacked his manhood. On top of being nervous, he was now offended. The old man was dead on, yet Kai did not want to reveal the level of accuracy of his statements. He kept his cool. He just listened quietly neither agreeing nor dismissing a single fact.
After a few more obscure facts detailing the significance of each piece of clothing, the taxi driver asked, “So how did I do?”
“Old man, you’re fucking good.”
“I need another smoke after that.” The taxi driver went to his glove department only to realize he was completely out of reds.
“Bum me a stog, kid.” Kai took out his pack and handed it over.
“So how long have you been smoking?”
“Since I was 16.”
“Smoke often?”
“Never more than two packs a year.”
“No fucking way? Don’t you mean two packs a day? A week?”
“No. I only smoke two packs a year.”
The taxi driver was in complete utter disbelief. He contemplated feverishly. He had never heard of anyone carrying a pack and only smoking two packs a year. It just didn’t make sense.
“Tell me the story. You got me interested.” The taxi driver took an old worn Zippo lighter, a relic from his youth, from the glove department and lit up as he refocused his attention on the road. After a strong pull from his lungs, he exhaled a small fog into the car anticipating a story and a new perspective.
“It’s really a simple story. I only smoke when I feel absolutely at peace with the world. Don’t get me wrong though. I define peace in numerous different ways. It can come from being with friends on a rooftop, the birth of my best friend’s son, just a quiet beach night, or meeting a new friend.”
The old man reflected over the numerous thousand cigarettes in his lifetime. Was he ever at peace when he smoked? He retraced nearly three decades of smoking. Memories of hard times, stress, or moments of escape only came to mind. He couldn’t even count the times when he simply just wanted to smoke out of loneliness and solitude. Truth of the matter was that friends, women, and family came and left throughout his life, but his trusty sticks never left him. As he listened to Kai elaborate the stories of being young and adventurous, the old man felt a sense of loss. He just politely nodded when Kai had anything to say. Silence soon entered the car once again. It was neither welcomed nor dismissed. It was just accepted as a matter of fact.
Without them even noticing, daybreak crept closer. Light began to paint the night sky. The trees along the road regained its colors. No longer did the 15 feet matter. The world revealed itself. Kai’s final destination neared. Five more minutes he would end his journey. And five more minutes, the sun will finally rise.
At the peak of the mountain, Kai politely said, “Anywhere will be fine, but if possible near the tree ahead by the fallen logs.”
“Sure thing boss.”
“Thanks for the ride, old man. For what it counts, it was a very enjoyable ride.”
The old man nodded. He was about to enter his car not knowing where he was going next, but he hesitated and asked, “Why here?”
“I heard it had the best view in the city. I just moved here only a week ago.”
“Why not drive up here yourself? I mean you have a car right?”
“Well, who wants to spend anyone’s birthday alone?” Kai smiled.
Kai didn’t even give it a second thought when he asked his companion if he wanted to smoke with him. It was his first smoke turning twenty-seven. The taxi driver felt honored and his uneasiness left his body. He couldn’t believe how mature the kid’s code was. He just accepted it. It wasn’t selfish. He was completely mistaken.
“Happy birthday, kid.”
Kai just smiled and handed the old man a stog. The two lit up. Silence entered the conversation, a silence that only smokers knew. How the two welcomed that silence. No words needed to be said, just breaths shared. With a simultaneous exhale, the morning fog was their own.
