I’m just back from a trip to Toronto, during which a taxi driver told me a story I cannot help but pass along. While I thought he must be making it up, he swore to its authenticity with a vehemence which convinced me.

The weather has been quite cold the last few days, and this driver noticed a woman shivering on the street. He stopped to see if she required a taxi; and, when she said she could not afford one, he offered to drive her home for free. She thanked him and got into the front passenger seat of the taxi.

So, off they go. At some point, the woman leans close to the driver, and he assumes she is either cold or friendly (or perhaps he had hopes of excessive gratefulness, but he seemed awfully nice and I choose not to believe so). Once they arrive at her address (an apartment building), she steps out of the cab.

She then pulls the driver’s cell phone out of her pocket, which she has apparently pocketed when leaning over to him, and refuses to give it back. After some discussion, she suggests he purchase it back from her. At some point he leaves in anger.  After time for reflection, he calls his cell phone, and returns to meet her.  After more discussion, he buys his own cell phone back from the woman (and what he described as a couple of very large friends) for $20.00. So, he is out the ride and $20.00.

One of the colleagues with me did ask the driver why he didn’t call the police. He indicated that it wasn’t worth the trouble for a cheap cell phone. What did I say an entry or two ago about it being a lovely world?

On the other hand...  What a wonderful example of the sort of ingenuity that makes the market-driven economy what it is. Yes, capitalism at its best!