The car was black and so shiny I could see my reflection
staring back at me as it stopped at the curb. A startling revelation at 6AM. Toyota
Camry. The inside was clean as if somebody has just finished wiping every
inch. Michael Jackson was playing. Billy Jean.
“How is your morning,” he said, smiling broadly. Strong
accent. M pushed his Kindle back into his bag. “Great.” Big smile back.
The car sped down the side road that ran parallel to the
freeway. A group of people were waiting idly for the Transbay Bus.
“Not everyone feels comfortable taking casual carpool.” That
is a fact. “Sometimes the cars are good, sometimes, they are a liability.”
Laughter. “You don’t want to not make it to the other side.
The light turned green and we merged onto the crawling
traffic. The car slowly makes its way to the carpool lane on the left. Precise
movements, the left signal turned on every time.
“Do you always drive?”
“No, I ride sometimes. But I have to go to different places
in the city. Besides, like my car. It is comfortable, and safe.” I sink a bit
deeper into the back seat. The music was growing quieter. Roxette was playing.
“Which station is this?”
“It’s Pandora, Michael Jackson station. I always have it on
in the morning. Good music for the morning commutes. I put in better
loudspeakers.”
“Yes, it sounds nice.”
“Where do you work?”
“UCSF, but I have to go to their different locations. I work
in the … Office.”
“How long have you worked there?”
“A few years.”
“Have you live in El Cerrito for a long time?”
“Maybe 5 years. I love it. Everything is close by. Are you
new.”
“Yes, we just moved a few months ago.”
“It’s a great location. You know what is the best bar?
Mallard. It has a Tiki Bar in the back. All local people. Some of them have
been going there since they were young. I like talking to them. You know there
used to be a bar right behind Ace Hardware?” Chuckle. “I also like Melodee.
Right next to the Bart station. That’s where my people go.”
“Who are your people?”
“Tibetans”
“Is there a big community here?”
“Not big, but many of us, and we hang out at Melodee on
Fridays.” “I saw Tibetan restaurants in Berkeley. A couple of them.” “Yeah,
they are no good. If you want good Tibetan food, you need to eat at home.”
“When did you come here?”
Hesitation, “a long time ago. 10 years maybe. Came to study,
then stayed. Like everybody else.” Laughter. “I came as a student too.” I said.
“Really? You don’t sound it.” “You know it helps to have an American
boyfriend.”
More laughter.
“I will take you guys closer to Market. But you should go to
Mallard. And come to Melodee. My people are there.”
