Here we are another summer season behind us. We survived a tornado
and another hurricane. All and all it was a great summer. This was our first
season with the party bus. I call it the Game Changer. No more turning down
large groups of people in need of a ride. I drive it on Friday and Saturday
nights, I don’t care if I have one passenger or a bus load.
I was dropping off a group at Poos one evening, and had several people
come up and ask if I was there for them. I told them I had to call dispatch to
find out. I called Leigh and she told me the Mayor and his wife were there
so get them; other than that you are clear. I made contact with Jason and he
told me he was going to get his wife. No problem, take your time.
Some guy walked up and asked if I could take him, his wife and two children
to Hotel Tybee. I asked if he had called for a ride. He said no, he had just
seen me pull up and they were ready to go. I told him no problem I had
plenty of room. He grabbed his family and they climbed aboard. I informed
them that we were waiting for two more passengers and they should be
here very shortly. The man and two little boys went all the way to the back
and sat down. The wife sat a couple seats behind me. I welcomed them
aboard, informed them that we were waiting for the mayor and his wife
and asked where they were from. The wife was the chatty one and she
was hammered. She was slurring her words. I call it speaking ‘hucanese’
but that’s no problem for me, because after five and a half years of driving,
I understand hucanese. Jason and Jody got on the bus and sat in the seat
right behind me.
Everyone knows I drive with the door open during the summer heat. It
definitely helps keep it Breezy. Anyway, we jumped onto Highway 80,
heading south. Jason was asking where did we find the bus and he thought
it was pretty cool. The lady shouted out, “Can you please close the door, you
are terrifying my children.” I pushed the button to close the door and said no
problem. The kids were sitting at the back of the bus, but whatever.
So for the five or so minutes that I had the mayor’s attention, I thought it
was a good time to tell him what a wonderful job I thought he had done
through the last year. I truly mean that. He had some kind words to say about
Breezy and what a good job we do. I made a right onto 7th St. to drop Jason
and Jody off. Drunky McMonkey piped up again, “Where are you going?”
Jody informed her where they lived and we were still a few blocks from
Hotel Tybee. We stopped at their house, they got off, we exchanged some
pleasantries, and I took off.
As soon as I pulled away this lady said, “I cannot believe you dropped them
off first.” I said, “Ma’am, you are on a bus and they are the first stop.” She
replied, “Well, I have small children on the bus and you should have taken
us first. But I know you were too busy kissing ass.” I told her it wouldn’t
make sense to make them ride all the way to the hotel and then turn around
and bring them back seven blocks. I also told her I do everything my way
because I do everything my way.
34 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | NOV 2017
By Ron Goralczyk
I made my right turn onto Butler and then she started yelling that I was
going the wrong way! I said, “Ma’am, you said Hotel Tybee, correct?” Yes.
“Well I live here and I assure you I know where I’m going.” Normally I would
have pulled over and thrown her out of the bus, but I didn’t because of the
young children.
I pulled into Hotel Tybee and pulled up to the breezeway between the two
towers. She told her husband and kids to get off, Mommy’s got this. Honestly,
I was like it’s about to get real up in here. I saw that she had a fifty-dollar
bill in hand, so I was playing it cool. She handed me the fifty and told me
she would like to give me some advice. Yes ma’am. She said, “I may not be
the mayor but I make a butt load of money and you should be nicer to your
customers.” I said, “I will work on my people skills, and I appreciate your
advice. I hope you have a nice night and enjoy the beach tomorrow.” She got
off the bus and said something else very snarky and I replied, “Yes ma’am,
have a nice evening.” She started to walk away, then turned around, looked
at me and screamed, “I’m not a piece of shit!” The only thing I can figure is
the crazy ass voices in her head may sound exactly like me. I laughed and
said, “You have a nice night.”
Please remember to never drink and drive. Go Breezy!