*The Uber Driver of 94401
Dayo drove Uber in San Mateo County. Every day - 94401, 94403, 94010, 94025. He knew all the zip codes by heart.
One rainy night, 11:45pm, he got a request in San Mateo. 94401 to 94066 - San Bruno. Short trip.
A girl entered. Young, maybe 25. Crying quietly. Wedding dress in a plastic cover beside her.
Dayo didn't talk. He just drove. Turned on heater.
Halfway on El Camino Real, she spoke.
She said, "He didn't show up."
Dayo said, "Sorry."
She said, "We dated 6 years. Since college. I was waiting at church since 2pm."
Dayo kept quiet. Then he said, "My sister. I go divert small. You no go house like this."
She said, "Where we dey go?"
He took her to his favorite spot - Coyote Point, Burlingame. 94030. Overlooking the water. The place where city lights reflect.
He parked. Bought her hot chocolate from his thermos. He always had it.
He said, "Cry well. This place, water will carry the tears."
She cried for 20 minutes. Loud. In wedding dress. At 12am.
After, she said, "Thank you. How much for extra stop?"
Dayo said, "No charge. But make I tell you something. My mom always says - if person no show for your wedding, God just saved you from showing up for divorce court later."
She laughed small, still crying.
He drove her home to San Bruno.
She tipped him $100.
Three months later, Dayo got a request again. Same girl. This time in jeans, smiling, going to SFO.
She said, "Uber driver! You remember me?"
He said, "Wedding dress?"
She said, "Yes! I'm moving to Texas. New job. New life. Thank you for that night."
She hugged him at the airport.
He still tells passengers that story whenever he drives through 94401 at night.
Moral: Sometimes your Uber driver is not just driver. Sometimes na angel with Toyota Camry.
