Ride

"Need a ride?" Robbie hadn't ordered a cab and hadn't heard it pull up. "Uh ... I don't think you're here for me," he said, hesitating. "You never have to call a Crossroads Cab," the driver said (with a genuine smile). "It's an automatic pick-up when you're in between." "In between?" Robbie asked, trying to decide if any of this was normal enough to not be creepy. "Between phases, people, parallel dimensions ... you know the drill," the cabbie explained. "We pick up and drop off at sunrise, sunset, and true midnight." "Tru-?" Robbie started, but the driver laughed and interrupted him. "2am. This must be your first ride. Get in." "I appreciate it, but I think ..., " Robbie responded, but the door to the back opened and, if he wasn't suddenly drunk or insane, Edward Gorey was sitting there. "Apologies, but we have very little time to hem and haw," the cabbie said gently (and yet firmly). "This is your chance to ask the questions you've wanted to ask all day.. This will be the only chance to ask those questions. GET IN." Robbie stared as the other passenger rearranged his fur coat to clear the seat and stroked his beard. "Holy shit, it really IS you!" Robbie said, stepping inside. "Who else would I be?" Gorey replied with a wry grin.