It was early morning, and the taxi park’s garage buzzed with activity. Amanda, a young cab driver, had been working under her car’s hood for half an hour, unaware of her surroundings. Suddenly, a deep voice interrupted her concentration.

“Hello, Amanda! It’s early morning, and you’re already tinkering with your car. What’s wrong? Do you need help?” The girl broke away from her work, stood up, and wiped the sweat off her forehead. She looked comical with smudged engine oil on her nose, holding a dirty rag and wrench instead of a manicure tool. “Hello, Barry! I’ve got it under control, thanks. There was an issue with the ignition, but I replaced the plugs, and now it starts perfectly. Let me wash my hands, and we can have some coffee.

I haven’t even had breakfast yet, and I’m starving. Take out the cabbage pies I baked last night. Help yourself!” Barry eagerly rubbed his hands together and savored the treats. “Oh, Amanda, you’re wonderful! These pies are delicious! You can fix cars, bake pies, and you’re beautiful. What a pity I’m married! And your fiancé is a fool. A smart girl like you should be cherished and protected!” Amanda let out a heavy sigh, sat down beside him, took a sip of scalding aromatic coffee, and replied, “Don’t be offended, but men… they’re all the same. They love you at first, then they disappear into thin air. Well, I don’t need anyone. I’ll save up money, have a child, and raise him on my own. Just don’t tell Mr.Faris that I’m pregnant. That money-hungry jerk will kick me out!” Before Amanda could finish her meal, the radio beeped, and the dispatcher informed her that she had to drive for a client. She shook hands with her colleague and drove off, humming a simple tune to herself. In reality, Amanda enjoyed working as a cab driver very much. The day was never boring, with interactions with different people and the opportunity to learn the latest news and interesting stories. However, there were occasional mishaps. If someone had told her three months ago that she would be working as a cab driver, she probably wouldn’t have believed it. Amanda’s childhood was spent in the countryside. Her mother passed away when she was only five years old due to a severe kidney disease, and she never knew her father. Her grandfather took on the responsibility of raising her to prevent her from ending up in an orphanage. He couldn’t bear the thought of his granddaughter being alone. Amanda loved her life in the countryside, surrounded by endless wheat fields, open spaces, fragrant hay, and her favorite cat. Her grandfather adored her and taught her everything he knew, from mowing grass to driving and repairing their old Chevrolet. Together, they rebuilt the entire car, and by the time Amanda turned sixteen, she could drive as well as any experienced person. She passed her driver’s license exam on her first try. Then, she decided to move to the city. Amanda realized that there were limited prospects in the village, as young people were leaving, leaving only the elderly residents behind. Her grandfather gave her his small savings, blessed her, and wished her well.