Mike was the only one fidgeting irritatingly in the backseat as the cabbie drove toward their destination. The others sat quiet staring at the city street lights and industrial buildings they drove past. There were other vehicles about, but their number seemed to diminish the longer they drove. Even when on the highway, it looked as if they owned the stretch of concrete. The driver had the radio tuned to a news station and it was all bleak and gloomy about the quarantine and the atrocious pandemic driving everyone to stay sanitary clean and remain behind their homes. The longer he listened, the more Mike felt like losing his head until finally he couldn't hold back.
"Yo, man," he addressed the driver, "you mind turning off that shit? Or put on some music, please."
"Whatever you say," the driver responded surly.
He searched for a different channel and found a station that played classic R&B and left it there. Mike wasn't placated enough.
"Fuck man, how long is this fucking ride supposed to last?" he groaned.
"Should be there soon," Ralph replied. "It's been a while since I made it out here."
"We've been fucking driving for hours, man," Mike continued. "My feet are burning holes in my shoes already."
"You act like you're the only one," TJ retorted, then turned his attention to Ralph. "You sure we're gonna get us a place to stay over, man? My back's aching here."
"All will be provided for, boys. You just chill and quit your grips. You're both acting like squawking chickens right now."
That produced a snigger from the driver. Neither Mike nor TJ said anything after that.
It was another twenty minutes before the driver drove into Blue Ridge Hills. The houses seemed to undulate with the road as they drove from one quiet neighborhood to the next with Ralph telling him where to go. He had called ahead to say that he was close by. He pointed at the house they were heading and the driver cruised into the driveway and stopped in the mansion's courtyard. Mike and TJ weren't complaining anymore; Mike gave a whistle of appreciation at the sight of the splendid home.
The front door opened and a short, portly man in his fifties wearing what appeared to be an expensive robe with slippers on his feet came to welcome them. Everything about the man spoke of high class. Ralph was smiling as he shook his hand.
"Hope the ride wasn't too long for you?" said Bernie.
"You've no idea. A good thing you ain't changed your number since."
Mike and TJ alighted from the cab with their luggage in hand. Bernie introduced himself to them and shook their hands.
"You've taken care of the driver yet?" Bernie asked Ralph, who shook his head. "You guys head on inside. Darla will take care of you."
Mike handed Ralph his bag and all three of them walked into the comfort of the mansion.