8.13 in the morning, and I’m in a taxi wondering why the traffic is so heavy, and I have to be at the client’s place to give a presentation in another 17 minutes.

5.00 it says on the taxi meter, not counting the 35% peak hour surcharge and the $3.50 for phone booking, and, *tick*, now it says 5.20.

8.16 in the morning and I’m wondering why the taxi driver chose this route with so many traffic lights that have to turn red just as when we approach them, when he could have gone by the expressway, which might be jammed so maybe he made the right choice.

6.00 it says on the taxi meter, and I’m wondering why I have to go through such unnecessary stress. It’s one thing to go through the stress of a presentation, quite another to go through the stress of heavy traffic. 6.20. And the stress of paying such a high fare price, and still facing the prospect of being late.

8.22 and I’m still stressed because it’s only 8 minutes more before the meeting. When I finally reach, it should take me 2 minutes to pay the driver, get into the building, get into a lift and go up to the client office. This means I really have 6 no 5 more minutes in this taxi.

8.80 the meter says and 8.25 my watch says and something in me says that I’m likely to be late. Then I figure that there’s no use getting stressed over it, since it’s not going to help the traffic situation in any way.

I take a deep breath, and breathe out slowly.

I finally arrive, and I have to pay $16.45: $9.60 for the metered fare, $3.50 for the booking, and $3.35 for the 35% peak hour surcharge.

8.30am.

I walk coolly into the client office, on time.

But he’s not there yet.