_{This is Day 25 of the 30-day Traffic Koans contest. Details on how to enter can be found here: https://steemit.com/traffic-koans/@jedau/traffic-koans-halfway-update-1505319420-6600256}

"Forty bucks," the cashier answered when asked by a man regarding the cost of going through the teleportation portal. "That is, if you return within the hour."

"What if I'm not able to return or reach my destination when I pay now?" the man followed. "What would be my reassurance that I would return?"

"Then pay later instead if it helps ease your nerves."

The man went through the portal, then returned within the hour.

"That was great!" the man exclaimed. He went through his wallet and handed the cashier forty bucks. "Here you go."

"You're missing thirty bucks," the cashier replied. "The price is seventy now."

"That's not fair! You said it was only worth forty when I went through."

"What would be our reassurance that you would return?"

I don't know how it is where you live, but here in the Philippines, taxi drivers are among the most opportunistic people around. There are reports of drivers who sneak sleeping gas in their airconditioner to rape women, some work with armed men to rob people, while others screw with the locks and rob you at gunpoint. These are uncommon cases, but it's too rampant to go unnoticed. What's quite common though are drivers who fiddle with the fare, and run up the meter.

I'm sure that's not something new, but what's special about Filipino taxi drivers is that when they can't tinker with the meter, they become innovative. It's actually quite common to hear excuses like the roads are congested or they're already making their final round before they head home and your destination is out of the way. All of these excuses are just a ploy to either set a fixed price that is almost always way more expensive than when you use the meter, or they're asking for an additional tip to pad the already expensive fare. Mind you, this all happense once you're already running so you won't have a choice. Well, unless you're willing to risk alighting in the middle of a busy highway.

Granted, not all taxi drivers are bad. Most of them are just rude. But, when you stumble upon a decent one, hold him close and never let him go. Ahem. In a, y'know, platonic way. Ever had a taxi driver run up the meter? Let's make a trade. Your story for a chance to win some SBD. Sound good? Great! :D