Summary

An Uber driver shares a touching encounter with a young cheerleader who uses a box of fried chicken to cope with her family's financial struggles and her grandmother's illness.

Abstract

The narrative unfolds as an Uber driver, who has faced personal hardships including job rejections and a wife battling cancer, picks up a young girl named Ella dressed in a cheerleader outfit. Despite company policy against minors riding alone, he empathizes with her situation—her sick grandmother and their reliance on her part-time job. The girl's journey to collect her delayed paycheck turns sour when the manager forgets it, offering instead her favorite fried chicken. The simple act of eating the chicken in the driver's car brings a moment of joy amidst her struggles, reminding the driver of the small, heartwarming moments that can bring a smile even in the face of life's challenges.

Opinions

The driver reflects on the harshness of life, viewing it as a struggle rather than a source of joy, yet he is moved by the girl's resilience and ability to find happiness in simple things.
The driver's perspective shifts from his own struggles to a sense of gratitude for his wife's remission and the small victories in life, such as a child's smile.
The driver recognizes the innocence and burdens of youth, comparing the girl's situation to that of his own son, and the universal need for comfort and hope.
The driver is reminded of the importance of empathy and human connection, as the girl's story and the shared moment over fried chicken create a bond between them.
The driver finds a renewed sense of optimism, deciding to bring home fried chicken to share good news with his family, and faces the day with a smile, ready for whatever comes next.

The Girl In Cheerleader Outfit

All it takes for a smile is a box of fried chicken.

Woooo~ shii~~

I pull over in front of the apartment building, hit the button “Arriving now”. The rider should be out anytime. Smile, be professional. This is the only reason I need to put a smile on my face.

Summer of 2017, I lost my job. A few weeks later, my wife was diagnosed with lung cancer stage four. All these years, my wife struggles with the treatment, my son struggles with school, I struggle with the job. Having gone to dozens of interviews, if I were lucky enough to get a response, it would be like “sorry, you are overqualified.”

Like a bird flying over the endless ocean, I struggle to find my foothold.

Thank God I still have Uber Driver. But it doesn’t necessarily change my motto: life is a struggle, not a smile.

A young girl shows up at the door. Heavy makeup, sport skirt — heading to a party? But she looks so young.

She is in my car. I give a smile to the rearview mirror.

“Can I have your name please?”

“Jane. It’s my grandma. She called Uber for me. My name is Ella.”

“Sorry, but how old are you? You know, we can’t take a single rider under the age of 18.”

“I know. But please, my grandma is sick. I need to get some money. We need it now.”

Well, we do it all the time. Besides, the app shows it’s a long ride — two stops and sending her back home. So we get on the road. Mindlessly I ask, “Going to a party after this?”

“No. I am a cheerleader in my high school. We have training today. I might be running late. So I dress up now to save time.” A contrast between the somber face and the beautiful outfit. Then we fall silent along the ride.

The first stop is far away, it’s a Popeyes restaurant. I wait outside for a long time. Then she comes out with a takeaway box. I see tears in her eyes. She requests to cancel the second stop and send her back home. After a while, I steal a glance at the mirror. She seems to be still sobbing. Suddenly she says, “May I eat the fried chicken in your car?” She holds up the takeaway box.

“Sure, go for it.” I feel like I am talking to my son Jack. He is in high school freshman year. The motto –life is a struggle, not a smile — seems too heavy for them.

With the smell of fried chicken spreading in my car, a big smile pops up in my mirror. Tears still on her face, she already turns into a butterfly. We start to talk.

“I live with my grandma. She’s been sick for years. We live on my part-time job in Popeyes. We often struggle with money. I called the restaurant yesterday to ask for a paycheck they already delayed. The manager promised to bring it this afternoon. So I was gonna get the check and cash it in the liquor store at the second stop. But when I got there, the manager just forgot to bring the check. I begged for a long time but no use.”

“Then he gave me a box of fried chicken. He knows I love fried chicken; I can eat it forever.”

When we get to the apartment building, she smiles like a wild rose. She bounces like she’s got the money and is running to her grandma with good news. I was wondering what really lies ahead of her, comfort grandma, rush to school, and come back to again face the money problem. Whatever it is, a box of fried chicken has put a smile on her face and got her ready for the next blow coming her way.

I can’t do anything to help her. I can’t even cancel the ride fare as it’s on the app. But suddenly I feel grateful. My wife has been in remission for four years now. The doctor says every day is a miracle for her. But sometimes we don’t really need a miracle to put a smile on our face. All it takes is a box of fried chicken.

I decide to stop by Popeyes nearby today and bring home a box of fried chicken. I will tell my wife that the new generation of medicine for that type of cancer has been released lately. I will tell my son that his struggle with Spanish class is nothing. One day he will be forgotten by his manager, and he will find a moment when he will forget the whole world.

My phone is flashing, a ride request shows up. Here comes my fried chicken moment. Swiping the app to take it, I get on the road. The South California sun hits my face, sizzling yet reviving. I will smile at it, I am sure it will smile back.