My girlfriend went out of town, and left her son with me. Then the boy had a brain hemorrhage, and I couldn't get a hold of his mother because it turned out she was with another guy in Costa Rica . The boy was like my son, and when I was signing the papers for emergency surgery at the hospital my dog got run over by a taxi. I was having a bad day, and hadn't checked my mailbox at work -- while my dog was in surgery I went to find that I had a termination notice, so in 7 days I would be out of a job. In the next week I got 4 tickets -- I hadn't got a ticket in 6 years, but suddenly my license was in jeopardy. Out of work, broke and alone -- I drove all over looking for a job , and got cited in various jurisdictions for expired tags, but I didn't know it was serious -- I was just broke, looking for a job. Before reality kicked in I got a job driving taxi in Hayward... I got a call to a bar, and a Hells Angel that had chased everyone out of the bar needed a ride... I had enough stress. My next fare didn't have the money, and I had to go into his apartment to collect -- it took a long time, but I got paid... all in nickels. By the time I got outside the taxi had been towed away. Fired for that, I fled the scene, and drove East as if escaping -- to a strange place called Stockton. Somehow, with 27 entries on my driving record I got a job... Was it luck or had I died and went to Hell. This is the incredible TRUE story of a STOCKTON CITY CAB driver.The book describes dysfunctional systems; how we can get caught up in situations we didn't plan on, and how to overcome compelling addictions.