a mere tap

A passenger in an Irish taxi leaned over to ask the driver, Paddy, a question and tapped him on the shoulder.

Paddy screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, 'I'm sorry but you scared da liven daylights out a me.'

The frightened passenger apologised to the driver and said she didn't realise a mere tap on the shoulder would frighten him so much.

Paddy replied, 'No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today is my first day driven' a cab. I've been drivin' a hearse for the last 25 years.'