The Learners Permit, Part 2

The Learners Permit
By Anonymous
Part 2

The garage was rather cold, so they bundled up for the lesion.  The day had
come for some practice behind the wheel.  Sandy sat in the passenger seat,
and let Shelly take the drivers seat.  Shelly lit her first cigarette, and
reached across to the ashtray.  Sandy immediately saw a problem.  As her
daughter was left handed, she couldn't easily reach the ashtray, without
crossing over the wheel.  The cold winters wouldn't allow her to open the
window, so Sandy needed to find an answer.

Shelly was rather nervous, as it were a test.  She sat behind the wheel of
the immobile car, smoking her cigarette.  Her mother's eyes were glued to
her, watching every move.  Each time she reached across to the ashtray she
saw her mother winch.  She couldn't wait to get behind the wheel for real,
was this really necessary?  Sandy had instructed her daughter to keep her
hands on the wheel, as if she were driving.  The two sat outside for nearly
an hour of "pretend driving".

The day of Shelly's first driving test was soon upon her.  The instructor
took the passenger seat, after checking all turn signals and brake lights.
Before she pulled out of the parking lot she lit a cigarette, as she wanted
to remain alert.  The instructor watched her every move.  The local DMV had
been under increased pressure to weed out young smokers after the notorious
accident.  Shortly after pulling out Shelly reached across to drop her ash.
The instructor immediately told her to turn around, automatic failure.

Sandy wasn't surprised with her daughter's failure; it was the curse of the
left-handed.  She came up with the solution only an igneous and caring mother
could think of.  The next day it would be time for another driving lesion.
This time her daughter was sure to pass.

Shelly sat in the car with her mother, prepared to pull out of the garage.
Sandy then handed her daughter a long hose with a mouthpiece.  Not quite
understanding, Shelly looked at her mother in confusion.  The hose was
connected to the center glove box, and a large button was near the emergency
brake.   At her mothers instruction, she placed the hose in her mouth and
pressed the button.  Smoke suddenly began to come from the mouthpiece, and
Shelly gladly inhaled it.

The "contraption", as it were, held 20 cigarettes.  A motor rotated them each
time the button was pressed, and provided a new smoke.  An ashtray below
caught ashes and butts, allowing the operator to focus on driving.  The smoke
was somewhat cooler than Shelly was used to, but refreshing just the same.
She pulled out of the driveway with renewed control of the vehicle, and her
mother could see that.

Shelly had her next test with the same instructor.  She hoped he wasn't out
to fail her again.  To his dismay she inserted the hose and pressed the
button, he had no reason to fail her now.  Her test went flawlessly and 3
cigarettes later she had her license.

Several weeks' later Sandy found herself at a stoplight.  She looked to the
car next to her, and noticed a young girl with a tube in her mouth, just like
Shelly's.   Then driving near the high school she noticed several others.
All the kids looked happy and alert.   She suddenly felt proud that she had
done her part in the name of public safety.

The same day Shelly was driving home from school.  She glanced down to press
the button for another cigarette.  As she glanced up a boy on a bicycle
crossing the street confronted her.  She slammed on the brakes stopping just
feet from the startled youngster.  As she took another deep drag from her
cigarette she was glad that her mother had given her the chance to earn her
learners permit.    

Previous part | Next part