69. Driving lesson (2)

I am scared to ask. But I've got to. I am the mother. 

'How did it go?' I try to joke about it to loosen the tension. 'Did you run anyone over?'

'No! But I am warning you. I did not do well at all. The instructor is saying I am a liability. '

Colour must have drained from my face because she comes up to me.

'Chill, mum. It's not the end of the world you know. I am a terrible driver but I might be able to pass the test.'

I have taught my kids to think positive but I might have overdone it a bit. Now is not the time to set this right though.

'You are just saying that to make me laugh. Or worry. Surely it was not that bad. You did not run anyone over, did you?'

'Nope!' She says proudly.

'Good!'

I am thinking nothing makes sense: I am congratulated my daughter because she has not run anyone over with the car. That's not right. Should I be angry at her? I cannot help her because I cannot see what the problem is. My daughter is motivated, she gets up early to go to lessons and I believe she tries her best. 

'I just hit a pole three times!'

'Oh no!' And then, stupidly: 'The same pole?'

'Three different ones. And she taught me how to do an emergency stop.'

'Yes, that's good.' And I am thinking this has got to be an extra lesson just for desperate cases and how much is that going to cost?'

She continues. I am happy, it's good she talks to me about these things even thought I might lose a lot of sleep over this. 

'Actually she said I am excellent at two things: emergency stops and reversing. She said it's weird because most people are terrible at reversing, they just can't go in s straight line. But she just got me into along the kerb ...'

I must have looked worried because she adds quickly:

'Don't worry. It's in a completed deserted area out of town.'

It is indeed a relief to her that. She goes on. 

'So she gets me into position, perfectly parallel to the kerb and she tells me to go into reverse - in a straight line. So I go and guess what? I went 500 yards backwards at a constant regular speed without stopping and keeping parallel to the kerb. Then I stopped and she looked at me weirdly. Then she told me she had never seen anyone like me. Everybody is really bad at reversing, and me, I am a genius at it!'

I can't stop her now, she obviously needs to talk about this at length.

'She actually went "Wow! Amazing!" in a quiet voice. And added she had never seen anyone reverse so straight so fast. ... Then she said it was good but not that useful. ... Well, it's true: we cannot drive backwards all the time!' And she laughs. I laugh too. But I am not sure why. 

'Anything else?' I may as well hear it all in one session. 

'Yes! She says I do not seem to see anything ... She thinks I think too much maybe but she's not sure. But she said one thing is certain and that's that we might not be ready for the test as scheduled. I seem to be a hopeless case.'

'No! Nonsense! Anybody can learn to drive.'

Indeed. But then a memory springs to mind ... and gets me a little more worried still ...