Before even getting my driver's permit, I just knew that I would be an excellent driver. I mean, technically, I had been driving for years. Along with letting me hang out the car window with no seat belt my mother also, on occasion, let me drive. Now, she didn't just let me climb behind the wheel and take off, that would be irresponsible. Instead, while she was driving my mother would occasionally let me scoot over on the bench seat of our boat sized car and take over the steering wheel. I always stayed between the lines and felt I was a natural.
Fast forward to when I was fifteen and a half and finally old enough to get my permit. After weeks of slaving over the drivers manual I easily passed the exam. My mom decided that the school parking lot was the perfect place for my first trial run behind the wheel. I mean, what better place than a parking lot with kids around, lots of turns and curbs to hit with all my friends to watch and laugh. My mother was petrified I assume, by the look on her face, and I could see her leg pumping the invisible brakes in the passenger seat as I started to slowly creep forward. As it turns out, I was a natural after all. I managed to avoid hitting any of the kids or curbs and easily picked up how to control my speed. Soon mom was letting me drive to and from school every day for practice.
This daily practice though was still horrifying to my mother. I was a perfectly good driver who drove exactly the speed limit and always followed the rules of the road. Still, my mom was always yelling at me to slow down and pay attention. Once, in the video store parking lot I was pulling into a parking space when my mom yelled that I was going to hit something. I didn't see anything in the spot and proceeded to park the car. My mom insisted that I had run it over and that I must in turn be a horrible driver. I looked under the car to realize my tired had glided past a GI Joe figurine not any bigger than my thumb. Clearly those GI Joe's are dangerous tire popping death toys. Needless to say, the tire was fine and I continued to diligently practice my driving for the next six months in preparation for my driving exam.
The day finally came and I am pretty sure my mom assumed there was no way I would pass on my first try so she happily took me to the DMV for my test. Before I climbed behind the wheel she reminded me that this is just my first try and don't get too upset. I started off well even though my instructor had the coldest iciest stare I've ever seen. We were driving through the middle of a subdivision when she asked me to pull over on a hill. I knew to turn my wheels in toward the curb and passed that part of the exam with ease. Once she told me to go ahead and continue however was when it started to go down hill. I started to drive away without realizing my tires were still turned and immediately ran into the ditch. Why was I pulled over next to a ditch you ask? Because everyone else who has taken the driver's exam also forgets to turn their wheels back out and now a huge tire ditch has formed in some person's yard. I would be totally pissed if that was my yard every sixteen year old in the city was driving into. After I regained my composure I finished the test without much problem and when I pulled back into the DMV I was told that I had passed the exam! I ran over to my mom to share the news and I had never actually seen someones jaw hit the floor until that moment.
I continued to drive my mom's car until the summer before senior year when I finally obtained my very first car. For only $1500 I purchased a 1992 Geo Metro Hatchback with no air conditioning, no extras, and no power steering. It was the best car and I drove it accident free for two whole years before trading it in for some much needed air conditioning. I still think I am a decent driver, even though many would disagree. I have never caused an accident and only drive a little over the speed limit. Despite all my mother's fears, I think I really am a natural driver and anyone who disagrees can kiss my behind.
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