“Look,” he says. “How about this? General Wolfe High School’s on the way to Superstore. I’ll drive us there, and you can drive around the parking lot a few times. It’s Saturday, so it should be empty. Then, if you don’t seem like a danger to yourself or others, you can drive us on to Superstore. Sound okay?”
“Yeah.” It actually sounds pretty good. Getting my driver’s license is on my list of things I’d like to do eventually. “Yeah, okay.”
I climb in the passenger seat, and pay careful attention as Drew starts the car and puts it in drive. In what feels like no time at all, we reach the high school parking lot, which is mercifully empty. He drives to the far end of the lot, then turns the car around and turns off the ignition.
“Your turn,” he tells me, opening his door to trade places with me.
I take a deep breath and unbuckle my seatbelt, then walk around and slide into the driver’s seat. I buckle my seatbelt, and on the passenger side, Drew does the same.
“Okay,” Drew says. Given the circumstances, he’s looking surprisingly calm. “You can move the seat forward if you want, there’s a lever on the left side.”
I reach down and adjust the seat, and he nods. “Great. Now check your mirrors.”
The mirrors seem fine, but I reach up and adjust the rearview by a few millimeters.
“Now, whenever you’re ready, put your foot on the brake and push the start button.”
“Yep,” I reply, but I don’t move.
I’m not ready. My heart is hammering, and my palms are so sweaty I’m not sure I’ll be able to grip the wheel.
I glance over at Drew. “Have you done this before? Taught anyone to drive, I mean?”
“No,” he admits. “But I’ve taught residents to operate, and this can’t possibly be worse.”
In spite of everything, I laugh.
“And unlike some of the residents, you have good spatial sense,” Drew continues.
“I do?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Come on, Ally, I’ve seen you play sports. Driving’s basically just another sport.”
“I guess so,” I concede.
He nods. “You gonna push the start button anytime soon?”
“Yeah.” I put my foot on the brake and my hands on the wheel, then push the start button. The car purrs to life.
I can do this.
I move the gearshift to drive, then gingerly move my foot so it’s hovering over the gas pedal. I glance at Drew, who’s looking at me expectantly.
I grit my teeth and push my foot down.
The car rolls forward a few feet. I push the gas again, and get a few feet more.
“That’s progress,” Drew says with a nod. “I think you’ll need a little more speed before you’re ready for Formula One, but you’re getting there.”
“Smartass,” I mutter as I try the gas pedal again. I manage a slow loop around the empty parking lot, and it gets easier bythe minute. I drove quite a few times with my mom, so I’m not a total beginner. Some of the skills seem to be coming back.
After the third loop, I turn through the center of the lot and change direction. And after three loops that way, Drew suggests we try parking, and I practice pulling in between two yellow lines.
“It’s a lot easier when there’s no one else in the lot,” I remark.
“Yeah, but you could do it,” he tells me. “You driving us to Superstore now?”
I hesitate for a minute and think about the route. There are only two stoplights between here and the grocery store, and no left turns.
