It’s cold and rainy out, but once I think about Thomas, I warm up like nobody’s business. I’m positively toasty for the twenty minutes it takes me to get to my destination.
There’s no line at the DMV, so I step forward and declare my mission. After paying the fee, I’m directed to a computer near the front desk to take my test.
I ace the first several questions because they’re all about signs. But then things go south because they ask questions I’m not prepared for. Questions like, “What do you do if you’re driving on a road behind a horse and buggy in a no-passing zone?”
I have never even seen a horse and buggy in real life, let alone on a Wisconsin highway. I walk away from my computer and return to the person who took my money. I’m about to ask him if I have an old test—you know, like a hundred years old—when he tells me, “If you talk to me, I’ll have to fail you.”
Why can’t I ask him a question?It’s not like I’m asking for the answers.
I stand there and stare at him, unsure of how to proceed, until he reminds me, “Skip any questions you don’t know the answer to and come back to them if you have time.”
While that should ease my concerns, it doesn’t. I forgot I was being timed. I hurry back to the computer in a panic. Then I wind up reading and skipping every question because I can no longer focus. I want to scream, but I’m not even allowed to talk.
The computer screen in front of me eventually goes black before the words, “Out of time,” appear.Shoot.There’s no way I answered enough questions to pass. I go back to the desk and heatedly declare, “I was given an old test.”
“No, you weren’t.”
I stare at the gruff-looking man who wouldn’t let me air my complaint sooner. “I definitely was,” I assure him. “I was asked what I’d do if there were a horse and buggy in the road.”
He shrugs. “That’s a legitimate question.”
“I’ve never seen a horse and buggy on the road,” I tell him. “We drive cars now.” I say this like he’s the idiot here.
“The Amish drive horse and buggies,” he tells me. “And Wisconsin has the fourth largest community in the country.”
While I know there’s a significant Amish presence in the state, I suppose I never really thought about how they get around. I mean, I’m never out on country roads.Darn it!
The annoying DMV worker sneers at me. “May I suggest you take a booklet home and study it before you try again?”
I flash back to high school, which I might have mentioned was not the most pleasant time in my life. I have never tested well. Even if I studied my butt off and knew the material, there’s something about knowing I’m being timed that makes it nearly impossible for me to concentrate.
I take the booklet handed to me and turn around to leave. Maybe this is my sign that I should forget about learning to drive. I don’t go directly back to my shop. Instead, I walk for blocks and blocks, letting my disappointment soak in.
I must be gone longer than I thought because when I finally approach Happy Snaps, I see Thomas pull up to the curb in my dream car. He parks at a very odd angle. Honestly, he’s such a bad driver that if he can pass a driving test, surely I can, too.
Not only do I feel better about my chances of getting behind the wheel, but I now get to spend the next few hours with Thomas.
I hope he goes for my suggestion about pretending to be a new character …
CHAPTER THIRTY
THOMAS
Spending time with Finley has turned out to be the best part of living in Elk Lake. Yes, the people are nice, and the cheese curds are good, but neither can compare to her. I’ve decided that as long as I’m here, I’m going to see her as much as I can. Luckily, I’ll be doing that soon.
While I hope Armie does talk to Constance today, I don’t anticipate her changing her evil horn-dog ways immediately. In fact, I’m preparing for retaliation of some sort. Although I don’t know what else she can do to me. She’s already scheduled me for the graveyard shift.
I hurry home to shower and shave before my session with Finley. I’m getting increasingly excited to pull this prank on my parents. And the photos are looking so good, they might actually believe I’ve decided to become a male model. I’m considering hiring a videographer to capture the moment for posterity. That way I can watch it on repeat.
Getting into my new car, I turn on the ignition before blasting the heat. Then I pull out of the driveway slowly and tryto convince myself I’m getting better behind the wheel. I keep my speed a good ten mph under the limit, which results in my getting honked at twice. I briefly consider getting a bicycle, but then remind myself I’ve offered to help Finley with her driving, so I’d best persevere.
Finley is walking into Happy Snaps at the same time I am. Not only is she soaking wet, but she looks like she just lost her best friend. Hurrying to her side, I gently drape my arm over her shoulder. “Hey you, what’s wrong?”
She looks up at me and tries to smile but instead of looking happy, she appears to be in pain. “I just failed the test to get my permit.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, knowing how much she wants this. Trying to make her feel better, I share, “I failed the actual driving part of my test twice before I finally passed.”
She nods. “I can totally see that.”Ouch.
