Sweet Sixteen

Allison has turned 16 and she, eager to taste the sweet freedom that comes from having a driver's license, was ready to get it as soon as she became eligible. Since her dear daddy (to whom this particular chore was assigned) has been out of town for three weeks it fell to me to get her to the test.  Just to set the record straight, I HATE the Department of Drivers Services.  I'd say it's not their fault but, well, it is (that's another story).  I had hoped that because I followed the department's advice and made an appointment for the road test it would be less unpleasant an experience. Didn't work out quite that way. Going through the doors was good for a laugh there was a scrolling "welcome!"sign.  I couldn't help but feel like fly being welcomed to a spider's web.  Another sign stating "we care about our customers" was attached to the wall above the scowling woman we were lucky enough to see after our hour long wait. Can you imagine if she didn't care?

The office was crazy crowded. There were seventeen counters but only five of them were manned and at least sixty people were waiting to be called. I took my Kindle, loaded with good reads, only to have the battery die 10 minutes after arrival. So, people watching became the best way to pass time. Upon scanning the crowd, Allison declared us to be "pretty normal looking". I'm not sure what passes for normal these days but she kept her seat beside me, so I guess I didn't embarrass her too much. The waiting area had hard plastic seats that were not quite solidly backed.  There was an opening about two inches high and twelve inches long located exactly where pants and tops should meet. FYI  people-low rise jeans are not your friend.  We saw more of several folks than they intended. What I saw in that room made me really wish I'd checked the Kindle battery's charge and helped me decide to keep my light jacket on despite the sweating.

Anyway, after being called for our turn at the counter we were sent outside to await a tester.  Another hour of waiting.  We watched person after person return from road testing and by the looks on faces it was obvious these testers were failing most of the young hopefuls.  Allison had a lot of time to get nervous, the dreaded parallel parking loomed large in her mind, even though she had written how-to instructions for it on her forearm. (I have no idea how she thought that was going to work out).  Finally, she was up.  I stepped out of the car and off they went.  While she was gone I saw quite a few tears, a couple of smiles and bore witness to one major screamfest ( Not a good day for Instructor Hernando).  The longer she was out the more nervous I became and just when I started to wonder if she'd wrecked, I heard the squeaky brakes of my ride approaching and saw Allison trying not to grin.

 We added a newly licensed driver to the Cagle bunch. Yep, Allison is on the roads so you'd better watch out.