I was tired. I just wanted to be at my house so I could curl up on my couch with a gameboy and not have to think about responsibility for a few hours, but I knew that if I wanted to finish my homework before the breaking of the next day, I 'd have to start immediately upon entering my house. I sighed as I schlepped down the bus stairs (but was careful to say thank you to the driver) and then tried not to be the last one across the street. I sat in the passenger's seat of my car, when my mom announced casually, "I called your driving instructor today, he's gonna let you use his car and you're going for your lisence on Tuesday."
My stomach echoed a red wave of nervousness throughout everything within me. No, no, no!
"Ooosh..." I breathed. I was not ready yet. So I told myself while everyone else told me that my opinion was different. "You're ready, you're just nervous." Oh. Thanks.
I was terrified. So, as I tend to deal with most stressors in life, I ignored the fact. This was Friday.
Over the weekend, I purposed to only tell a few people that I was taking my road test on Tuesday. I thought of the shame that would come with exclaiming to the world that I was about to get my lisence, then regretfully answering the myriads of "How'd you do?"'s that would follow once I failed. I told only trusted people and notified those who I wanted prayer from. By the time Monday rolled around, I had become so nervous and jittery that I all but did away with my former precautions. "I'm taking my road test tomorrow. I'm terrified." I told anyone that was within 10 feet of me for more than two minutes. Fool... I thought on Monday afternoon. I told underclassmen, teachers, kidnergarteners, pedestrians and textbooks. "I'M TAKING MY ROAD TEST TOMORROW! I'M TERRIFIED!!!"
Tuesday morning. I had been in constant prayer since Monday morning that my nervousness would mysteriously vanish from me, that I would be calm, cool, collected, all that good stuff. I prayed that anyone who knew about this would be suddenly convicted to pray for me. I calmed right down. I got ready for the day, listening to music and resisting the urge to drink coffee (this would have caused the problem of added jitters to potential nerves in the future, and an urgent need for a bathroom break during my road test. Both undesirable side effects). The rain was coming down. Not a torrential downpouring, not a common spritz, but somewhere right in the middle. Fabulous day for a road test. I marveled at how the terror I had built up for the past couple of days wasn't bothering me anymore. I thanked God for the people who were praying for me, and I know they were. I drove my dad to the RMV where we met up with my old driving instructor from the past two summers (I've dragged this out for quite some time). He alluded to the same point. "I haven't seen you since June, you better have been driving!" "Yeah, I know!" I said with a smile. Any second now... I thought, I'm going to explode and be shaking and nervous and throwy-uppy and scared... It never happened. Praise God.
I suppose if I had been nervous, waiting for the officer to come and get me would have been the most torturous point of the whole experience. I'm glad I was calm. I'm still amazed that I was. After extensive small-talk and admiration of RMV decor, the officer told us to go to the car and get ready. She was a kind looking woman, with a voice that was frighteningly similar to the tomtom GPS system.
My driving instructor and I made our way out to the driver's ed car, where I buckled my seatbelt and adjusted my mirrors. I was unfamiliar with the basic controls of this new driver's ed vehicle, so the instructor quickly filled me in and then quizzed me. Now, in most regards, I am not a trial-and-error type of person. However, in mechanical issues such as buttons on a dashboard (or in most video games), it takes me a few go-rounds before it's hammered into my mind. I noted the locations of the windshield wiper lever, the directional signals, the headlights and what have you. They were different than my car, but I knew I'd get the hang of it after making a few mistakes... luckily, I had that opportunity before the officer got into the car.
"Alright, turn on the headlights," quizzed my elderly instructor. I activated the windshield wiper fluid.
"What the heck are you doing?!?" he exclaimed. I laughed out loud, both at my mistake and at his reaction.
"Sorry, sorry," I laughed, "I didn't mean to do that, sorry."
"You're worrying me, what did I teach you in driver's ed? Nothing?"
"I'm sorry."
"Ok. Now turn on the headlights." I turned them on. "Good," he said, "now let me see your right directional signal." I activated the high beams. "Directional!" He yelled. I hit the left directional. "Right directional!!" he yelled, becoming flustered. I really wish you could have seen these happenings, he's a comical fellow when made cross. I hit the right directional. What my instructor didn't know was that with every mistake, the correct procedure was cemented into my mind for future use. "Ayayay," he sighed, "You're worrying me, kid."
"I'm sorry."
"Alright, just pull it together when the officer gets here. Now let me see you activate the windshield wipers." I did, but as I pulled the lever down I accidentally pulled it forward, thus activating the wiper fluid again. "Don't wash the windows! It's already raining!"
"I didn't mean to!" I yelled back, but I was holding back laughter once again.
"Alright, turn 'em off," he said. I did, and in pulling the lever up, I once again pulled it forward by mistake. Winshield washer fluid dispersed.
"STOP DOING THAT!" He yelled. I was trying so hard not to laugh hysterically as I once again apologized. Now that I had thouroughly corrected every wrong avenue my mind could have taken (and thouroughly convinced my instructer that I was doomed for failure and the besmirching of his reputation), I was confident that I could pass my road test. A few awkward minutes of silence passed before the officer entered the vehicle. "When it is safe, take a right," directed officer tomtom in her soothing automated voice. When it was safe, I took a right.
The test consisted of parking uphill, parking downhill, a three point turn, reversing in a straight line, parallel parking, and hand signals. As I parked in the RMV's lot, my heart sank as I released all the nervousness I had been spared of previously. She didn't make it SOUND like I made any mistakes, but she's not supposed to tell me until now... oh boy, here it comes... ohhhhh boy... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh boyy.... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...............................
"Well," she began
WELLLLL??? WELLLLLLLLLLLLLL????? WWWEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLL??????????????
"After finishing your reversing in a straight line, you forgot to signal left and check your blind spot before you pulled back into traffic."
NO! STUPID FOOL THAT I AM! WHY MUST I FAIL AT LIFE? WHY MUST I BE SUCH A FAILURE? WHYY MUST II BEEEE SOOOOO STIINNKINNNNNG....
"But that was your only mistake,"
oh?
"and based on that performance you definitely deserve a lisence in my opinion, so,"
OH MY GOSH???
"congratulations!"
OH MY GOSH!!!! OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Here you go," said officer tomtom, handing me my permit with her signature on the back.
"You did a great job, Crystal," said my driving instructor. This is definitely THE FIRST compliment I've ever received from him. "You had me worried!" he said. I thanked him, then exited the car in the pouring rain.
I practically danced back into the RMV, where my dad was meandering around the lobby awaiting my return. Our joyful reunion brought hope to the two other teenagers in the room awaiting their road test, and sighs of relief were given.
I waited in line, got my lisence, met up with my mom who showed up just as they made a mistake behind the desk.... which resulted in another hour of waiting while they corrected it. BUT!
Now I have my lisence! I drove to breakfast with my family, and I just got back. Victory is mine!!!!
A hearty thank you to all who took time to pray for me today!!
