“And… clutch down and brake to a stop,” MadFather says.
“Brake to a stop,” he says again. “Um – brake, Billygean!”
I finally stop the car just short of a fence.
“Bit quicker next time?” he says.
“It’s hard!” I say.
We drive around the block again.
“And clutch down and -”
I slam on the brake, and stall the car.
“Right then,” MadFather says. I wonder if he’s ever had a student as remedial as me. I just learnt the back wheels don’t turn when the steering wheel does.
He taps his bristly chin and seems to ponder for a moment. “Okay.”
“Hm?”
“Okay,” he says. “Let’s say there’s a kitten under the brake,” he says. “You don’t want it to get away so you have to brake quickly, but you don’t want to crush it…”
“Ooh, okay!” I say. I like kittens.
We drive. “Clutch down and…” he says.
I bring the car to a perfect stop.
I rather wish my mom had taught me that way — maybe then I’d be driving a stick instead of an automatic. Instead, she panicked the first time I ground the clutch and revoked my right to learn on her car.
Won’t somebody think of the kittens!
That’s a wise, wise MadFather you’ve got there.
Oh meg, I am not necessarily learning well, don’t be fooled!
Tarsi – I am ALWAYS thinking of kittens.
Fran – he is. Unfortunately, not even the wisest of men can explain reverse parking to me.
[...] know the kitten though?” I [...]