mm_phreak (mm_phreak) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2008-05-28 09:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | travis |
Travis, Memphis, and a test administrator, morning, downtown - Closed
Travis was nervous, as any teenager facing the judicial road test administrator is. Here he gets to meet the person who could grant his freedom on wheels or tell him no, he's grounded. Thankfully Memphis was with him and insisted on Travis driving to the test. He said it would be good practice.
They made their way down town easily enough, Travis only stalling once, right out of the parking garage, and Memphis calming the nerves before they pulled into the department of motor vehicles. Travis eased into one of the spots that were labeled for persons awaiting road tests. He shut off the engine and looked over at Memphis. "Well, here goes nothin, right?"
Memphis nodded as he unbuckled his seat belt. "Knock 'em dead kid." Not that he meant it literally, of course not, but he remembered his own road tests. Yep. It had taken him three to get his license. "Just remember that hand has to go back to the wheel after every shift." He opened the door and got out, taking his stance upon the sidewalk.
Travis double checked everything to make sure he was set and Lucy wasn't going anywhere before he climbed out of the car. Now they waited.
They didn't have long to wait before a short, balding man with a clip board and a coffee walked up. "Travis Raines" he asked, not looking up.
Travis raised his hand and nodded. "Yes, sir."
The man looked up at Memphis. "Are you riding along or would you rather stay here?"
Memphis had debated several times over this in his own head. He wanted to go and provide some sort of moral support, but at the same time his brother driving with him in the back seat scared him. "I'm going to stay."
Travis looked bewildered but shrugged. He was sure there was a perfectly logical explanation to it. Most likely Memphis didn't want to panic while actually riding along and make things worse. "Don't walk a rut in the pavement." Travis joked with him. He walked over to give his brother a hug and reassured him in a low voice "I'll be fine. Lucy'll be fine. Hold on to this for me."
Memphis was confused at his brother's hug, but then realized it was for the purpose of handing off his cell phone where the administrator wouldn't see. "Keep your eyes on the road. I'll be here when you get back in one piece."
Travis and the administrator got in the car and the test began. Memphis stood in the parking space as he watched Lucy ease into traffic and down the road. He stood there till he couldn't see her anymore and then resorted to pacing along the sidewalk.
The administrator checked things off on the page of his clipboard as Travis drove. The silence accompanied with the grating of pencil lead was driving him nuts. The man looked up briefly. "Two blocks up and take a right."
Travis nodded, drove the two blocks, signaled and turned.
The man smiled. "Good. Do your three point turn here then at the light continue straight."
He executed the turn and continued driving, stopping since the light had changed to red when he got there. There were people crossing in the crosswalk, and when the light changed a lady with a stroller had just barely cleared the side of Lucy. Travis waited until she was safely on the sidewalk before continuing. The man scribbled a note on the paper.
They continued on, Travis making a series of left and right hand turns in various intersections. Some of them had lights some of them didn't. Before long they were on a straight stretch of road again, without having to turn off any time soon. "See those cars there by the shops? Park between the blue one and the green one."
Travis nodded, seeing the green car first since it was in back of the blue. He lined Lucy up to parallel park, signaled and waited for a moment to check his spacing in his mirrors. As he started to back in the spot, the green car pulled out. Immediately behind it, a black Jeep pulled through it's spot and the next, taking the one Travis had been told to park in. The administrator threw up his hands and swore as he spilled coffee on his paper. "Well can't have you park there now, can we. Keep going and we'll find another space."
Travis was fully prepared to defend himself on the case that it was not his fault for the idiocy of other drivers. Maybe it was the administrator with him that had granted the twit brain their license. He smiled at the thought and nodded, driving off down the street. The administrator pointed out another spot and Travis parked there. He'd done it quicker than he would have the first try, but he didn't want the same thing to happen. The administrator scribbled more on his paper and grumbled as he opened the door to check distance from the curb.
"Back to the department." Was all the instructor said after that.
Travis nodded and drove back in silence. He pulled into the same spot as before, grateful to see Memphis hadn't gone bonkers yet.
Memphis had decided worrying did no good and chose to take a seat on a bench. He was relieved to see them pull back in to the parking lot and park, though he was a bit concerned as the man got out of the car muttering. He stood and walked over as Travis was getting out.
The man smoothed over the papers on his clip board as he fumbled, nearly missing the step up to the sidewalk. "Mr. Raines. Let me explain here what we did." He showed Memphis the paper he'd written on as he explained. "This intersection he hesitated. This intersection he didn't hesitate enough. His first attempt at parallel parking we didn't count. The second attempt was a bit speedy, but fine." He took an ink pad out of his pocket and stamped the sheet. "He needs more practice. I suggest a retest in at least two weeks." Ripping out the yellow duplicate he handed it to Travis. "Good luck, boy."
Memphis handed Travis back his cell phone as Travis looked at the paper in his hands. "A, C, and T2 called but I didn't answer it. Why don't you put people's names in your phone instead of their initials?"
Travis shoved his phone in his pocket. "This is just shit. He said I hesitated. I waited for a lady to cross the damn street. And the first debacle on parallel parking wasn't my fault. Some idiot pulled straight through and took the space. This is bullshit Memphis."
Memphis took the paper from Travis. "Bullshit or not, it's your word against his. They aren't gonna believe any punk kid that got failed." He pushed Travis back to the driver's side of the car and climbed in to the passenger seat.
Travis shrugged. "What for? They failed me. I can't drive."
Memphis looked at him from through the window. "He said you needed practice. You just can't drive alone. So you're driving everywhere now."
Travis ran his hand through his hair and surrendered, yanking open the door. "Great. There blows Friday night right out of the water."
Memphis smirked. He had an entirely different plan up his sleeve for that one. "Not entirely my young padawan learner..."