DRIVING HER CRAZY

Penny’s first lessons behind a wheel ended in tears… it was time for a new approach

- Eirin Thompson

Penny was feeling positive. Today was a big day for her, and she was determined to make it a successful one. After a whole year of trying to find a job as a newspaper reporter, she’d finally been offered a post at the Gazette, her local weekly.

The editor had said her attitude was outstanding and admired the small portfolio of cuttings she had amassed during her training.

She could have the job on a six-month trial basis, the editor said in her letter, providing she learned to drive. And quickly.

‘Mum! I’ve got it!’ Penny cried, rushing from the hall to the kitchen. ‘I’m going to be a journalist!’

Her mum had seized the letter, run her eyes over it and pulled Penny into a hug.

‘I’m meant to start in three weeks,’ Penny said. ‘That means I’m going to need to take an intensive driving course. I know just who I’m going to ask to teach me.’

There was a good reason why Penny had chosen Louise’s Driving School to get her on the road – she wanted a female instructor. When Ryan, her boyfriend, had offered to teach her the previous year, it had ended in disaster.

To begin with, he’d insisted she spend the entire first lesson in the passenger seat, just observing as he drove.

‘I’m not going to learn much simply by watching!’ Penny had complained. But Ryan said if he was to tutor her, then she must do as he said.

Next, he’d taken her to a country road because there wouldn’t be much traffic. But no sooner had he let her have the controls a tractor and a car appeared behind. Ryan had barked at her to get a move on as she was holding everyone up.

‘It’s all I can do to steer round these bends!’ Penny had wailed. ‘And I can’t remember where second gear is!’