Driver's Education, Thursday, Period 1

[10secondcar]

"Something a little different today," Brian said. "You're still racing, but we're going to get...eh, kind of a two for one." He pressed a button on the remote, and the four Eclipses appeared...facing backwards. "This is based upon a real scenario you might encounter on a city street," Brian explained. "You're driving down the street looking for a parking place and you realize there was one back there that you just missed. Now, you could circle the block, but by the time you do that, some other jackass could have swiped it from you. So you're going to have to back up. And then? You're going to have to park." Just to make sure they understood, he spelled it out: "Quarter mile, in reverse, followed by parallel parking. First person to make it and park successfully wins. There are two spots on either side of the road, flanked by Lamborghinis: car, space, car, space, car. Hit a Lamborghini while parking and--well, and be glad this isn't the real world, but also, same as any other collision, you go back to the starting line and start over, and then you do it again until you get it right."

Yes, Brian might be evil.

"Now, parallel parking is new, so let's go over that." Brian talked them through it, then got into the red Eclipse and demonstrated, talking them through it through the open window as he did so. When he got out, he said, "I understand we've had a withdrawal, which is unfortunate, but it means you'll be doing four heats of four instead of the previous system. So let's go."

Comments

Re: Race and Park! -- Heat 4

[boneyard_girl]

This...felt familiar. Looking backwards like this. Like this was the way the world was meant to be seen. Ada couldn't put her finger on WHY...maybe it was the rain in the air or something she'd lost at some point, but this felt right.

So she threw it in reverse with a grin and hit the gas. Rather fast -- possibly too quickly for other peoples' comfort -- and in a perfectly straight line. No mistakes. The only reason she wasn't done in a new record was that the parallel parking was weird.

She hopped out, shutting the door and pumping her fist. "That was awesome. I should ask if Uncle Chester wants to add a stunt driver act or something."

Ada was NOT planning on growing up to take Marti's place. At all.