Same Time on Friday?

Standing anxiously by the window, I watched a car turn the corner of the road. Could this be Mr. Jenkins now? But it wasn’t and I breathed a sigh of relief, having been given a few minutes reprieve. Why was I being so stupid? It was only a driving lesson for heaven’s sake.
            The lessons were a twenty-first birthday gift from my friends. “The instructor comes highly recommended, Wendy,” they’d said. “We’re sure you’ll both get along famously.” 
            I recalled how I had looked forward to my first lesson, only to be disappointed when Mr. Jenkins seemed to take an instant dislike to me. Perhaps I had expected too much, believing he would show a little sympathy to someone on their first lesson.
            But instead, he had directed me to one of the busiest roads in town. Then when I stalled the car he acted like a man possessed. Surely I wasn’t the first person to stall a car.
            At the end of the lesson, he told me how the last hour had been a remarkable experience and like a fool I had thanked him.
            “It was not meant as a compliment, Miss Goodwin,” he’d said peering over the top of his glasses. “Lost as to how else to describe the experience, I simply meant that it had been… remarkable.” Finally, after giving me a sarcastic grin, he’d added rather pompously,  “Same time on Friday, Miss Goodwin?”
            Red faced and in tears, I’d hurried indoors. 
            My second lesson was no better. Taking me to the fastest round-a-bout on the by-pass, he had told me to turn right. “You do know your left from your right don’t you, Miss Goodwin?” he’d smirked.
            Approaching the round-a-bout, he told me to move over to the right of the carriageway. But I had only begun to turn the wheel, when he yelled, “Not that far over, girl. You’ll have us on the wrong side of the road.”
            But worse was to come. Because he had made me so nervous, once I got onto the wretched round-a-bout, I couldn’t get off. I’ll never forget it. There we were, going round and round.
            Naturally my friends were annoyed at his behaviour; one of them wanted to report him to his superiors and demand a refund. But I intervened; not wanting to cause trouble. Besides, it was like returning a gift.
            Nevertheless, there was no doubt something had to be done; otherwise I would lose my sanity.
            Sue suggested that we make a few discreet enquiries about Mr. Jenkins. This seemed a good idea. Perhaps someone could throw some light on his attitude.
            It only took a few days to learn that several women, having been assigned to Mr. Jenkins, had experienced the same treatment. However, it appeared he was totally different when a man was in the driving seat.
            This led us to the conclusion that Mr. Jenkins didn’t like women drivers and making their lessons intolerable was a sure way of putting them off driving for life. 
            My friends and I were furious, immediately deciding we should do something about it; but what? We couldn’t prove anything. In the meantime, my refusing to give in meant I was stuck with him.
            By the end of my third lesson I was a nervous wreck. “Same time on Friday, Miss Goodwin?” he said with that same stupid smirk on his face.
            I nodded, but deep down, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. That evening, while seriously thinking about cancelling my lessons, my lovely brother, David, telephoned. He was seeking a room at my house for the next week.
            It appeared his firm had suddenly asked him to stand in for a colleague at a series of meetings in a nearby town and he was hoping to save a little on his expenses. “Though I insist on paying for my keep,” he’d added.
            Naturally, I had agreed to him staying with me. How could I refuse? Besides, it would be fun seeing him again; since he had moved to a firm up north, we seldom saw each other. But I was on the point of telling him I didn’t want any money, when an idea formed in my mind.
            “David,” I’d said, as sweetly as possible. “Perhaps we could do a deal. Would you take me out for a few driving lessons in your car?” I paused. “Well, a lot actually.”
            “I thought you were having lessons,” he said.
            “Yes I am, but if you were to take me out for a drive every day for the next week, I think I would pick it up a lot more quickly.”
I didn’t want to tell him about Mr. Jenkins’ attitude. He may have wanted to punch him on the nose.
            So every day last week, I had a lesson with David, who I found more patient than Mr. Jenkins. He explained everything very carefully and even showed me how the engine worked.
            Though I thought that was going a bit over the top, I listened intently. Mr. Jenkins might just throw in a question or two to catch me out.
            By the time David went back north, I felt much more confident. I could go around round-a-bouts, reverse around corners, and do emergency stops. It was as though I had been born doing them.
            He had even quizzed me on the Highway Code. Surely Mr. Jenkins couldn’t find fault with me today. So why was I still feeling nervous?
            Another car turned the corner at the end of the road. My stomach turned over as I recognised the figure behind the wheel. Any minute now he would pull up at my front door.
            I took a couple of deep breaths and went out to meet him. “Good morning, Mr. Jenkins,” I said as cheerfully as possible. “It’s a lovely day isn’t it?”
            “Yes, it is at the moment, Miss Goodwin.” He sighed. “But no doubt you’ll soon spoil it for me. Get into the car please.”
I climbed into the driver’s seat and made myself comfortable.
            Fastening my seat belt, I checked the position of the seat and adjusted the mirror. I was not going to allow him the satisfaction of saying that I had forgotten anything.
            He took out a large note pad. “When you’re quite ready I’d like you to move off to the end of the road and turn right.”
            So far, so good; turning right would take me into a quiet lane. At least I was being given time to gather my thoughts.
            “We’re going to do a three point turn today, something you no doubt will find difficult. Nevertheless it’s an important manoeuver, especially when taking your test; should you get that far, of course. I have my doubts.”
            “Really, Mr. Jenkins? I thought I was doing rather well. I’m quite enjoying my lessons.” I turned away and grinned to myself. Mr. Jenkins’ face was a picture.
            He was probably wondering how anyone could enjoy what he was putting me through. But for my part, I was even more determined to carry on.
            Remembering all that David had taught me, I drove a few yards towards the end of the road and signalled to turn right.
            “Stop! Stop! Pull into the side and turn off the engine.”
I did as he asked. What could possibly be wrong now? I had barely moved.
            “There’s no need to signal so early, especially when there is no one behind.”
            “But only last week you said that I should always indicate early to let the other drivers know my intentions. Even though, I might add, there was no one behind. You said it was a good habit to get into.”
            “That was a totally different situation. We were on a main road. Someone might have pulled out of a turning. Anyway, I’m the instructor; don’t you argue with me, young lady. I can see that you are not cut out for driving. Why don’t you call it a day and take the bus?”
            I gritted my teeth. “I’m not ready to give up yet, Mr. Jenkins. As I told you earlier, I’m enjoying these lessons. Shall I try again?”
            “Very well Miss Goodwin, if you must. Pull out and turn right at the end of the road then stop the car. We’ll tackle the three point turn; you shouldn’t be too much of a hazard to anyone there. But I want you to know I shall be taking notes today and will inform you of my honest opinion at the end of the lesson. Shall we proceed?”
            By now I was furious. He had all but admitted that he wanted me to quit. Well not yet, my old fruit, I’ll show you a thing or two.
            I looked in my mirror, indicated and pulled out. Proceeding down the road, I signalled my intention to turn right and moved over.
            Mr. Jenkins sighed, but didn’t say anything. I guessed he was trying to unnerve me again. But by now, I was determined not to let him get to me. Enough was enough. Two could play at that game.
            I turned right and pulled up at the kerb, but instead of waiting for his instruction, I did a three point turn. If I say it myself it was perfect. But I didn’t stop there, having started this I was determined to see it through and, without him noticing, I removed the key that mobilised his controls.
            Not waiting for his comments, I proceeded towards the by-pass and the dreaded round-a-bout. I indicated right and moved over. At the round-a-bout, I moved gently into the traffic and once round turned off and headed towards a quiet residential area.
            All the while Mr. Jenkins was sliding around the seat, his feet stamping up and down on his redundant controls. “Miss Goodwin, what do you think you’re doing? Turn around immediately.”
            “Oh, I see, Mr. Jenkins. You’d like me to go around again?” After making sure that there was no traffic behind, I pulled the car to a halt and did another three point turn before proceeding back to the round-a-bout.
            “Miss Goodwin, have you gone mad?” 
            “But you wanted me to do it again.” By this time I was back at the round-a-bout and signalling right. “Of course once I’m out there, I’ll indicate that I want to go all the way around,” I said, beginning to enjoy myself.
            Having done a full circle, I turned off and headed towards the quiet streets. I could tell Mr. Jenkins was furious. Banging his notepad down onto the dashboard, he yelled. “Stop this car, I want…”
            The rest of his words were lost as, after glancing in all the mirrors, I thrust my feet hard onto both the brake and clutch pedals. The car came to an immediate halt, throwing the instructor forward in his seat. “There now, Mr. Jenkins, wasn’t that just the perfect emergency stop? You had better write that down.”
            “Miss Goodwin, I think we should go back…”
            “And do it again.” I interrupted. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. That’s a good decision. You want to see whether I’m capable of pulling it off twice.”
The colour was beginning to drain from his face. “No, I meant…”
            But I didn’t give him time to finish, putting the car into reverse gear, I did a neat job of reversing around the corner. Pulling out, I drove up to the end of the road and did another three point turn.
            “Miss Goodwin, It isn’t necessary to do it again I…”
            “Oh but it is, Mr. Jenkins. I want you to be quite clear in your mind that I am capable of this manoeuver.” And without another word I drove down the road only to come to another sudden halt.
            I tried not to laugh as Mr. Jenkins wiped his face with his handkerchief. But I wasn’t finished yet. I still had to drive home. Reversing around the corner again, I pulled out and drove towards the round-a-bout. I could almost feel Mr. Jenkins cringing as we drew near.
            “What a pity, I only have to do a left here. But perhaps you’d like me to go around one full circle.” And without waiting for an answer, I did just that. Mr. Jenkins put his hand over his eyes.
            “There now,” I said. “Wasn’t that beautiful? I hope you made a note of that.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him peeping between his fingers.
            I drove towards my home, but there was more to come. Checking that the road was clear, I did a three point turn, reversed around a corner and finally, an emergency stop outside my door.
            By this time, the instructor was almost under his seat. “I think I’m getting the hang of it now, don’t you?” I said, getting out of the car. But before slamming the door shut, I leant inside and, smiling sweetly, added, “Same time on Friday, Mr. Jenkins?”

The End.