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It was the day before New Year’s Eve and I was excited that she might be able to follow our yearly tradition of cheesy romance movies, loads of junk food, and staying up to celebrate the new year with sparkling fake champagne. Only this year it would be the real deal.
“I got out of it,” she said. “I told my mom you needed me to help you learn how to drive, and she said it was okay. Ever since I got back, she’s been really nice about things. I don’t know if it scared her when she thought I had run away, or if Ivan is bribing my parents, but I like it. I have way more freedom now.”
“Good to hear, but you don’t expect me to drive that, do you?” I eyeballed the van like it was an alien craft. “It’s so big, I don’t know if I should be trusted.”
“It’s easy to drive once you get used to it,” she said. “And it’s an automatic. I don’t know why you’re learning on a stick shift. These guys have you thinking like it’s not real driving without a stick. But it’s not a movie, this is regular life, we just need to get from point A to point B.”
“Okay, I see where you’re coming from,” I said. “Let’s do it! I might actually be able to get somewhere without stalling out.”
She laughed, and we got into the van. I climbed behind the wheel and she watched as I started it up.
“Okay, just go slowly and you’ll be fine,” she said, and I put it in drive and stepped on the gas.
I put on the turn signals even though we were the only ones in the driveway, and Penny laughed.
“Okay, grandma,” she giggled. “Take it nice and easy. Don’t go too fast, you’re not racing anyone here.”
It took a few more minutes, but it seemed just like that I could drive a car. Penny’s automatic van, combined with her gentle instruction, had me moving in no time.
I felt so foolish because I was so happy about it. I was grinning from ear to ear as we drove around the back of my place, with me envisioning all the places I could go now.
“I’ve never seen anybody so giddy about learning this,” Penny said when we drove back to the garage. “I always thought you were scared to drive, that’s why you didn’t take lessons.”
“Nobody offered them to me,” I said and put the van in park. I turned it off and handed her the keys. “Reg actively didn’t want me to drive, and Mom just seemed to ignore the fact that I was old enough. I didn’t push it because you know.”
“Heh, yes, I do know,” she said and looked over at me. “You’re so different now. You were such a little mouse back then, and now you’re this fierce lion. It’s good to see. It inspires me, you know?”
“I inspire you?” I laughed. “You’re the one who inspires me. You’re too kind to me, for one. You have always forgiven me for my weird ways, even before I turned into a psycho who got you kidnapped. Or oh my god, what about the party? Or even back when you took the fall for me in eight grade science class when you said you knocked the chemicals over and started the fire? You seriously kept me from being kicked out, I swear.”
“Holy cow, I do sound like a saint,” she grinned. “Can we just call it even? How about that?”
“Okay, it sounds good,” I said. “Can you stay longer? I could get some food, or we could invite Mark over.”
“I need to get back,” she said. “But I’ll see you tomorrow. I can’t wait to say fuck off to this year, we need the new one to start!”
“I know! Here’s to new fuckery to deal with!”
“Oh god, no,” she moaned, but we laughed and talked for a few more minutes before she finally left for home.
I was strolling across the lawn towards the house when Amara cut me off along the way.
“You look like you’re good enough to start driving on the road,” she said. “You should be prepared for anything that could happen. We’ll start tomorrow.”
“It’s New Year’s Eve!” I exclaimed. “Come on, can’t I have a day off?”
“The Organization doesn’t take days off, you can’t afford to let your guard drop!” Amara barked.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but sometimes it was really hard. I wasn’t yet a full adult, and even though I felt like a grownup, an assassin and a killer, when Amara annoyed me, I felt like an angry teen.
She was lucky she didn’t know me when I was sixteen. I would have driven her crazy. Or maybe I was lucky, because I suspect she would have beaten me senseless for my attitude.
“Fine,” I snapped. “I’ll do a street lesson, but not until after lunch. I have plans.”
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll even let one of your obsessed boyfriends take you out if you like.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said and took a deep breath. Again I fought the urge to sigh dramatically or stomp my foot. “Can I go now?”
“Yes, please do,” she said, with the hint of a smile playing across her lips. She mockingly bowed in my direction and laughed as I stalked away, my pride bruised and my ego bristling at her demands.
