The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon

Hau I See It: Getting Wheels

All teenagers look forward to the moment they sit in the front left seat of the car, grasp the steering wheel, and slam the pedal to the metal.

This wondrous moment quickly ends when they realize they’ve forgotten to put the car in reverse and have rammed through their garage wall.

Almost 11 months away from turning 16, I have begun to dream of coasting to school in the sweet ride I’m inheriting from my brother: the Toyota Sienna XLE Minivan.

My dad, though, says that he doesn’t trust me enough to even start learning how to drive. His thinking is absurd, considering how responsible and focused I am. Right?

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In fact, I was able to muster all of my brainpower and channel all of my energy into counting down the days until I’ll be able to get my permit: 111 days.

After proudly telling my dad about this proof of my responsibility, he gave me an ultimatum. He said that I had to test my natural driving instincts on a kiddy go-kart racetrack. If he found that I was naturally gifted enough to deserve the family van, I’d be able to start learning.

I laughed at his silly idea. Who would want to participate in a go-kart race with 12-year-old kids?

My dad defensively said he was being completely serious, and that I was taking his suggestion with too much levity to deserve to drive. He retracted his offer of bringing me to the go-kart track, permanently ruining my chances of driving until I’m 40.

I plopped on the couch and munched on some potato chips to think of a way to deal with this major crisis.

I flashed-back to the racetrack that my dad took my brother to when he was 15, and I remembered the horror flickering in his eyes as he ran over unsuspecting little moles popping up in the racetrack. He didn’t start driving until a long two-and-a-half years later.

At last I understood why my dad was so hesitant to let me drive. If I had the ultimate power of driving, I could be hurting innocent people, not just cute moles and the occasional slow squirrel.

If you are itching to get behind the wheel, remember that driving is really dangerous. If you think that you’re ready for this responsibility, visit the kiddy racetrack, pity those poor moles, and think again.

As for me, I’m too afraid to wield the ultimate power of the Sienna just yet. It looks like the only wheels I’ll be getting are those on my mom’s rusty old bike.

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