“Wake up, wake up Michael” Mrs White whispered.
“What? Where are we?” Michael mumbled.
“At the driver’s test centre” she replied.
“Oh no, am I late?” said Michael extremely concerned.
“No, but you will be if you don’t hurry up!” shouted Mrs White.
Michael jumped up out of his seat and rushed into the test centre.
His driving inspector was waiting there for him.
“Are you Mr Ewel?” Michael said.
“Yes I certainly am and who may you be?” he said looking down his long pointy nose on Michael like he had just crawled out of a bin or something.
“I’m Michael Jackson sir, I’m here for the driver’s test” Michael nervously replied.
“You’re one minute late!” he exclaimed.
“I’m sorry sir,” mumbled Michael
There was no reply Mr Ewel led Michael out toward the car and picked up his clipboard and a red pen.
Michael climbed into the driving seat and Mr Ewel climbed into the passenger seat beside him and slammed the door. He glanced across at Michael and glared at him.
“Why don’t we have a little music?” he said
Michael didn’t reply and Mr Ewel switched on the radio it was Jimi Hendrix again but Mr Ewel didn’t like that so he just mumbled something and switched it off.
Instead he started humming and clicking his pen. Michael knew that he was determined to put him off but he wasn’t going to let him.
“Ok then; how old are you” Mr Ewel questioned Michael.
“25” Michael replied
“Ok let’s start the test” Mr Ewel smirked
Michael didn’t reply, just turned the key in the ignition got the car into gear and drove off down the street.
“Left here” said Mr Ewel.
Michael did as he said and turned left.
“You aren’t a very talkative person are you Mr Jackson?” Mr Ewel said.
“No sir especially when I am trying to concentrate,” Michael mumbled.
Mr Ewel pretended he didn’t hear him and told Michael to park the car in-between two very large lorries. Michael didn’t think that the gap was big enough for the car and he was right. He carefully tried to squeeze the car in-between the two lorries. Once he had done that he tried to line the car up but he just couldn’t.
Mr Ewel smirked, “What’s the matter Michael?”
“I can’t get the car in the space sir, it’s far too small”
Mr Ewel laughed “Ok then forget parking the car and reverse out, careful not to hit them lorry now”
Michael pulled out and drove about one hundred metres down the road and a cat ran out in front of him. He swerved out the way to miss it into the on coming traffic and very nearly hit a car. The other car luckily swerved out the way and didn’t hit anything. Mr Ewel screamed and Michael slammed the brakes on, the car finally came to a stop. There was silence all around them but everybody’s eyes were on Michael.
“That was close!” Mr Ewel stammered in disbelief over what had just happened.
“I’m sorry” Michael said
“So you should be, and I think both you and I know you shouldn’t pass,” muttered Mr Ewel,
“May I ask why” Michael cried.
“Why do you think? You almost killed us both,” Mr Ewel said with an angry look on his face.
“If I had hit the cat would you have failed me Mr Ewel?” Michael asked.
Mr Ewel ignored that question and told Michael “I think it’s best if you walk home”
Michael hung his head as he got out the car and walked down the street, it felt like the whole world was staring at him. He was so embarrassed and people were muttering and talking behind his back.
When he got back to the test centre Mrs White was waiting for him. She looked at him surprised.
“Why didn’t you drive back Michael?” Mrs White questioned him.
“I had an accident and Mr Ewel told me it would be safer if I drove back so I had to walk” Michael cried
“Oh dear, are you ok? What happened?”
“A cat walked out in front of the car and I swerved to avoid it,” murmured Michael.
“You didn’t pass then,” Mrs White asked
“No, I’m so sorry,” muttered Michael
Mrs White put her arm around Michael.
“Maybe next time, maybe next time,” she said reassuringly trying not to show her disappointment about what happened.
