“School is in Session”
April 26, 2014

    "Come on, please?" Marlene begged.

    "I don't know, Marlene. I mean, when are you ever going to have the need to drive, anyway?" Skipper asked.

    "Well, um, what if I get in some trouble and need a fast getaway?" she suggested.

    "Why would you get in trouble for anything?" Skipper pointed out.

    Marlene shrugged. "I don't know. Probably for something Julien did," she answered nonchalantly. "Please teach me how to drive?" she begged again while engaging her saddest pouty face.

    Skipper sighed. "All right. Hop in," he permitted.

    With a celebratory yip, Marlene skipped to the side of the car and sat behind the wheel as Skipper took his place in the passenger seat.

    "To turn it on, just —"

    "I know that much, Skipper," Marlene said, turning the key in the ignition. "It's just everything afterward."

    "Right. Put your foot on the brake, which is the left pedal," Skipper instructed. "Then shift the gear from 'P' for 'park' to 'D' for 'drive' by pulling that stick down."

    Marlene did as instructed.

    “Good, now gently let off the brake and push on the gas pedal.”

    Marlene let off the break, but underestimated the sensitivity of the gas pedal and the car jerked forward. She pressed the brake on impulse, causing her and Skipper to slump back into the seat. She pressed her lips together and slowly turned to Skipper.

    “Sorry,” she said awkwardly.

    Skipper shook his head. “It’s fine, just try again,” he said.

    Marlene took a deep breath and pressed the gas gently and the car eased forward.

    “All right, so far, so good,” Skipper encouraged. “Now try going a bit faster.”

    The car gradually gained speed and Marlene smiled.

    “Hey, I’m doing it,” she said proudly.

    “So you are, Marlene,” Skipper concurred with a smile. “Now try taking a right up here.”

    Marlene drove to the next intersection and turned the wheel, causing the car to jerk to the right.

    “Whoa!” both of them cried as the momentum caused Marlene to pull off the gas and slide into the door, with Skipper sliding into her.

    With their faces barely an inch apart, Skipper and Marlene locked eyes for a moment and laughed nervously.

    “Sorry,” Marlene said breathily.

    Skipper fought off a smile. “It’s fine,” he said before sliding back into the passenger seat. “Let’s just continue. Just like with the gas pedal, don’t be so rough with the wheel, either. You have to slow down a good bit before you turn, at least until you get a little more advanced.”

    “All right,” Marlene acknowledged as she positioned herself for another go.

    After a few more hours of trial and error, Marlene found herself driving the car with ease. Skipper found himself enjoying the ride, no longer worried Marlene would hit a trashcan or spin out of control.

    “How am I doing?” Marlene asked.

    “You’ll kill us both,” Skipper said with a humorous smile.

    Marlene’s jaw dropped and she half-scoffed, half-laughed. “Jerk,” she said with a laugh.

    “Lady Driver,” Skipper shot back, fighting off a grin.

    “Hey!” Marlene exclaimed with a smile. “I will turn this thing around!”

    “Well, if you’re gonna do that, at least have the decency to give me a chance to hold on for dear life,” Skipper said, looking over at her.

    “Okay, that is it,” Marlene laughed, parking the car and turning to punch him in the shoulder.

    Skipper grabbed her fist and laughed as she struggled against his strength.

    “You — are — such — a — jerk!” Marlene said with a grin.

    Skipper just laughed and continued to fight her off. Finally, he pushed her back into the car seat.

    “Will you stop, already?” he asked, chuckling.

    Both of them gradually stopped laughing and locked eyes. After a few moments, Skipper nervously smiled and backed off as Marlene cleared her throat awkwardly.

    “We should — get the car back to the garage,” Skipper said.

    Marlene slid back into the driver seat. “Heh, yeah. We should — do this again,” Marlene suggested, bashfully not meeting his eye.

    Skipper kindly smiled and glanced at her. “Absolutely.”