John Takes A Test


On December 2 1974, John turned 16. He couldn't have been more happy. This meant he could go out and get his drivers license. John had his learners permit which meant he could drive with an adult supervising him. Dad had so far not elected to take him out driving. When John would ask Dad why not, Dad's reply was, "I'm not drinking anymore. I'd need to be drunk to let you drive."
Dad was speaking from experience. When he took Steve driving when Steve turned 16 Steve drove like a demon from hell was chasing him. Dad was so shook up he didn't let Steve drive with him again in the car for years. A couple of years later when Geno asked Dad to let him drive, Geno showed Dad the terrors of passing a car on the right side of the road. Remarkably this is something that Geno still does to this day.
Both times when Dad came back from his driving lessons he drunk himself into a stupor. He'd tell Mom that they must of gotten their driving skills from her side of the family. (Actually, sadly, both Steve and Geno were far better drivers then the majority of Mom's brothers.)
By the time John had turned 16 both he and Geno and turned into two very different people. Geno was a rash impulsive young man who strutted more then walked. He had taken to wearing his hair so one eye was constantly hidden behind his black hair. John was a more logical (At least in his mind) and thoughtful in his approach to life.
Their different takes on life could be seen in the way they played chess with each other. John would ponder each move before moving his piece. Geno moved with sudden fury sometimes surprising himself as well as John by his choices. What's funny is Geno would win about half the time. If John would win Geno would want to play another game. If Geno would win John would storm off and pout.
Another difference is the way they dealt with things not going their way. Sometimes Geno would ask a girl and out she'd say no. He ask another one out until he got one who said ok. To him it was no big deal. If John would ask a girl out he'd sit and brood in his room about why he was turned down. John was fun to be around when things were going his way, Geno was fun to be around when things were crashing all around him.
So when John turned 16 he was determined to get his drivers license the first try out. Something Geno didn't do. (Apparently he passed on the right hand side of the road then as well.) So for weeks before his birthday he kept bugging everyone to let him drive. When Dad came back from rehab he was conflicted. One of the things that he was told was to put more faith in people. So when it came to John wanting to drive Dad wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his common sense kept getting in the way.
John had a reason for wanting his license. He had some money saved up from his part time job at Super X. When he walked back and forth to work he saw a older car for sale. He wanted to get his license and have Dad help him buy the car for a birthday/Christmas present. John kept telling Dad all the benefits ("I'll drive Mom to the store for the groceries.")and what a great driver he was.
Finally on the night of my birthday party, Dad told John he'd take him out for his drivers license test the next day for his birthday. After that they'd talk about the car that John wanted. John was absolutely thrilled.
The next day all though school all I could think about was coming home to play with my new G.I. Joe. (With Kung Fu Grip!) All John could think of was getting his license. The day couldn't end soon enough for both of us.
When the last bell rang I ran home though the snow as fast as I could. John got home the same time I did , running in the house and wanting to know where Dad was. Mom said he'd be back in a moment. Soon I was outside playing with my new toy, while John paced in side waiting for Dad.
When Dad came home a few moments later John wanted to leave that moment. Dad told him to wait he wanted to get a bite to eat. While I was outside playing in the backyard I saw Geno over by the dog house. He was messing around with the chain that Duke was normally tied to. Duke was in the basement today because the Laskys were now afraid of him.
A little later Dad and John walked outside so John could get his license. John got into the drivers side of the car which was parked outside the garage. Dad got into the passenger side. John started the car up and backed it down the driveway into the alleyway.
The dog house followed. Though the fence. Apparently the dog chain had in some mysterious way become attached to the back of Dad's car.
Dad and John got out. There was much yelling. Geno came out of the house. There was more yelling. Dad made Geno drag the dog house back and told him to fix the fence before they got back. John was furious. 5 minutes later Dad and John were gone.
I went in the house for a little but was soon back outside playing in the snow with my G.I. Joe. About half an hour later while I was outside I saw Dad's car turn back in the alleyway. At ten miles an hour it drove towards our garage. At ten miles an hour it drove up on our driveway. At ten miles an hour it drove into our garage.
At ten miles an hour it hit the back of our garage with a loud thump. The garage shook.
Dad's voice yelling long curse words at John soon began to float out of the garage. I slowly peaked in the garage. The only noticeable damage to the car was one of Dad's headlights was busted out. While I was looking John stormed by with Dad close behind yelling at him.
It turned out that John did not get his license that day. He later blamed it on Geno for making him so nervous. (Dad said it was more John's incompetence than anything else.)
When he flunked his test Dad let him drive home so he could have more practice. Big mistake. John sat up in his room pouting. I asked Mom if he didn't come down could we still have his cake? Dad finally forced him down so we could sing Happy Birthday and eat the cake. The entire time John looked like he was going to cry.
The next day Geno and John were late for school because they were fighting all the way there.
When Dad came home the next day from work, he brought John his late birthday gift, a 10 speed bike. Dad told John to "get used to it." If possible John looked even less happy then he did a moment before. Dad also charged John for the cost of the broken headlight.

I told you this story so I could tell you tomorrow's story.