Parallel Parking: A Short Story

It is sunny out as I sit in the driver's seat, happy to be excused from school. The air conditioning blows heavily as I gaze out the window in anticipation when, finally, the person I'm awaiting comes into view. As she approaches, my father turns and asks me, “Are you ready.” “Absolutely,” I respond with certainty. At that moment, I was thinking it was only a matter of minutes before I was a licensed driver. My dad steps out of the car as the test lady converses with him outside, while I sit still with complete focus, oblivious to all they say. Soon enough, I demonstrate my understanding of my car's functions and controls. The lady takes a seat in the passenger, commanding me to pull up alongside the spot allotted for parallel parking. Prior to attempting the course, I feel confident after all the practice I've done beforehand for this …show more content…
I am ready. I am ready to pass this course... except that I didn't. I failed the parallel parking section, which I spent hours preparing for. I failed by a matter of an inch or two. I was absolutely stunned. All my practice was in vain. I could parallel park well enough to the point where I could practically do it blindfolded. But I couldn't do it this time. I fell short when it mattered the most. I felt nothing but complete failure. I'm not angered with the lady at all, even if she failed me for my back tire jutting out over the line by perhaps an inch, but instead furious at myself. For both the carried home and the following days, I brood over my mistakes. Initially, I chide the woman halting my path to elusive driver’s license. I seemed a bit ludicrous that I fell short by a matter or centimeters; perhaps she could have been more lenient. As time passes, I began grasp the fact that whether I did not succeed by the width of a thumb or the length of Lebron James’ shoe, I failed nevertheless. Thus, I accept my shortcomings and turn my gaze to the future…one that will be