"I Just Hit the Beatles!"

         Seventeen-year old Fallon slid behind the wheel, popped her Abbey Road CD into the player, and nervously fumbled for the ignition.  "Which way do I turn it?" she asked her mother.

         "First, which pedal is which?"

         Fallon leaned back to look.  "Dylan said that 'the long up and down one is the go and the one from side to side is the stop'."

         Deborah looked at her daughter in wide-eyed astonishment.  "You're taking driving advice from your three-year old cousin?" Mother and daughter laughed.

         "I didn't ask him," she insisted.  "We were watching Cars and he told me."

         "Turn the key away from you," Deborah instructed.

         Fallon started the engine, pushed the brake, and shifted into reverse as Beatles' music trickled from the stereo. 

         "Let up on the brake and we'll start to roll backwards."

         Fallon followed her mother's directions and the car crept back.  As soon as she felt it moving, she slammed her foot back on the brake.  "It's too scary," she squealed, tears springing to her eyes.

         "Breathe, Fallon.  Look around; the only thing in this whole parking lot is a lamppost."

         The car lurched into motion and Deborah allowed Fallon to drive in circles round the lot until she was more comfortable.  "Pull into the next parking spot," she suggested.  Fallon turned the wheel and stopped.  "Park, get out, and check your position."

         Fallon walked around the car, frowning.

         "That's okay, just try again."

         Fallon drove around and around, parking, pulling out, parking again, becoming more comfortable with each pass.  Soon she was going fifteen miles per hour!

         "Oh, my gosh!" Fallon cried, crossing the painted crosswalk. "I just hit the Beatles!"

         The two laughed until tears blurred their vision.  "You've had enough fun for today," Deborah said finally.  "Let's come back again tomorrow."


300 words