Grandma’s Stories

Apr 18th Cont.. “AUTOMATIC…”

 

The “SALE’s MAN” – is  upset – – and says… “I thought you were going to make a right turn – – TURN HERE” – – so I turn – and the car is going too fast – – – –  a “TAXI CAB” is coming down that street – – and so  this    brand   “NEW VEHICLE’ hits  the “CAB” – –  –  the “SALE’s MAN”  grabs the steering wheel and almost breaks my foot – stomping on the break  – – – the vehicle jumps the curb – and there are three small children playing – – how the car stopped – –  short of killing them – – –  I’ll never know?

Here we are…I crashed into the  door of the “TAXI-CAB” – not enough to do physical damage to the “DRIVER” –  – but because the  “SALES-MAN” pulled the car away and we are   NOW  jumped up onto the curb – – some  very scared small children – –  – and the “SALES-MAN” is asking me  – –  if I have a driver’s license – – and of course I do not – – I am telling him… “I only have a permit!” – –  So…he tells me to get out of here … “GO HOME – – I’ll have to take care of this situation!”

“WOW…I am a nervous wreck –  – –  I am in a real mess NOW!”  We are near the “Sportsman’s PARK” in Saint Louis – – so I am walking toward HOME – – – and have to go through “Fairgrounds PARK” – – and still walk at least ten more blocks to get home. So…  all the while –  that I  am walking – – I have no idea – – how I am going to explain all of this to my MOTHER.   My  MOTHER thinks that I have more sense than to get into  a mess like this – –  I am almost talking  out loud to myself – – – all these many blocks –  – –  I just do not know how my MOTHER will take this situation – – she just might throw me out – – and then where will I go???

So… when I get HOME… I start to tell my  MOM  – – all the details of what had happened – – and as I was telling her – – she started to tell me that Anne Brady, wife  of her brother Thomas – – and she was Committee Woman  in the second district – – did something similar –  she decided to drive a car not her’s – – and she was a very large woman – – maybe three hundred pounds – and was unable to turn the steering wheel of the car – – and actually ran over some small children  – – the children did die and since she  was  in Politics – nothing was done to her???

This was always a situation that I was sure glad that nothing happened to the children – – and always thought that this was not  all my fault – – since the “SALES-MAN” did say… that the car was “AUTOMATIC” – – but did not explain to a dumb  “DORA” type – – “ME” – –  what he meant – – why this car was better than a vehicle that you had to “SHIFT” – – especially…  since … I had told him that  – – that was the only type of car that I had some learning  on – – in DRIVER’s ED CLASS.

In order for me to make a “RIGHT TURN” as I was told to do – – I had no idea how or what I was to do – since there was not something to  “SHIFT”  to slow the car down with – – -so I would lean in toward the steering wheel – – and said “I am truing right … here!” – – BUT… nothing happened – – the car still continued at the same speed… too fast for me to turn right. – – I did this several times – – but the car was not paying any attention to me “talking”  my intention to make a turn – – and  the “SALES MAN” – – – just sat there – – certainly not paying attention to my distressful situation – not able to make a right turn as he requested several times???

After giving my MOTHER  all the facts of the situation – – I just had to ask her…  “Would you call the  “SALES MAN” and ask  him to send me my deposit of  $40.00 cash   back – – and if he  has a problem with that – – you might remind him – – that  your daughter is under age – – and should not be signing contracts without your advice.”  After all is said and done – – what is automatic about a car that can not make a right turn???

Just yesterday…I was told that  there are vehicles “TODAY” on the market that you can talk to… and that  will do what ever instruction   you  state. Also… if I would want one – – they would get one for me – – since I was talking to cars  over “sixty” years ago – –   that if you live long enough – – the “TIMES of LIFE” – will catch up… and NOW – – TODAY –  they really do have  automobiles – –  cars – – vehicles – – that  are  “AUTOMATIC” – –   really   “AUTOMATIC”

Posted in Childhood, Grand-Children, Grandma, Today and tagged Mickey McLarenwith 1 comment.