The+Driving+Lesson

A Driving Lesson By Harrison Pyros

(Sasha and her Mother are in the two front seats of a car. Sasha is in the driver’s seat and is looking rather nervous.)

Mother. Okay, Sasha. Easy now. You’re doing fine. Sasha. Mom, we haven’t even pulled out of the driveway yet. Mother. And you haven’t crashed so that’s good. Sasha. (Panicked.) I don’t think I can do this. Mother. (Reassuring.) Yes, you can. Sasha. (Panic gone.) ’Kay. Mother. You’re buckled? Sasha. Yes. Mother. Okay, time to start. Check your mirrors. Sasha. (She does.) Aw, crap. I got somethin’ in my teeth. (She starts to pick at her teeth.) Mother. Sasha, focus. Sasha. Oh, sorry, what were you saying? Mirrors are fine. Mother. Now look both ways on the street to make sure no one’s coming. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (She does.) All right. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Now ease out of the driveway. Nice and slow. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. I—I think I got this. (She turns the wheel.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Okay, good. Now— (Sasha slams on the brakes and the Mother is thrown forward, as is Sasha, but she is more prepared. The seatbelts stopped them both.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. What do I do? I don’t know what to do! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. (With a hand pressed to her forehead.) It’s a stop sign. You stop! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. I’m sorry. I’m just so scared. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. You’ll be fine. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Again, panic gone.) Okay. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Now pull left. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (She does.) Um, what is this? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. The intersection, Sasha. A block from your house. That you have lived in for sixteen years. Come on. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. What—what do I do? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. (She picks up the water bottle next to her.) Stop behind the car in front of you. (She starts to take a sip.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Screaming.) Stop screaming at me! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. (Spitting the water all over the place.) Oh, my God! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Hits the brakes again. Panicked.) What do I do? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Calm. Down. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Instantly calm.) Okay. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. (Relaxes herself and shakes her head. She puts the water back down.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Filling the silence.) You know what I regret? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. (Under her breath.) Getting in this car? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. What? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. What? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. I regret not practicing driving sooner. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Me too.Sasha. The—the light’s green. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Then go. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (She slams down the pedal and both women are forced back in their seats.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Sasha! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Violently turning to the left.) I don’t know what to do! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Slow down! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Lets go of the wheel and closes her eyes. Yells.) I can’t do this! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Sasha, look at the road! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. I can’t! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Dog! Dog, dog, dog, dog, dog! (The Mother grabs the wheel and turns the car.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Opens her eyes. She looks behind her at something in the road.) Was that Grandma? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Take the wheel! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. I— <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. STOP THE CAR. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">(Sasha hit the brakes. After they’re settled, the Mother gets out, stomps around to Sasha’s side, and rips open her door.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. What are you doing? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. Get out. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. (Uneasy.) Okay. (She does.) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mother. (Gets in the car and shuts the door.) Walk home. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sasha. Okay.