Picture This Episode One

Picture this. It is a gorgeous summer day. The grass is green, the birds are singing. You are a fifteen-year-old boy whose parents have gone on vacation. Your uncle is coming to watch you in three hours. Until then you are on your own, and you remember that your Dad’s new triple black Dodge Truck is in the garage Just waiting… You have a driver’s permit, right? Who is going to know if you have an adult or not? You are just going to take it around the block. That was fast. How about around the neighborhood? What about just limiting yourself to a half hour? Who is to know? A three-lane road has suddenly turned into a two-lane road. You are going too fast to stop. There is room to maybe slide the truck in between the red and black car. You do not quite make it, scratching a BMW and a Camaro. Sideswiping both. Your heart is beating fast. You pull over. Waiting… In your rear view mirror you watch a tall policeman in full uniform unfold himself from new Cherry Metallic Camaro. Damn! You fun the truck and take off again, scared to death. Your dad, mom and uncle are all three going to kill you if that policeman doesn’t. You sit in the house for two hours, making up excuses. There is a knock on the door. You are fifteen, and you do not have a license. You sit without breathing as your heart beats in your throat. “POLICE!” Will they break down the door? You slide behind the couch and pull a blanket over your body. Just waiting…