Learning to Drive, part two

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, Bob suggested to Leta that they go for a drive. Usually that meant a brief road trip to a pub for a beer. Sometimes they would stop at a grassy knoll on the Maumee River and watch the boats. While neither was much for boating, they did enjoy watching both the large lake freighters and smaller pleasure boats coming and going for business and pleasure.

Leta was writing a letter to her sister Mabel and feeling a little melancholy. While the sisters corresponded regularly, they had not seen each other in decades. In fact, if Mabel had not sent photographs over the years to Leta or her sisters Louise and Nellie who lived close by, Leta would not know what she looked like. Mabel had left home and Ohio when Leta was only three years old, ending up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Still, Leta believed that they were close. They shared stories of their lives with each other and also gave advice and support when necessary. During one of Leta’s bleaker financial periods, Mabel event sent her $10 to pay her grocery and electric bills. Leta paid her sister back as soon as she was able; she always paid her debts.

Bob made his suggestion after finishing the newspaper and coming into the kitchen where Leta was writing. At first, she thought he might be angling for a snack. He knew that she had made a cherry pie for supper, and sometimes he ran out of patience while waiting.

“How’s about going for a drive?” he said with more energy and enthusiasm than usual.

Still holding her pen, she looked up at him. “Right now?”

“Yes,” he said with a stretch. “It’s a sunny day. Hate being cooped up in the house all the time. It would be a waste, don’t you think?”

“Can I finish my letter first?” she inquired. “Then we can drop it in the post box.”

“If I can have a piece of pie while I wait,” he responded slyly.

She furrowed her brow and looked at her husband. He raised his eyebrows, a habit he had of sharing a joke. She smiled.

“Okay, you win,” she conceded as she stood. “We go for a drive now.”

“Aw, Leta,” he protested like a ten-year-old boy.

“You said you wanted to go for a drive,” she smiled. “Let me get my hat and my pocketbook.”

Five minutes later, she took his arm as they left their front porch toward the driveway where his car was parked. Usually, he walked her to the passenger side, opened the door, and after she situated herself, closed it behind her. This time, he escorted her to the driver’s side.

“Robert?” she questioned.

He opened the car door and with a flourish gestured that she should seat herself.

“What’s going on here?” she asked.

“Please, take your seat, madam,” he said, extending his arm and bowing slightly.

“I’m sure you’re not expecting me to sit there,” she said.

“Well, my darling, you are never going to learn how to drive an automobile until you get in and start your first lesson.”

Leta stepped back and then did it again as she spoke.

“You want me to learn how to drive?” she gasped.

To be continued.