Driving

When I was a kid...I'm talking seven or eight years old, my dad would let me drive. Of course he would mash the gas and breaks and keep a keen eye on the road to ensure I didn't drift in the oncoming traffic. That wasn't much of an issue then. The old Sloss Road was a red rock path just wider than a pickup. When you'd meet a a car, one of you would have to pull off the road to let the other pass. We were never in a hurry so we always pulled over. In the summer both cars would leave a plume of dust that eventually settled on the tangle of blackberry bushes and buckeye.
One Saturday afternoon we were driving south from the 78 highway towards West Pratt. I was sitting on his lap driving as we approached the swimming hole near the old sulfur spring. The Dora Police Chief was standing by his 1956 Ford Fairlane on the left side of the road. He'd probably stepped over to the spring for a drink of cold water. As we passed, he got in the car and pulled in behind us. We had not gone far when he turned his lights and siren on. I know my eyes must have been as big as saucers as we pulled to the side of the road. Chief Robinson walked slowly up to the window and leaned his head inside. "Can I see your license boy?" I freaked......I don't have a license I said with tears a word away. I couldn't see my dad's face but I know he must have been smiling because Chief Robinson pressed on. "Well I might have to take you to jail." This was not going well for me I was thinking. "Slide over here son," my dad instructed "let me talk to him." Dad got out and they both walked back to lean against the black and white cruiser and they talked for a long time. I could barely see them in the rear view mirror but it looked to me like they were laughing and smoking.
When dad came back he said "the chief's gonna let you go this time, but he said he better never catch you speeding or showing out behind the wheel."
I'm not sure if it was because Chief Robinson scared the living daylights out of me that day or not, but I've always been a mindful driver.
Chief Robinson was the father of my friend Joel Robinson that I mentioned recently. A few years ago when I told him that story we both had a great laugh.
I still love driving.