Finding Yourself

Chapter Eleven: Jealous Much?

(IT'S BEEN 19 HOURS SINCE I UPDATED LAST! NOT EVEN A DAY! DOES THAT MEAN IT'S A TRIPPLE UPDATE? IDK YOU BE THE JUDGE)

"WOAH! WOAH! Slow down a little beforehand! You need to be patient. Don't be frightened."

"I can't do it," Dakota replied, "I'm not experienced enough, and I'm scared."

"Hey, Hey, don't be scared! I'm here with you okay? I won't let you screw this up," he said, "Just ease forward, next time. Okay?"

"I tried, but it didn't work!" Dakota panicked. 

Nick reached over and patted Dakota's hand on the steering wheel, comfortingly. 

"You just have a lead foot," Nick replied, "That's okay. We'll work on it. You'll learn to drive just like everyone else. There are tons of people with a lead foot."

The light ahead of them turned green, so Dakota- not wanting to be too jerky- slowly eased out into the intersection. Someone behind him beeped.

"A little faster, dear," Nick reminded, "The middle of an intersection is a dangerous place to hang out."

"But you just told me to slow down!" Dakota protested.

"Slow down before you stop. Speed up when you go," Nick replied, as they crossed over to the next street, "But don't go too fast because then you'll get pulled over. Also, see that forest over there?-" Nick pointed to the trees as they passed them- "Watch out for animals when you see a forest or any other place that might have living things. Animals like to pop out and wreck you some times. Especially deer. Those ***holes are suicidal. Birds are daredevils too, but they usually wait until you are super close, and then fly away. Deer wait until you are super close and then step out in front of you."

"Thanks for that encouraging fact, Mom," Dakota replied, now paranoid that a deer would pop out any second.

"I'm just trying to keep you safe," Nick replied, "You never know what could happen while driving."

"Nick," Dakota snapped, "You're not helping." 

"Kota, honey, you just need to relax. And stop choking the steering wheel to death," Nick said. Dakota realized his knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard, so he loosed his death-grip. "It's not as scary as it feels, trust me. You are not doing bad for a beginner."

Dakota felt better from that, but he was still frightened.

"Thanks," Dakota mumbled.

"Watch out there's a jaywalker!" Nick suddenly screamed, and Dakota quickly slowed until the person ran all the way to the other side of the street. "Jesus Christ! They're crazy!"

Dakota was too busy dying of fear.

"Mom, if I run over a jaywalker- even though they were breaking the law, and I wasn't- would I still be charged for murder?" Dakota asked, trying to take his mind off the fact that he almost ran someone over.

"Charged? Maybe. Found guilty? Probably not unless they charged for accidental murder," Nick replied, "Then who knows."

"That's messed up," Dakota replied, building up to normal speed again. 

"Yeah," Nick replied, "Anyway, take this next left. We need to go home. I don't like leaving Mrs. Jenkins with the young ones for long. They can be wild for an older woman, you know?"

"Oh definitely," Dakota replied. They were wild for everyone.

~{()}~

When Dakota and Nick got home, they were greeted by the neighborhood maid and babysitter, Ruthy Jenkins. The fifty-year-old woman was all smiles, and she had taken it upon herself to be a mothering figure toward everyone in the neighborhood. Anyone who hated that woman was a monster.