The Ballad of Katie: Somewhere Under Heaven Series

Seventeen

Katie's POV

May 13 is a pretty big day in our house. It's not only my dad's birthday but it's also mine. May 13 is also my rebirth if you will because it was on my 14th birthday that I hit Day Zero which was the start of the bone marrow transplant that saved my life. 

Today I turn seventeen which means in the state of New Jersey, I can legally drive! Ashton and I took advantage of a law in New Jersey where we both went for our learner's permit at 16. Uncle Eric helped him with his license and he's now driving Mom's old Jeep Wrangler. I had Uncle Shane working with me which was a total nightmare and a half. 

We're driving back from Quaker Bridge Mall when some guy cuts me off and almost hits the car! It freaks me out and then we're on Lawrenceville Road and I hear a thud. 

"What was that?"

Uncle Shane and I get out and we see what happened. I hit an animal. 

"Oh my God, what do I do?"

"Katie, relax," Uncle Shane tells me. 

"I hit a deer, Uncle Shane and you're telling me to relax?!"

"Katie, we've all had an accident at one point or another."

A Lawrence Township cop sees us on the side of the road and asks if we're okay. "I was having my niece practice driving and she hit a deer. She's really freaked out," Uncle Shane tells him.

The cop approaches me, "What's your name?"

"Katherine," I say. I then hand him my permit saying, "I guess you should tear that up."

He looks at my permit and says, "I'm not going to because shit happens. Did you see this deer?"

"Not really. I mean, the creature jumped out in front of us." 

"That happens a lot. I have a daughter your age and when she got her license a couple months ago, she got into an accident. I'll tell you what I told her, these things happen."

"But my uncle has front end damage and there's a dead deer!"

"There's nothing you can do about the deer, Katherine. As for your uncle's car, I'm sure he'll forgive you. Are you hurt?"

"Not physically."

"And your uncle looks okay, right?"

"I suppose." 

"Then that's all that counts." He then hands me back my permit and says. "I was looking at your name and..."

I have a feeling what he's going to ask. "Officer, I get this a lot so before you ask it, yes, Robert Pattinson is my father." 

He laughs. "I wasn't thinking about him. I was going to ask if you knew of a Casey Pattinson?"

"That's my mother. How do you know her?"

"My brother is a trooper with the New Jersey State Police and he's met your mom a few times at the State House. He's also told me that she's a really nice lady." 

"Yeah, she's the best." 

"I'm sure she would tell you it's okay and to calm down."

"She would." 

The officer then looks at the front end damage and says to Uncle Shane, I think you can drive this back with no problem."

"Okay, do we need to file a report or anything." 

"That won't be necessary. Just make sure you get your niece home and get her to relax."

"I'll do that."