Driver's Dream

Birthday Boy

Claudio was walking home from school on a Friday. His seventeenth birthday had been two weeks ago, recieving one-thousand dollars from his father who lived in Albania. Unknown to him, his uncle and father had saved up money together towards buying him a surprise car. Claudio's dream first car is a BMW 3 Series 330i, his father and uncle knew this. Claudio lived a five-minute walk away from school, finishing at 3PM he would usually come home and take a nap. When he reached home, he noticed a 2014 BMW 330i parked in the driveway

"Who's car is that?" He wondered. His uncle, Besnik was waiting inside with his mother inside the house.

"Hello my boy! How was school today?" He greeted

"It was alright. How are you, uncle?"

"I'm doing wonderful. Did you see the car outside?"

"Yeah. Who's car is it." He asked

"No way they bought me a car?" He thought to himself. His uncle's smile widened, pulling the keys out of his pocket and handing it to Claudio.

"Come, let's go for a test drive." They got into the BMW 3 series, Claudio driving with his learner plates on.

"Let's go on the freeway." Said Besnik. Claudio depressed the brake and pushed the START button, the engine choked and fired up, idling at seven-hundred-and-fifty revolutions per minute. Claudio fell in love immediately. He pulled the shift stick into Drive, pulling down the handbrake and driving off. They reached the M80 freeway, Claudio driving at a hundred kilometres per hour, the speed limit. There was very light traffic on the freeway.

"Floor it." Besnik said

"What?"

"Give it more gas."

"Are you sure? What about cops?"

"Who cares. Try it out, have your fun." Besnik said, Claudio smiled, his foot pressing the accelerator pedal down all the way. The car's engine shifted down two gears and took off speeding down the freeway. The six-cylinder engine roared as it picked up speed impressively fast. The speedometer climbed 124... 132... 146... 157... 169... 182 ... 199...205. He zoomed down the freeway, making cars driving at 100km/h seem like they're at a stand-still. Claudio continued speeding down the freeway, past the Dalton Road exit and quickly reaching Plenty Road. His uncle motioned to him to slow down, Claudio did so. He drove the car for another hour, in the suburbs of Mill Park, letting the road lead him. He zoomed and swerved through the roundabouts, his uncle laughing as they sped.

"So, what do you think of this car?" His uncle asked him.

"I love it. How much does it cost?" Claudio asked

"This costs thirty-thousand."

"That's too much."

"Too late." His uncle smiled

"What do you mean?" He slapped Claudio on his thigh

"It's your's now." Claudio was lost for words, skeptical at first, but his uncle never lied to him about these kinds of things.

"No... you really bought this for me?"

"Yep. Me and your dad." He noted, excitedly

"Congratulations." He praised, Claudio was ecstatic.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." tears were pooling up in his eyes, but he held them back.

"Let's go back home." Claudio parked the car in the driveway, just as he was getting out his phone began vibrating, an oncoming call.

"Hello my son!" Boomed his father, calling on Whatsapp from Albania.

"Hello father."

"Did you see the car? What do you think?"

"I love it so much, but you didn't have to spend so much money for my first car." Claudio answered

"Anything for my son. I'm so glad you like it. Happy birthday Luan. May you live to be a hundred years old!"

"That's too old." Claudio stated, they laughed over the phone together.

"
How does it drive?"

"Very smooth, and its fast too."

"I'm so happy for you. You're excited for your new car, so be careful when you drive alone, all it takes is one small mistake."

"I understand, dad. I'll make sure to drive as safely as possible."

"I love you my son, we shall see each other again soon, mark my words." He sent a kiss through the phone, hanging up.

Besnik shook Claudio's hand and gave him a big hug.

"On Monday, we're going to Sydney."

"What for?"

"To get your P plates." Claudio almost forgot. He let out a big smile and hugged his uncle again.

"You guys didn't have to spend so much on my first car, but."

"Shush. It's done and dealt with, now you enjoy this car. Happy birthday." Claudio shook his head in disbelief, he didn't think his uncle and dad would buy him such a lavish car as a birthday gift. He pulled his phone out and ringed Lorenzo.

"Hey bro, what's up?" He answered

"Are you still at work?"

"Yeah, we're almost finished for the day. It's 5PM." Claudio heard the banging of a hammer in Lorenzo's background.

"What are you doing tonight?"

"I was thinking we go to Urban Crepes with our cousins."

"What are you doing on your phone? Let's pack up!" Claudio heard Lorenzo's boss reprimanding him through the phone.

"Aye man, I've got to go. I'll call you back soon, yeah?" Claudio chuckled and hung up the phone, standing before his new car. It felt like a dream, his dad and uncle really did buy him a car.

"I still can't believe it."