“Are you all set for Michael’s driving test tomorrow,” I ask my wife, who is sitting at the computer looking at practice tests at about 7:30 p.m. Monday. Michael turned 16 that day and Mary had taken Tuesday off to bring him to get his learner’s permit.
“I’m set, but I’m not sure about Michael,” she replies, with a sigh that tells me I’m about to hear something less than positive. She explains as far as she can tell Michael has not started studying.
“He never even printed the stuff off the computer,” she says.
“Where is he?” I ask, learning that Michael has been out since about 3 p.m. Mary hasn’t seen him since he and three friends ate some birthday cupcakes in our kitchen and headed off to hang out at another house.
“Unless he passes the practice test I’m not taking him. I can’t afford to waste the time off,” she says.
I do some quick math and realize that unless Michael starts studying immediately his big day is in jeopardy. I also learn she texted him about a half hour before and he still hasn’t responded, which is unusual. I figure he is doing a little rebelling on his 16th birthday and decide to call him. No answer, I leave a message and head out to the YMCA. I expect to hear from him before I arrive but don’t. In the middle of my workout, I check my phone, still no message. I call Mary. She hasn’t heard. It’s around 8:30 and I’m bordering on minor panic. Finish my workout around 9:15 p.m. No message, Mary also hasn’t heard. We are both ready to kill him. Our concern is shifting from his failure to study to the more serious: “Where is he and why isn’t he answering.” Michael is not one to ignore our calls or texts for almost three hours.
At 10 p.m. I had given up all hope he would study or pass the test and was mainly interested in finding him. After thinking the worst, I drive to his friend’s house and find him. He’s angry as he gets into my vehicle because he can tell I thought he was up to something.
“I have no cell phone service here,” he explains. “I texted you guys three hours ago.”
I don’t even bother to ask how we are supposed to receive a text from a phone with no service because I am glad to see him.
“Have you studied for the test ?,” I ask. He calmly tells me he is planning on studying when we get home and will probably be at it until 1 a.m.
As we drive away he sees about two dozen calls and texts that we have made and sent during the previous three hours and sees they grow more angry and threatening. For example, “If I don’t hear from you in five minutes, I’m not taking you for the test.”
“Oh man,” he says. “I hope when I get home you guys aren’t going to freak out on me.”
Why would we freak out?
Imagine, having months to study for what he considers the most important test of his young life and instead putting it off until 10 p.m. the night before.
At around midnight, I hear the snoring coming from his room and look in. He has papers spread out all over his bed and he has fallen asleep. I am sure he is going to fail the test.
At about 2 p.m. on Tuesday I get a text from my wife. “He passed. Waiting to get his permit.”
I can’t believe it.
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2 comments:
Has constant use of a cell phone (for both calls and texting) made him forget that you can also communicate via a land line phone? I'm sure his friend's house must have a regular land line phone. How about making it a rule that if there is no cell service, then you find a land line and call to say where you are?
I think we have forgotten about land lines. But not everyone has one. He was in the same neighborhood tonight. Things went much smoother. Thanks for the suggestion.
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