https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/three-things-challenge-m662/

Di’s 3 words are:  ALLOW, PERMIT, PERMISSION

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Charlie, at 16, was devastated to learn he wouldn’t be allowed a student driver’s permit.

Like most teenagers his one aspiration in life was to be able to drive, even if only in his parents’ older car.  But there were rules, and they were set in place for a reason–a good reason, in his parents’ minds.

The first was that his grades had to improve–they’d not done so to an acceptable level.

The second was that he needed to show initiative and responsibility–not wait for his mom and dad to tell him several times to do minimal chores…then sigh as though burdened by life when he finally got up from bed, or his beanbag chair, to appease them.

So things were getting pretty tense and testy around their house, and Charlie wasn’t making fast progress toward the goal of becoming “another crazy driver who’ll endanger the rest of the world”. 

Which was NOT his goal–but rather, his folks’ paranoid and insulting visual.

He had every intention of being an excellent, careful driver, he’d assured them in his most serious voice.  To which his father had “harrumphed”, and his mom reached for the aspirin bottle.

But a miracle was on the way.  Grandpa called, wanting to know if Charlie felt like working for him a bit on the farm–salary yet to be determined.  Oh yes! this was his winning lottery ticket–Charlie packed a bag before his dad hung up the phone.

His grandfather arrived, visited a few minutes–then read Charlie’s eagerness to hit the road, in his bright eyes and wiggling foot.

When they got to the farm, Charlie saw the big tractor he’d admired since he could toddle over to it and shout, “cracter, cracter!”

He and Grandpa lunched on sandwiches Charlie’s mom had sent, and began talking business: the scope of Charlie’s farm duties, and an agreeable wage.

“Grandpa”, he interrupted, “I’d be happy with half the amount you want to pay me–I love being with you here on the farm…but I was kinda hoping maybe you’d let me drive the tractor”.

Wondering when this wish might surface, Grandpa smiled with delight.  He remembered being Charlie’s age…(the tractor was the love of his life, until he met Loralee, that is).  He made Charlie wait a long moment, pretending to ponder the idea.  Charlie remained silent, wiggling his foot.

“Permission granted,” Grandpa said, and then, “but this has to stay a private matter between us guys.  If your mom finds out, she’ll kill me–and I’m not ready for you to inherit all my worldly goods, and this farm.”

©V.Sparrow, 2024