The Hitting Zone

Dave and Noah came in the dining room all sweaty from their run. I told them about Kyle pitching tomorrow as I poked at the eggs Grampa made me. He definitely used more than two. This was a lot.

"Stop playing with your food, Jake." Grampa caught me just as he was coming out of the kitchen. I straightened up and started eating again. "What do you boys want to eat? I can make eggs any way you like them."

"I'll just get a bagel later." Dave tried to leave. "I really need to shower. I stink so bad."

"Hold it right there, David." Grampa raised his voice just a little above normal. He also said Dave's full name so he meant business.

Dave froze in his tracks. "What's up, Grampa?"

"I don't want you boys skimping out on breakfast. Your father went to the trouble of stocking up this kitchen with some healthy choices and you kids need to fuel up properly." Grampa lectured.

Noah took a seat next to me and whispered. "Wow. Don't mess with Grampa today, eh?"

I nodded as subtly as I could. I already got read the riot act on eating better now that we're back from vacation.

"Ok, ok." Dave came back to the table to sit down with us. "You don't have to twist my arm, Gramps. I can eat. If you're feeling fancy, I'll take an omelette with a lot of cheese please."

Grampa looked surprised before clapping his hands together. "Yes. I'll do that. Noah, you're getting one too." He glanced at me.

"I've eaten so much already." I showed my half-empty plate, knowing he was thinking about making me eat an omelette too.

"Okay, tomorrow then." Grampa headed for the kitchen.

I finally put my fork down to take a rest. I slouched in my seat and let my stomach bulge out. Noah and Dave laughed.

"How long have you been held hostage?" Dave asked.

"Too long." I grumbled. "I should have stayed in bed. I don't think there's any way I can eat lunch today."

Noah laughed some more. "It's a little too early to say that. Don't worry, Grampa won't be cooking for us. Remember, we're going to Alisha's to celebrate after our permit tests. None of us will force you to eat."

I sighed with relief.

"Come on, it can't be that bad." Dave laughed. "Grampa just likes to cook. And he's been deprived of it all week. Take it easy on him."

"It's him that's not taking it easy." I whispered. I picked my fork up and started to eat again. I wanted to finish and get out of here before Grampa had anymore ideas. I cleared my plate just as he came out with two plates for the guys. I went to the kitchen to rinse my plate and put it in the dishwasher. Just as I got back to the dining room, I heard Dave.

"Uhh, Grampa…did you put onions in this?"

"Yes. And green peppers, and tomatoes, and spinach, and cheese. It's a veggie omelette." He told him.

"Mine doesn't look like that…" Noah said. "Mine has broccoli, tomatoes, and just a whole lot more of broccoli."

"You don't eat it enough." Grampa told him.

I stifled a laugh at the sight of them in distress. Serves them right. I went upstairs, going to the shared room to get ready and use my free time to study for the permit test a little more. It really helped. Even more so than the online lessons. I think I was so anxious about answering the end of lesson questions, I didn't really take in the info.

By the time Noah and Dave were done with breakfast and showers, I was feeling more confident. This was just like a school test. It's also going to be multiple choice so I can use process of elimination.

We grabbed our filled out and signed applications from the office downstairs, then said bye to Grampa, reminding him that we wouldn't be home for lunch.

"Your parents will want to see you boys for dinner to celebrate you kids passing your permit tests." Grampa reminded us as we headed to the garage. "Don't stay at your friend's too late."

"Wow, no pressure, eh?" Noah smirked and waved. "Don't worry, we'll be back before the sun starts to set."

"Bye, Grampa!" Dave hollered.

"Bye!" I echoed.

We got in Dave's car, formerly the old family car and he started to drive. We were headed to Alisha's first to get her. When we pulled into her driveway, she came running out before we could even let her know we were here.

"Waiting for us?" Dave chuckled as she got into the middle row with me.

"Duh. I've been ready for the last hour." She said. Her right leg started to bounce in place. "I wasn't so nervous yesterday when we talked about it, but when I was in bed, it was all I could think about. What if I fail?"

"Then you retake it." Dave answered pragmatically.

She covered her face. "But that would be so embarrassing."

"Who would know?" Dave laughed. "It's summer break. If you fail today, take it next week."

"I would know." She stressed. "Noah, you, and Jake would know. My parents. Your parents. Kaylee. Her sister and parents."

Dave laughed again. "You're taking this too seriously. I assure you, if you read the lessons and understand the basics, it'll be a walk in the park. Don't get so hung up on getting one or two or even three wrong. You can get like seven or eight wrong."

Alisha's stress made me shift in my sit uncomfortably. "Dave? Do you know anyone who failed their permit test?"

Dave shook his head. "It's not like anyone goes around advertising it. It's just a small stepping stone. But I do know a couple guys that failed the actual driving test to get your license. They had to wait a couple weeks and review what they got wrong. I even knew one dude that had to take it a third time. And that's your final attempt before having to start over."

"See, guys." Noah cut in. "The driving portion is harder than the multiple choice test. Stop stressing. Save it for the future."

"That does make me feel better." Alisha nodded. "I'm smart. I can reason and use common sense. This test shouldn't hold me back."

I slowly nodded too. After spending almost two years with the Atkins family, I really learned a lot that would have stumped me before.

Dave got us to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and parked. He got out of the car with us and the three of us joined the line that was outside the building. I thought staying in this line, we would take the test right after, but it wasn't that simple. At the end of the line a worker behind a desk asked what we were here for. Then gave us each a numbered slip. We would have to wait to be seen.

"Do they have to separate?" Dave asked the worker.

"You can take all three to the same window when the first one is called, but we need them to have separate numbers to process each." He explained.

We found seats in a crowded room as TVs flashed different letter and number combos. It took over an hour before we got our chance. I once again thought it would be test time, but no. We had to process our applications, show our birth certificates and proof of residencies. Pay the processing fee of $39. Do a short eye exam. Then take a photo.

Finally, it was time for the knowledge test. By this point we were ready to take it and leave. It was getting close to lunch and the constant talking around us was getting even louder.

We were taken to a quiet, smaller room, where a couple other teens were standing in different cubbies. The lady in charge handed us each a long sheet of paper, a pen, and pointed us to the cubbies. "Don't stand next to one another."

We did what we were told. I looked over my paper.

'When is it legal to drive off the road to pass another vehicle?' I smiled and circled 'it's not legal.'

'Which of the following is the proper procedure for parallel parking?'

'What speed should you be driving when entering onto a highway?'

'Who can legally park next to curb painted blue?'

'What should you do when there is a school bus ahead that starts flashing yellow warning lights?'

Then I got a tough one: 'How many feet away should you switch from high beam to low beam headlights when approaching a vehicle coming towards you?'

I had to guess. It wasn't the only one that I had to guess on, but I still felt pretty confident when I handed my test in to the lady in charge. I scanned the room as she graded my test, seeing that Noah and Alisha were also in line to get theirs graded.

The lady in charge suddenly spoke. "Passed." She printed me a small sheet and stapled it to the one that had my picture and info on it. "This is now your permit. Any time you're driving, you need to have this on you." She waved me away.

I grinned as I walked out of the room.