‘Are you nervous? Don’t be nervous,’ he said. ‘You’re an excellent driver. I would put my life in your hands any day.’
‘Thank you, Virgil,’ she said and wondered if she had the courage to fail her test as Gracie suggested.
She drove to the police station in Camp Street and waited in the car while Virgil went in to get Old George who would test her driving. She wasn’t nervous about her driving skills at all, but when Constable George looked at her, his face full of uncertainty, she played the part and quivered as though she was racked with nerves.
‘Miss Cottingham, I’m not sure about this at all. I haven’t tested a woman before,’ he said, opening the passenger door.
‘You’ll be right, sergeant,’ said Virgil, leaning on the car bonnet. ‘I’m a good instructor.’
Old George got in and sat next to her instead of Virgil. The car groaned and sank under his weight.
‘All right then,’ said George, ‘show me you’re safe.’
Edie drove up Mair Street to the lake and drove around the lake at five miles an hour. When they crawled back into Camp Street still at five miles an hour and she parked outside the station, Virgil was standing there, his arms crossed over his chest, slowly shaking his head.
‘Sorry,’ said George from the window of the car. ‘She’s a danger on the road, she’s too slow. She’ll hold up the horses.’
‘Really?’ asked Virgil and he looked at her as though he couldn’t work her out. She drove perfectly well with him.
‘I’ll give her some more lessons, George, and we’ll try again.’
Monday, 12 September 1921, when Edie tries again.
Edie had two more lessons and Virgil booked her for another test. On the next test Edie pulled out into Camp Street, went left up Mair Street, left into Lydiard and right into Sturt. She drove up to Drummond Street and Constable George said, ‘All right, I’ve seen enough, you can take us back now.’ So she drove back to the police station and she did it all perfectly and Old George stretched back and relaxed into his seat and Edie began to manoeuvre the car to park it outside the police station and she backed into the fire hydrant so that water spurted in a fountain from the earth and a dent like a broken egg sat in the rear silver bumper bar. She and George scrambled out of the car.
Old George shook his head and said, ‘I knew it. There are some things it’s just not right for a woman to do.’
‘Oh, I didn’t mean to put a dent in the car,’ said Edie, and Virgil whispered, ‘But the fire hydrant was on purpose?’
‘Well, that’s a fail in my book,’ said George, pleased to have his theories confirmed. ‘I better ring the fire department about their hydrant,’ and he went back inside the police station leaving Edie and Virgil staring at the hydrant and the dent.
‘Ah well, we all have bad days, don’t we, Edie?’ said Virgil, as though he didn’t think the accident was anything to do with a bad day at all. ‘I’ll give you another two lessons to get your confidence back and we’ll test again.’
Monday, 26 September 1921, when the third time should be lucky.
A fortnight later Edie was sitting the test again and at the end of the test she ran into a tree and put a dent in the front bumper bar.
‘This is costing your father a pretty penny,’ said Virgil.
George and Virgil shook their heads at the tree and Virgil looked at the back bumper bar and then at the front and said, ‘At least they match.’ He looked at Edie as though he was starting to work her out and asked, ‘Another bad day, I take it?’
She shrugged her shoulders.
‘You’re ruining my business,’ he said. ‘No one will think I can teach.’
She was filled with guilt then.
Monday, 10 October 1921, when Edie loses a friend.
So a fortnight later there was nothing for it, she had to drive properly. Old George said he’d be blowed but by gum she was safe to drive. She went inside and stood at the counter and Old George issued her a licence and Virgil and Old George shook hands as though the accomplishment was Virgil’s in managing to teach a woman to drive. Edie was rather pleased she finally had her licence, even though she was going to miss the lessons terribly and still had to get Papa to agree to purchase a vehicle. She couldn’t help herself and reached up on her toes and kissed Virgil on the cheek and he looked at her and said, ‘Thank you.’ She let the soft tone of his voice rest on her skin and she knew she was forgiven for purposely failing.
Edie and Gracie, Paul and Lilly had afternoon tea to celebrate Edie’s successful test. They sat around the kitchen table with the stove door open for extra warmth.
‘We must order the automobile, Papa,’ said Edie passing Paul the cake tin. She had forgotten what was in there. ‘I think it’s shortbread.’
‘You do it and I’ll write the cheque. Buy whatever you think is best. I’ve never driven so how would I know. I don’t even know why you need a car when everything is practically in walking distance,’ he said taking two biscuits.
That was the problem — ever since she started her lessons he had been saying that he would write a cheque but when Edie tried to get him to actually sit
