Learning
to Drive
Brenda Kay
Ledford
I took Driver’s Education in 1968 at
Hayesville High School. My palms
perspired and my heart thumped when I got into the driver’s seat. Mr. Cunningham was the teacher and gave instructions.
“Push in the clutch, shift from
neutral into first gear, ease out the clutch, and slowly accelerate,” he said.
I let out the clutch too quickly and
the vehicle bucked like a bronco. I
almost threw Mr. Cunningham through the windshield. No wonder he turned white-headed so young.
The day arrived to tackle the mountain
roads. I was the first student to drive
up Tusquittee. I took a hairpin curve
too fast and squealed the tires. “Brake
before entering the curve,” said Mr. Cunningham.
When we got to Fires Creek Road, he
told me to make a U-turn. “You’ll have
to cut real deep,” he said. I had never
done this maneuver before and plunged into a ditch. The students in the backseat screamed and Mr.
Cunningham’s face turned pale as a ghost.
A farmer happened by with his
tractor. He hooked a chain to the car
and pulled it out. Passersby gawked and
laughed. I wanted to run and hide in the
pine thicket.
Mr. Cunningham told me to drive back
to school. I trembled like a leaf and
drove as a snail. Word spread that I
wrecked the new driver’s ed car
Finally, Mr. Cunningham had my
back. “It wasn’t Brenda’s fault. The sun blinded her.”
