It’s a quiet night at home on the farm. I can hear my mom bustling around the house, cleaning or organizing something, or making lists of things she wants to clean or organize. I’m the only one left at home which means I get free reign over the TV and I’m not sad about it. Finally, I don’t have to fight with all my sisters. I have a day off from running for baseball or volleyball and I get to stay home. As a teenager, you’d think I’d be excited to get out of the house and see friends but the farm is 20 miles from anywhere and I don’t have a car. So here I sit.
Mom calls out, “Dad’s home,” and I’m not sure why she’s announcing it. It’s late in the day, dark outside already and it’s not out of the ordinary for Dad to be out farming late. I peel myself away from the TV and come out to the kitchen to see what the fuss is all about.
She’s watching me as I walk in, the floor creaking under my feet, and I’m beginning to think something’s up. I’m starting to ask as Dad walks in, grinning. Well now I know something is going on, my dear old Dad is not the kind to go around grinning for no good reason. “Do you want to come and see the new car?” he asks. My skepticism turns to excitement and I start dreaming of a brand new, shiny set of wheels. New car I think to myself in disbelief, we’ve never had a new car for as long as I’ve been around, or new anything for that matter. I’m so used to hand-me-downs and second hand that this is a shock to my system. “Well, new to you”, he replies, as if reading my mind. I’m automatically disappointed, and I know I shouldn’t be. But wait, he said it’s mine?! I gotta see this, I think as I push past him and out the door, barefoot.
I’m excited to check it out. He found a great deal at the auction sale today, only around 150,000 kms, new tires, and a decent price. I struggle to see it in the glow of the yard light but coincidentally, amidst the rust I see it’s my favorite colour, too.
I’m sure they’re just tired of me stealing his truck to drive down prairie trails with my friends or her car to run to practices, but I don’t care. I don’t have to ride the bus for an hour to school and back and I can drive myself to work instead. I have a glimpse of freedom. I’m so thankful in that moment, and little did I know then, but I would continue to be grateful for that dusty, old car right through high school and into adulthood. It was worth its weight in gold.
Katie,
I loved reading your story. I can especially relate to having a day off from all the running around with multiple sports. It sure gets hectic at times and I would always appreciate any time off I could get! I feel that you displayed how you’ve been impacted by your socioeconomic status without fully stating it. I enjoyed having to read your story to make that interpretation. However, at times, I felt that you were switching back and forth from being in the moment to explaining the moment looking in and it got a little distracting. Overall, I thought it was well written and had great use of descriptive words. Awesome job and I am glad that car stayed with you for many years afterwards! Thanks for sharing!