53. Miscalculation

When we decided to go to the coast for an overnighter, Burbank insisted we take a bus, but I thought we’d have more freedom if we had our own car. So, I stopped by the rental place when Burbank and Lenore were still in the hotel. I was surprised they handed over a car to a foreigner so quickly. I thought it would be a bigger deal seeing as the road rules are different here and they drive on the correct side of the road. But they didn’t care.

Burbank was annoyed when I showed up at the hotel with a car. I tried to play it cool, but I think he realized I was a little shaky from the drive over. But it was too late to give it back now. I’d look like an idiot in front of my friends. I tried to cover by asking Burbank if he wanted to drive, but he told me he wouldn’t dream of depriving me of the experience of driving across the English countryside. And Lenore was just too smart to take me up on the offer. Damn.

We packed up the car and I drove out of Cardiff, Lenore in the passenger seat, Burbank in back. I hate city driving. I never knew who had the right-of-way and nearly plowed into a bin lorry…twice.

The country was a little better, but driving on the left does my head in. I was a nervous wreck by the time we got to the cliffs. I parked the car, but I couldn’t pry my hands off the steering wheel. I don’t think I’d blinked the entire trip. Burbank had to unwrap my fingers from the wheel and carry me out of the vehicle. When I was on the ground, I was stuck in a sitting position, my foot out like it was still on the brake. Lenore said I was probably in shock. True, I had hallucinated we’d all died in a crash.

Later, I called the rental place and told them of my huge miscalculation and asked would they please come and pick up their car.