
Every morning Mary's dad drove
to work in his red car. He'd stop before backing out of the driveway
and wave at Mary before heading to town. Mary would wave back. "How
come you and Dad get to drive and I don't?" Mary turned and walked
into the kitchen.
Her mom was busy at the sink
washing a plate. "Mary, your dad and I are grown ups. You're not old
enough to drive a car yet."
"I want to drive Dad's car. I
like the red color." Mary sighed and sat at the kitchen table.
"When you grow up, you can buy
yourself any color of car you want." Her mom wiped her hands on a dish
towel.
Mary and her mom went shopping
and then when they came home, Mary played in her room. That night
after her dad got home from work, he played games with her and then
read her a story.
That night Mary had a dream. She
dreamed that she went into the garage and got into the red car and
went for a drive, all by herself. She backed out of the driveway and
waved at her dad and mom and then drove down the street. "Look at me!
I'm driving and I'm only five years old." She smiled and turned down
the street that led to the grocery store.
Just then a big truck pulled in
front of her and slammed on its breaks. Mary crashed into the back of
it and the red car crumpled into a ball of metal. Mary woke up
screaming and crying.
Her mom came running into the
room. "What's wrong, Mary?"
"I had a bad dream. I dreamed I
crashed in Daddy's car." Mary sobbed as her mother held her. "You were
right, Mom. I am too young to drive. I don't want to drive Daddy's car
until I am grown up."
From then on each morning Mary waved goodbye to her
dad and then went off to play, glad she didn't know how to drive.