Yeah, I said driver's test.
We went to the IHOP just 5 minutes away from the Beltsville MVA for lunch in between those two appointments, and left there at 12:30 for the 5-minute trip so we'd be in plenty of time and so we could try to figure out who/where the interpreter was. (It's sometimes a challenge for the interpreter and client both to figure each other out.)
What was that about the best-laid plans of mice and men?
There was an accident in between us and the MVA, a really bad one. It had Rt. 1 completely shut down for over 1/2 hour, involved about 15 pieces of emergency equipment. By the time we got through, we were late for the 1pm appointment, and they had said they were booked solid, so if you're more than 5 minutes late, you won't get in. We almost threw in the towel and turned around to head home based on that. Y'all know how MVA can be, right?
Now, before going further, I have to give my little opinion about MVA. People always ask me why I go far away to MVA to either Beltsville or to Annapolis, instead of just using the local one in Glen Burnie. I have yet to ever have a good experience in the Glen Burnie MVA, and my theory on that is that it is down in a dark, dreary basement. There is very little natural light in that place, and it makes the workers grumpy and depressed. I've never seen a cheerful worker in that place. Some of you may have had a different experience, and I'm willing to accept that they may be cheerful every day of the year except the ones that I am there; I'm just stating my personal observations over the years. However, the Annapolis and Beltsville MVA offices are bright and open, lots of windows, and the people there seem to have a much better disposition. It's worth the extra drive to me to do business with people who are happier in their work.
Anyway, we decided to stick with it on the premise that maybe some of the other people trying to get there for appointments would be stuck in the same mess we were, and if we got there ahead of them, they *might* still take us.
By the time the accident cleared, we were 18 minutes late walking through the door. The lady at the counter apologized and said the interpreter waited her 15 minutes, and left right on the dot. (Funny, I was told to always wait at least 20 minutes to half hour, especially since I'm getting paid for 2 hours just for showing up. I'd love to know who that was, but maybe it's better that I don't...) She would still be willing to let Charlie process in for the test, though, even though he's late. (See what I mean? If we'd been late at Glen Burnie, they'd have booted us out the door!)
That means ChinaBoi has 2 choices--reschedule the test for another day with an interpreter, or take it without one. They can only use interpreters from a certain agency that contracts with MVA, so I can't interpret for him.
He decided to go for it.
We get out in the car and get in line with the other cars for the test. The line was 2 hours long.
Y'all know how to tell if someone has passed or failed, right? If they pass, they end up parking the car in the parking lot and walking back to their loved ones waiting by the tables. If they fail, the examiner is behind the wheel when they come back from the road portion of the test.
During the 2 hours it took to inch our way up to the head of the line, we saw fail after fail after fail. Only one pass. ChinaBoi was a quivering bundle of nerves by the time we got up to the front. When the guy who came out to pre-inspect the car for the examiner realized that Charlie was deaf and didn't have an interpreter, he went back to talk to the examiner. He came back out and confirmed that they couldn't let me interpret, but said they were going to go ahead with the test anyway, the examiner was making up some flashcards and would be out in a few minutes.
The guy came out and introduced himself and his trainee, who would be riding in the back, and I watched as he did the inspection (they order the new driver to turn on the turn signals, headlights, 4-way hazards, blow the horn, turn on the wipers, etc.). The guy was communicating really well with Charlie with gestures.
They finished the inspection and the guys got in the car with Charlie at the wheel and took off. I watched as Charlie went through the parallel parking and the 3-point turn. Then they took him out on the road, out of sight.
That's when I realized I'd been holding my breath. For a really, really long time. As long as he was in sight, I felt a telepathic bond, like I was controlling the car with him. But once he was out of sight, I felt helpless, and the butterflies set in.
Thirteen minutes later, they came back. We were a little worried when we saw the car back so soon, because they had said 15 minutes. Charlie was still at the wheel, so I figured a pass, but when he got out and I signed to him (from a distance) asking, he just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't have a clue. The examiners waved us to come out to the parking lot for a conference. That was a little worrisome....
Then the guy said he passed, and had actually been the best test he'd seen all day. He did advise that Charlie work on starting to slow down a little sooner when he has a stop coming up, said he had a tendency to get up near the sign before braking, but other than that his test was great. (Guess that explains why they were back 2 minutes early, huh?)
BIG group hug, jump-up-and-down party. Then back in to actually do the paperwork to get the license.
One more surprise left, though. After Charlie got his mitts on his brand-new license, we followed him out to the car and watched him get in. He looked at me and motioned me to come on, get in, let's go!
I told him I'd rather ride home with Rick, and we had to make a stop on the way for an errand, so we'd just see him at home when we got back. The look on his face!!! He just could not believe he was going for a solo flight already!
Of course, by the time Rick and I got home, ChinaBoi was nowhere to be found, so of course I had my first case of hyperventilation wondering what happened. Turns out he decided on a whim to stop off at the library and get an armload of books. Not a bad activity for the first solo, but we did have a talk about keeping mom informed on his whereabouts when he's not going to arrive when expected.
That's when he dropped the little bomb on me that a friend wanted to throw an impromptu party for him to celebrate, and he wanted to stay over (he's on spring break, after all....). Please, please, please???
Wow, that didn't take long. I'm starting to feel the empty nest syndrome creeping in.
Did you know that deaf people in China aren't allowed to drive?
