Posted by Michelle on April 05, 1998 at 17:20:26:

It was a Friday as I remember and I was going to be taking my driving test that afternoon after school. I was slightly nervous as this was going to be a big day for me. I would finally get my driver's license.

School let out and I met my boyfriend Mike over at my house. I gave Mike the keys to my newly purchased VW Beetle as I asked him to drive me to the DMV. I had on a pair of yellow strappy platform sandals with a 4" heel and some suntan colored pantyhose. I also had on a knee length yellow dress. This was what I had worn to school and had no time to change into something a bit more casual.

We got to the DMV and parked in the area where the driver's exams started. I went into the building with my paperwork and took the written part of the test. It was pretty easy and got a 92 on the written portion of the exam. I then walked outside to my car to start the driving portion of the exam.

I got in the car and waited for my examiner to arrive. I was getting a little nervous. Could I do this? I thought. I then reached down to unstrap my sandals and slipped them off my feet. Those platforms were just to clumsy to drive in and this was no time to experiment. I had no concerns about driving barefoot as I had already done it on numerous occasions. I then saw the examiner approach the car. It was a white male in his late forties I would guess and was on the heavy side. Just by his demeanor I could tell I would not get any breaks. He got in the car and bucked the seat belt. He then glanced down at my stocking feet. "Ms. Taylor, where are your shoes?" he asked. "I uh, took them off. I just can't drive in them." I replied. "You need to put your shoes on before this exam can start Ms." he said. "There is no law against driving barefoot sir" I said. "Put your shoes on now or this test will not start." he said with an aggitated tone of voice. I was getting somewhat frustrated myself. I started to reach down for my kicked off sandals then I remembered I had another pair of shoes behind the the seat. I reached back behind the seat fumbling around for my shoes. I finally got a hold of them and pulled then from behind the seat. The shoes were a pair of Dr. Scholl's exercise sandals with a red strap. I loved to wear these but had never actually driven in them. I always took them off before I drove. It was either drive in these or the platform sandals. The choice was clear. I slipped them on and then put my left foot on the clutch and hovered my right foot over the gas pedal. My feet wanted to slide around in the sandals due to the slick stockings I was wearing. This would not be fun.

I started the car and massaged the gas pedal with my sandalled foot. The examiner requested that i back up over a yellow line to see if I could back up in a straight line. This was easy enough. I eased the clutch out slowly and gave it a bit of gas as I backed up the car. I did it without a hitch. It was now on to something else. He then asked me to make a right out of the parking lot and head down the street. The traffic was getting heavy as it was getting into the rush hour. Lots of upshifting and down shifting. I was having a hell of a time driving with those sandals. My braking was a little jerky as was my shifting. I looked over towards the examiner and he seemed to be studying my feet. He had that same sort of look that Mike always had when he drove with me. We stopped at a light and I had the clutch engaged. My foot was sliding out of my sandal and I tried to move my foot back into it. I accidentally slipped my foot off the pedal causing the car to stall. "Having a problem Ms. Taylor" the examiner said with a wise ass tone. "Everything is fine" I replied. I then engaged the clutch and hammered the gas as I started the VW back up. I gunned the car while waiting for the light to change. The examiner seemed to enjoy the show. The light changed and we were off again. he had me do a parallel park and a u-turn. Everything seemed to be going okay considering. We were going about 35 miles an hour down the street when some jerk in a pick-up pulled right out in front of us. I immediately slammed my sandalled feet on the clutch and brake pedals. The tires locked up. I also lost my left sandal in the process, causing the car to stall out again. I yelled out at the driver of the truck. I also reached down and took my sandals off. "I'm sorry sir. These shoes are interfering with my driving and am going to finish this test barefooted" I said frustratedly. The examiner said nothing. He seemed to be enjoying my plight. We headed back towards the DMV. My driving was much smoother and I became more relaxed. When got back and he said I scored a 96. I was so happy. His day seemed complete as well.

I went into the building where I had my picture taken and got that much desired license. I got back outside where Mike was waiting in the car. I got in and he noticed that I had my Dr. Scholl's on. "Are you going to drive in those?" Mike said excitedly. "No way. I already tried it" I replied as I took them off my stocking feet. Mike was happy nonetheless. It was a great drive home.

The End