20 Learning to Drive

*Sound Effects*

**Language**

'Thoughts'

"Dialogue"

A couple of days after our first tournament, we had another practice session. The team's morale was soaring high after our successful entry into the tournament. The practice ended on a positive note, with everyone wearing smiles and eagerly looking forward to the next round of the competition.

After practice, Coach Will and I headed back to my apartment. During the ride, just a few minutes away from my place, Coach asked, "You're 18, right, Javi?" I shook my head and replied, "No, I turned 19 on Christmas."

"Oh, even better," he remarked, piquing my curiosity.

Then, he dropped a surprising question, "How do you feel about learning to drive?" I hesitated for a moment before responding, "I'd like to...but I don't want to mess your car up," expressing my concern.

"Don't worry about it," Coach reassured me, his eyes briefly flicking over to meet mine. "I'll take you to an empty parking lot, so you won't hit anything. Once you get more familiar, we can move to the side roads."

"Are you sure?" I asked, seeking confirmation.

"Absolutely," Coach replied with a reassuring smile. "You've got to learn eventually, Javi. You're already an adult, and it's better to learn late than never."

Coach and I arrived at an empty parking lot, ideal for my first driving lesson. He parked his car and then walked me through the basics. We got out, and he had me switch to the driver's seat.

"Alright Javi, let's start with the basics before you start driving," Coach began. He pointed to the various controls – the blinkers, headlights, and windshield wipers – and emphasized the importance of adjusting the rearview and side mirrors. He also stressed the need to use only one foot for the brake and gas pedals to avoid confusion, mentioning that it differs for manual cars where one foot is used for the clutch.

After that, he instructed me to start the car, reminding me to keep my foot on the brake while starting it. I turned the key, and the engine came to life. The sensation was a bit nerve-wracking, but I tried to stay calm.

"Okay, now release your foot from the brake," Coach guided me. I slowly lifted my foot from the brake, and the car began to move forward at a snail's pace. "Now, gently apply the brake," he advised. However, I accidentally pressed a bit harder, causing the car to jerk slightly. Coach remained patient and encouraged me to try again.

After a few attempts, I became better at braking smoothly without causing the car to jerk. Next, Coach said, "Good job. Now, for the next step, slowly press the gas pedal once you release the brake. Remember, use only your right foot for both pedals," he emphasized. I followed his instructions, applying light pressure to the gas pedal, and the car inched forward slightly faster than when using only the brake.

"Alright, now gently press the brakes, just like before," I followed his guidance, bringing the car to a smooth stop with less shaking this time. Coach's patient teaching was helping me get the hang of these fundamental skills, and I was gradually gaining more confidence behind the wheel.

Coach nodded approvingly. "Good job. Now, try going backward." I carefully shifted into reverse and repeated the process. It took a few tries to get the hang of balancing the gas and brake pedals, but I was slowly getting the hang of it.

"Now, let's try driving around the parking lot," Coach suggested. I nervously gripped the steering wheel and eased my foot onto the gas pedal. The car moved forward smoothly, but as I attempted to turn, I overcorrected, causing the car to jerk slightly.

Coach calmly advised, "Take it easy on the steering wheel. Gentle movements." I nodded and continued to navigate through the empty parking lot, making several more hiccups along the way – sometimes accelerating too quickly or braking abruptly. Each time, Coach provided patient guidance and reassured me that these mistakes were a natural part of learning to drive.

As I gained more confidence, my driving improved, and I began to feel more at ease behind the wheel. It was a humbling experience, but with Coach's guidance and support, I knew I was on my way to becoming a competent driver.

"Good, now drive us home," he stated. I looked at him in shock and said, "What!?" He turned to me and said, "Trust me, it's only a minute from here, and there are hardly any cars on this route." He pointed to the quiet road ahead. "Just trust me," he reassured.

I took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly agreed. I carefully adjusted the mirrors, made sure to signal, and slowly started driving under Coach's guidance.

The nerve-wracking journey had its share of minor hiccups, including one impatient driver honking their horn at me for not going fast enough. However, I managed to reach home in one piece and parked the car near the sidewalk.

"Holy crap," I exclaimed, sharing a laugh with Coach. "I told you it's not as bad as you'd think. We'll get more practice in before you hit the main roads and eventually the highway," Coach reassured me.

I climbed out of the driver's seat and thanked Coach, genuinely grateful for his guidance. My mom's schedule made it difficult to get consistent practice with her, and I didn't like the odds of asking a friend or neighbor for help. I didn't want to reach the age of 22 without knowing how to drive, even though I didn't have a car. Public transportation could only take me so far.

"No need to thank me. My dad taught me around your age. He always believed in helping those who are less fortunate, and those words have stayed with me," Coach explained.

"Get inside before your mom starts worrying about you being late," he said jokingly.

I chuckled and thanked him one last time before making my way upstairs smiling along the way.

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A/N: Hope you found the chapter enjoyable. I hope these chapters that grow the depth of the bonds of the characters are well liked. I don't want to make a novel that is soulless and only incorporates basketball games, because for most NBA players, basketball is not the only thing going on. Leave a comment if you liked the chapter! If you'd like to support the story, please consider leaving a review or dropping some stones below.