Jack Passed The Test

Jack, under the personal guidance of Jemmy, breezed through all the formalities. In less than ten minutes, he found himself seated behind the wheel, ready to start his driving test.

It had been years since Jack last drove a car, and honestly, he didn't feel as confident as he wanted to.

The coach and the safety officer in the vehicle didn't show even the slightest hint of impatience. In fact, they both had encouraging smiles plastered on their faces, urging Jack to try again after his latest mistake. "Don't worry about it," the coach said warmly, clapping Jack lightly on the shoulder. "It takes time to get the hang of it. You're doing just fine."

Jack's heart was pounding in his chest. He had been struggling with the controls since he started, making more errors than he would have liked. First, he'd misjudged the amount of pressure needed on the gas pedal, causing the car to lurch forward too quickly. Then, during his first attempt at parking, he had completely botched the angle, leaving the car awkwardly askew in the parking space.

"Relax, Jack. You're gripping the wheel too tightly," the safety officer said with a chuckle. "It's not going anywhere without you. Loosen up a little."

Taking a deep breath, Jack nodded, his hands slick with nervous sweat. "Right... right, okay," he muttered, easing his death grip on the wheel.

This time, as he gently applied the gas, the car moved smoothly. He followed the coach's directions carefully, adjusting the steering wheel ever so slightly as he maneuvered the vehicle. It wasn't perfect—far from it—but it was a huge improvement over his previous attempts. Jack was beginning to get a feel for the car again, though it had been years since he'd driven one.

When he finally drove the car back to the starting point, Jack felt a wave of relief wash over him. As the car came to a halt, he glanced out of the window. He could see the other candidates queuing up under the scorching midday sun, waiting their turn to practice driving or to take their test. Their faces were drenched in sweat, their movements sluggish as they shifted impatiently from foot to foot.

Jack couldn't help but notice the stark difference in how they were treated. The other candidates were constantly berated by their coaches if they made even the slightest mistake, and many of them wore expressions of frustration or anxiety. One young man, who had clearly stalled the car multiple times, was getting scolded relentlessly by his coach. "Again? How many times are you going to mess this up?"

Compared to them, Jack was living in an entirely different world. No harsh words, no impatient sighs. Instead, he had the personal attention of the coach and the safety officer, both of whom seemed more invested in making sure he passed than in pointing out his mistakes. The contrast was not lost on him.

Jack's heart continued to race, not just from the nerves of the driving test, but from something else entirely. For the first time, a thought struck him—power. Watching the other candidates struggle while he breezed through with encouragement and support left an impression. Money could only get someone so far, but power… power was something entirely different. It could open doors, smooth over difficulties, and make obstacles disappear.

He mulled over the thought as he sat in the car, his fingers still gripping the steering wheel loosely. Money could determine a person's lower limit, yes, but power had the ability to break through that ceiling. If money built the foundation, power built the empire on top of it.

Jack didn't delve too deeply into these musings, but a small seed had been planted in his mind. The concept of power lingered, making him realize just how much of an advantage it truly was.

Although Jack only had to complete the third part of the driving test, it still took him two or three hours to finish everything. His mistakes in the beginning had eaten up a lot of time, and he spent quite a while familiarizing himself with the vehicle, correcting his errors and adjusting his technique. But, to his great relief, he finally passed.

As soon as the third part of the test was over, Jemmy appeared with a wide grin on his face, holding out something in his hand. It was Jack's driver's license, gleaming in the afternoon light.

Jack's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he took it. "Already? It's all done?" His mouth twitched slightly, a mix of amusement and disbelief crossing his face. He hadn't even finished the test when the license was already being prepared for him. In the end, the actual driving test had been more of a formality—a practice session to ensure he was comfortable behind the wheel.

Jemmy chuckled, handing over the license with a knowing smile. "Of course! We had it ready for you. We just needed you to pass the third part to make sure everything was in order."

Jack couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking his head. The license had been waiting for him all along. In truth, there wasn't anything wrong with how Leo had arranged things—everything had been done for Jack's safety and to make sure he passed without issue. It was a considerate arrangement, and Jack certainly wasn't going to complain about it.

Taking the license in hand, Jack looked at Jemmy with genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Uncle Jemmy. Really, I appreciate all your help today. I'll have to treat you to a meal sometime soon."

Jemmy waved his hands dismissively, still smiling. "No need for that! This was just a small favor, nothing more. Happy to help."

Jack smiled, appreciating the gesture but knowing that Uncle Leo had probably arranged everything beforehand. Jemmy was likely receiving some sort of compensation or benefit from Leo, which explained his eagerness and generosity. Jack didn't overthink it too much. He would simply report back to Leo later and make sure everything was in order.