One difference between the author and the heroine she wrote at the time of their first driving lesson was sixteen years. Another difference? Mona Smith, age 24, did not have trouble reaching the clutch. Somewhere in her additional years, her legs grew.
Fear not, motorist. Neither of these lessons (real or fictional) took place on a highway.
Note the padded seat. So very welcome when one hits a pocket gopher mound in the field. Simple enough for an eight-year-old. Left foot = clutch. Right foot = brakes. Adjust throttle with right hand. Pause to shift. Large hazard — jerking the clutch tends to dislodge passengers (either standing on drawbar or on attached wagon.)
Check out the sweet small-town romance, Hiding Places, for an account of Mona’s driving lesson. Plus many other things that make June a memorable month at the apple orchard. Follow the link for more details: https://amzn.to/2Jm26GQ
