By Karen Lamb.
We are the only ones there, all the other kids at school and their parents at work.
‘Can I have a go this time?’
So keen now that he has seen me, his dad and his uncle all drive these go karts.
‘I don’t know if you are tall enough yet—maybe though.’
‘I reckon I am tall enough—can you go and ask them?’
Tall enough at last, it’s hard for Andrew to stand still as they put a hair net over his long blonde curls. Then it’s time to cram one of those full-face helmets over his little head—but this freaks him out.
‘Do I have to do that?
… I can’t do it!’
Andrew’s excitement to finally drive runs headlong into his feelings of overwhelm at being encased in that helmet.
‘Oh dear, you will be able to do it—but maybe not today. We’ll be back here really soon though.’
The day finally comes when Andrew can steel himself for that squeeze as the helmet gets pushed hard over his head. He drives slowly and carefully around the track, following what he has observed and what he has been told.
‘Try it a little faster, and only brake before each turn, especially that tight one.’
The guy who owns the track is taking an interest; he watches the next attempt of our pint-sized, would-be racer.
‘Better! Let me draw the right line on the whiteboard, and you try to follow it.’
Half an hour later, our paid time long exceeded, Andrew is exhausted and BUZZING. Every adult is smiling.
‘When can we come back?!’
‘Soon, really soon.’
Whatever activity evokes such engagement and motivation is something we know we will be pursuing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Lamb moved to Geelong from Melbourne to enjoy an early retirement. Always interested in writing, she is now taking advantage of her extra available time to try her hand at memoir – particularly focussed on the experience of homeschooling her son (before the pandemic made it fashionable). She enjoys Geelong’s urban, yet relaxed lifestyle and is passionate about creative pursuits and climate change activism.
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