Sweet 16 Dream

Cara awoke to the screeching sounds of her obnoxious morning alarm. Despite being sleepy and so rudely ripped from her rest, there was a smile plastered on her face before her eyes ever opened. It was Monday morning and she needed to get a move on. Like any other weekday morning in tenth grade, she had to get ready for school. But this morning was special. This was the last Monday morning before her birthday. The special day was fast approaching. This coming Friday she would be turning sixteen years old, but she was even more excited about her birthday party that would be held on Saturday. She was eager to celebrate this milestone in life with the people she loved.

She had studied hard for her learner's permit and had taken the test on her 15th birthday. The entire last year she had practiced driving with her parents at every opportunity she got. Cara couldn't wait for Friday afternoon. That was when her mother would pick her up after school to take her to the DMV to take her driving test. As excited as she was to get her driver's license she was super charged with excitement over the prospect of getting her own car!

For the last few weeks her parents had obviously been up to something. Smiling in a knowing way at each other. Whispering secret conversations when they thought she was just out of ear shot. Cara's brothers were aware of her anticipation of the big day. They had been teasing her about getting mom's hand me down old van. Cara just rolled her eye's at them. The twins had opted to live at home and commute to their college classes the next town over. They had one more year before graduating with their four year degrees and moving away to attend their university. Cara would miss them when they went. They were all very close and the distance would be such a hard adjustment on them all.

Cara yawned deeply.. Then stretched and got out of bed. She grabbed her cell phone and Bluetooth speaker before grabbing her outfit for the day and heading to the bathroom to shower and get ready for school. Before getting into the shower she unlocked her phone and connected the speaker. Music blasted forth from the little speaker as she stepped into the tub and got under the warm water. She delighted at the hot water as it woke her tired body and reveled in the warmth of the steam that filled the shower and bathroom without.

She was lathering her hair when someone rudely knocked loudly on the bathroom door causing her to startle.

Shaking her head she hollered out, "Yeah??" She heard M.J. as he hollered out over the music coming from her play list, " Other people need to relieve their bladders, sis!" Letting out a giggle and rolling her eyes she replied that she'd be out in a minute. She probably should have been considerate and allowed her brothers the chance to relieve themselves before she hoped into the shower. But they knew her schedule as she was definitely a creature of habit. So really the fault was his own that he had not already handled his business. Besides it was after all her birthday week. So she believed that it wasn't that bad to inconvenience her brothers just a little. Nonetheless, she quickly cleaned the rest of herself and got out. After wrapping her wild red curls into a towel and throwing her clothes on she made sure to exit the bathroom with a quickness. She hollered back over her shoulder as she turned and made her way down the hallway to the stairs that the the bathroom was open. To which M.J snickered and called after her that it was no longer an issue. She gave his reply little thought until she made it down the stairs and rounded the corner to enter the kitchen. There she was met with a comical sight. D.W. was standing on the back porch just outside the kitchen door, the door standing wide open. About the time she realized what he was doing out there, their mother walked into the kitchen and immediately scolded him. "David Wayne Magdalen what on earth is wrong with you, son!! I raised you better, boy!! How dare you step just outside my kitchen where I prepare this family's meals and relieve yourself, like some kind of animal! Emptying your bladder off my porch in front of God and all the neighnors!!! Get yourself inside now before one of the neighbors calls the law and reports you for indecent exposure!!! Mike!! Get your son!!!" Angela stared angrily at him. Her hands positioned on her hips and right foot tapping on the floor. D.W. walked in laughing, clearly happy with himself. He shot a cocky smile in Cara's direction just as Dad showed up and wacked him across the back of his head with the morning paper.

"It's too early in the morning for you to be irritating your mother!" Mike said sternly with a smile threatening at the corners of his mouth and eyes twinkling.

"M.J. did it first. Besides, we weren't able to take advantage of the indoor plumbing. Mom and Cara had both locations occupied!" He hollered over his shoulder as he beat a hasty retreat up the stairs. D.W. was met with laughter from M.J. when he reached the top.

"Boys", mom said with mock annoyance as she shook her head and kissed Mike on the cheek. "Cara honey, goodmorning. Would you hand me the eggs and milk out of the refrigerator please, dear?", she asked as she went to gather the pan from the cabinet. Cara did as she was asked and then went to finish getting ready for school.

When her hair was dry she styled her curls into a neat little bun with a few tendrils hanging down. She decided to just put on a little mascara and lip gloss for the day. Taking one last look in the mirror before heading to breakfast she decided that she very much liked what she saw before her. Blowing a kiss at her reflection she grabbed her bag and went down stairs. Mom and dad were sitting at the table drinking coffee and talking quietly when she entered the kitchen. Her brothers were wolfing down their breakfast like they hadn't eaten in days. Cara shook her head and laughed to herself. "Animals", she muttered as she sat down to join them at the table.

She hardly had time to take a bite of her toast, smothered with butter and her favorite strawberry jam on it, when the boys jumped up loudly. She startled at the sudden movement and the sound of their chairs screeching across the tiled floor. "Thanks, Mom!" they said in unison and then headed towards the front door. Then they quickly disappeared outside, headed to class. Cara looked at her parents and couldn't help but laugh. Mom just shook her head and dad rolled his eyes, grinning. Cara finished her breakfast just as the sound of a car horn was heard. Jumping up and placing her dishes into the sink she turned to hug her parents goodbye.

"Welp, that's Kaylee. Gotta go. Love you guys." She quickly gathered her things and headed out the door. She stopped quickly just before stepping out to reply to her mom and dad who had wished her a good day. "Thanks guys, you too!" With a smile and quick waive goodbye, she pulled the door closed behind her and happily jogged over to Kaylee's car. She enthusiastically greeted her best friend with a huge smile and a squeal.

"HI Kaylee!!" She said as she closed the passenger door and clicked her seat belt across her chest and lap. Her best friend sat there with a smile shaking her head and rolling her eyes before putting the car into drive and pulling down the street. "You are the only person I know that is this chipper on Monday morning! Do you ever have an off day like a normal person?", Kaylee asked with a chuckle. Cara just grinned and shrugged her shoulders before pulling out her phone to check her social media posts.

The girls chatted about their weekend and about Cara's birthday coming up of course. Kaylee was going to help Cara plan the big day and had been working on a guest list. Which really wasn't necessary because of course everyone Cara knew was invited. But Kaylee loved making lists and planning things. So Cara was happy to let her do her thing.

They were deep in conversation when they approached an intersection about a mile away from their school. Neither girl saw the light change as they approached the intersection. They were way to involved in the talk about the weekend coming up. Suddenly, Cara thought her heart would leap right out of her chest as the sounds of not one log truck, but two log truck horns blasted through the air suddenly! She looked up just in time to see that they were running through a busy intersection with log trucks seconds away from hitting them from both directions! Her heart stopped and her breath caught in her throat as she squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the inevitable collision.

Seconds passed and there was no screeching of tires. There was no sound of the trucks crushing the car. Nothing. Cara tentatively opened her eyes and looked around. She saw the road before them. Their school just ahead on the right. She turned to her left and saw Kaylee holding onto the steering wheel as if her life depended on it. Her knuckles white from how tightly she was gripping the wheel. Kaylee was almost hyperventilating. Her chest rising and falling so quickly.

"Holy cow!!!! Kaylee, What the hell??!!!!", Cara blurted out. Her friend continued breathing rapidly, staring straight ahead. She was too terrified to turn her head and look at Cara.

"OMG!!! I can't believe we just did that!!! Girl, we made it! How in the HELL did we make it through that??!!!" Cara yelled out as Kaylee pulled into the school and then into her designated parking spot. The school gave assigned parking spots to students with drivers licenses. Kaylee put the car in park and let her hands drop limply into her lap. She was still staring blankly ahead and slowly shaking her head from side to side. Mouth hanging open, she was still to stunned to say a word.

After a few moments of silence though, Kaylee's breathing regulated and her heart stopped pounding so loudly in her ears. Still trembling slightly she turned and faced Cara. Looking her straight in the eyes she asked, "Can you believe that just happened?! I mean we almost just died!"

The girls just sat staring at each other for a few seconds trying to process what had just happened. Then Kaylee teared up and apologized to Cara for almost killing her. Cara couldn't stand it. She too started crying and reached over and hugged Kaylee tightly. Then reassured her that there was nothing to apologize for. That neither of them had been paying attention. But regardless they were OK. They had survived and it had to be because of Kaylee's quick reaction. The girls sat there a little longer comforting each other and calming down.

After a while Cara took a deep breath and smiled widely at her best friend. "My best friend is a bad a**. You've got to be the best driver in the world. I don't know how you saved us. But you did. We are alive and ok. That's all that matters. I have THE BEST best friend ever! You rock! Now let's go get this day over with. We have lots to celebrate this week!" Cara hugged Kaylee tightly one more time before undoing her seat belt and exiting the car. Kaylee grinned back at her. Then shaking her head and taking one last calming breath, she got out of the car as well. Linking arms the girls laughed and smiled as they headed into the school building to go to class. They only let go of each other when they reached the end of the north hall and had to go separate ways to their individual classes.