My condo overlooks a school parking lot. Occasionally, a car arrives, cones are placed, and a teenager slides into the driver’s seat. “Another student is learning to parallel park!” my husband or I will call to the other, who comes running to observe. The two of us stand inside the window and shout out what the instructor is surely advising calmly. The car turns and backs, turns and eases forward, pauses, backs, then pulls forward to begin anew. After the student succeeds, they step out of the car and six arms raise in cheer: mine, my husband’s, and the student’s.
Sonya Ewan is working on her book, Tall: A Memoir of Growing, in Minneapolis. She always stops to watch when there's a parallel parking lesson. sonyaewan.com Twitter and Instagram: @sonyaewan