Continuation of my Travels with Rob to la Belle France

In the cheerful breakfast room, the sunlight makes the fresh daffodils on the tables glow like miniature suns. While I am still savouring an extra cup of strong coffee, Rob returns with the car he has rented for our sightseeing tour. It is a small Renault, and Rob’s head almost touches the roof, and his knees are on the steering wheel. Settling comfortably into my seat, I am joyful and excited about our sightseeing trip.

Rob is nervously manipulating the clutch to get out of the tight parking spot when suddenly, the car jumps into reverse, almost hitting the vehicle behind us. I am instantly on the alert.

“Are you familiar with the controls of this vehicle, Rob?” I ask, trying to keep a calm tone so as not to shock him into further erratic moves.

Slightly annoyed, Rob answers, “Yes, Mom, but the clutch seems stuck. “

I hold my breath until he maneuvers the vehicle onto the road. There, it stalls momentarily and then starts bolting like a bucking horse. Luckily, there are no other vehicles on this quiet side road.

A bit jerkily, Rob enters the main traffic route leading through the city. In the morning rush hour, it is congested. We move along smoothly for a while, and I relax until Rob slows down at the bridge entrance.  Suddenly, the clutch seems to get stuck again. The car jerks into reverse, almost hitting the vehicle behind us. An instant cacophony of a multitude of honking horns adds to our panic. Rob’s face and knuckles are ghastly white from shock, but he immediately manages to regain control and safely crosses the bridge, moving along with the traffic. My heart, however, continues to pound wildly with fear. I feel faint but dare not say a word lest I might cause another disturbance. I have visions of Peter bemoaning the loss of his wife and oldest son in France. I am so nervous my mouth is parched. I want to leave this erratic vehicle and walk along the quietly flowing river to our right.

“Rob, can we stop for a while? I need a little walk, I whispered in a hoarse voice.”

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