Continuation of travelling with Rob in La Belle France

“Mom, you must be crazy. How can I stop in this traffic?” Rob replies with irritation.

His face has regained some colour, and his expression has some assertiveness.

“Look for the sun; where is the sun?” he asks impatiently.

“What do you need the sun for?” I cry out in disbelief.

“To turn west, ” he replies curtly.

I locate the sun peeking behind some buildings to the right. Without stalling, Rob succeeds in turning west onto a secondary highway. I fervently pray for safe passage.

My prayers seem to be answered. The traffic is easing, the car rolls smoothly, and my heartbeat slows. After successfully entering a deserted country road, Rob sighs in relief.

“I can handle this baby now. The funny pin I have been pulling is only for the reverse gear. The dealer didn’t tell me. I had to find out the hard way, ” he smiles, stopping the car in a slightly sloping parking spot near a country lane. Freshly plowed fields of white chalk-like soil stretch before us. A rooster is crowing from a farm nearby. Birds are singing. The morning is still young.

“You can have your walk now, “Rob laughs, jumping out of the vehicle and sprinting with his long legs toward a blossoming orchard.

 Rob had talked too soon. The capricious “baby” of a car started rolling as soon as I stepped out. Trying to hold on to the open door, I started screaming in desperation. In one leap, Rob was there and, with the unexpected presence of mind, corrected the problem. He had left the clutch in neutral.

We silently walk for a long while along the quiet country road, trying to recover from our last shock. The air is crisp, the sky a hazy blue, and the early morning sun radiates gentle warmth. We come to a small river, leisurely meandering through the pastoral landscape. We sit in solitude on a bench, listening to the water’s soothing prattle. The meadow is lush green, and bees are buzzing around buttercups. Suddenly, as if on cue, we both burst out laughing. Racked with laughter, we run back to the capricious little car. Our tension eases. We are ready to continue our adventure with restored confidence.

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