July 1988Ennis and bobby are tying down the load of feed, building supplies and weekly staples on his old pickup ready to head back to Lightning Flat. Ennis was insistent this trip to drive his truck.
"Bobby...Why don't ya drive us home?" tossing him the keys.
"Umm...wel.....umm...."
"Go on ...git in...."
"Umm....."
"Whut's 'sa matter?....cat got yer tongue?....first time Ah ever heard of a Twist bein' tongue tied....Go on."
"Can't..."
"Whut.... whut is it son?"
"Don't know how ta drive a stick...never leaned.....sorry Ennis..." Bobby looking down.
"Don't them fancy tractors at Newsomes have clutches?"
"Naw...leasts I think they work automatic...when ya move the levers."
"'Bout time ya learn't then....Whut if ya when ta Europe er somethin'...don't think ya can rent a car there with and automatic Huh?...Whut if Ah fainted on the way back? Huh?...whut er ya gonna do then?....It's okay son...go on git in."
"Now most cars 'n trucks these days have the lever on the floor but Ah got it here the the column. Back and down is low, then up and forward is second and then straight down is high. Here now you try it and practice pushin' in the clutch each time ya move the lever. An when ya need ta back up reverse is back and up. When ya start off on low you let off the clutch real easy like...practice jut real steady....see the clutch is hooked ta the motor, that part is a big round disk always turnin' other part to the transmission....when you push theys separate....let out theys together." Ennis pushes his hands together to illustrate the workings. Bobby made several dry runs going thru the gears.
"Now go ahead put her in neutral, push in the clutch...start her up." Bobby turns the ignition the old Ford 240CID six comes to life. "Go on ...ya c'n pull on in ta the street." Bobby lets out the clutch and with a couple of lurches the truck stalls. Ennis puts his hand gently on Bobby's shoulder. "Is okay son....happen's ta ever body first time....try 'n relax....no one behind ya." On the third try Bobby manages to get the truck rolling and with a few lurches through the gears.
"Good thing yer gettin' yourself a new pickup this fall...might ruin this one by the time we get back."
"Don't ya worry none....if this ol' truck c'n survive your daddy drivin' it, it live thru anythin'"
"Pop?....he drove this truck?"
"A time or two...think it was the only time he drove a shift since that old black pickup he use ta have....stalled it all the time...." Ennis smiled back at him, both braking into laughter. By they time the arrived at Lightning Flat, Ennis having him do countless stop and starts, Bobby was fit to drive anything.