THE FORKIE PHILOSOPHER

While contemplating the perils of reversing out of my driveway, I was reminded of another near miss. This was not as long ago.

I was reversing out of my driveway as I have done thousands of times. Today did not seem to be any kind of exception. I was checking my mirrors and moving out quite fast since I was supremely confident in this task at this stage of my driving career.

As the rear of my car was just about to hit the footpath I checked my rear vision mirror. All I saw was a pinkish blur whizzing past the rear window of my car. I hit my brakes just in time to avoid slamming into the mystery blob.

It continued and passed my driveway.

I was at a complete stop now and I hopped out of my car to see what the hell had just happened. I was met with an accusing glare from the father who had stopped short of my driveway. He was obviously planning to be the next blur to whizz past the rear of my car but had stopped when he saw me coming.

On the other side of the driveway was a little girl wearing a pink helmet standing beside her scooter. This was the pinkish blur that I had so narrowly avoided squishing.

She seemed oblivious to the near fatal clash she had just avoided. The father was giving me the evil eye as he passed by. I assumed he was placing the entire fault at my feet and ignoring the part his carelessness had played. It was he who allowed his daughter to ride her scooter on the footpath so close to driveways. I put a lot of his anger down to shock and I fully accept my part in this near tragedy.

From that day on I always reverse very slowly out of my driveway. I know I can’t see all angles at once no matter how hard I try, so I move very slowly. Fuck that was close!!!