The Quest For a Learner's Permit
Since her 15th birthday two months ago, our hero Hannah has been on a quest to find the elusive learners permit. She spent thirty hours of research and study and finally received the elusive certificate for completing a drivers education course, and the time had arrived for the final battle.
Yesterday, as soon as she arrived home from school and had lunch, she armed herself with her hard won certificate, her social security card, her birth certificate, and her heroic chauffeur (and her chauffeur's driver's license and check book) and together they set off on the quest. They arrived at the Department of Motor Vehicles, easily found a parking space and entered the building to find only a half dozen people sitting in comfortable chairs waiting a chance to speak with the guardians at the desk. With a sense that something was not quite right, the chauffeur spoke to an armed security guard standing by the door.
"Can we get a learner's permit here?"
"No." The guard replied. "You have to go to the DMV on 120th and Washington. They are the only ones who do licences."
Frustrated, but still undaunted, our heroes made their way the nine miles to the other DMV. The parking lot outside this building was crowded, but our heros were able to find a parking space across the parking lot. As they walked across the lot, they heard a loud speaker announcing numbers occasionally, like some monstrous Bingo game: "Now serving A290 at desk 6. A290 at desk 6."
We entered the crowded room. The fifty seats in the center of the room were pretty much filled, and several more people stood around the edges of the room. An official looking lady standing near the entrance nodded towards some kiosk machines. "Take a number" she said.
Just to make sure, the chauffeur again asked, "Can we get a learner's permit here?"
"Yes," the lady looked concerned. "But if you're not up to a desk by 4:30, you'll have to come back another day.
The chauffeur glanced at her watch. It was 1:55. They took a number: P740. Then they walked to an empty spot to wait. The number ticket estimated the wait would be about two hours. After about ten minutes, Hannah and her chauffeur decided to return home and come back in an hour. They returned to the car and traveled the 4 and a half miles home, where they assured themselves that the heroic boys had left school and safely arrived back at hero headquarters.
An hour later, they climbed back into the car, made sure they still had their supplies, and headed back to the crowded offices of the DMV. This time, they parked even farther from the entrance. As they entered the room, there didn't appear to be any fewer people there. If anything, the crowds had grown.
The chauffeur talked to the official lady by the door. "Have they called P740 yet?"
"No," The lady said after consulting her computer. "P736 will be the next P number."
A number was called and Hannah and her chauffeur managed to take the seats that were vacated. After about ten minutes, the announcer called P736. Ten minutes later, P737 was called. At about 3:45, an official came out and announced that all written tests would end at 4:30, and that anyone who wasn't called up to a desk by 5pm would have to go home and return another day. Because of that, they were going to do things a little differently. Those who had an arrival time on their number slips of 1:00 to 1:30 were to stand in a line. Two people got in line. Next, those who had arrived between 1:30 and 1:45 were to get in line. Five or six more people got in line. Then 1:45 to 2:00, and Hannah and her chauffeur stood up and got in line, where their number slip was checked and verified. Other times were called, until most of the people were standing in line - a line that wrapped around half of the large room. More desks were opened up, and the line actually moved fairly quickly, and , at about 3:55, Hannah was finally able to approach the desk of the mighty DMV worker.
She presented her credentials: the birth certificate, the social security card, the certificate for competing 30 hours of drivers education. Finally she was told to go to the testing area and use testing machine #1 to take the written test. Ten minutes later, the test completed successfully, they again waited for the same worker they had talked to before. When she was available, they again approached the desk. Forms were filled out - the chauffeur heroically taking full liability for Hannah's driving. Hannah's vision was checked. Other forms were filled out and signed. A check was written.
Then they were sent back to the chairs to wait again. Ten minutes later, Hannah's name was called and she was told to proofread a form and sign it. After another short wait, her fingerprint and photo were taken. Finally, over two and a half hours from when she had first entered the building, as a result of her heroic patience and endurance, a temporary 30 days learner's permit was in her hand! She was assured as she left that the more permanent learners permit should arrive in the mail in the next 30 days, and if not, all she had to do was come back!
Quest accomplished, she returned home triumphant, and looking forward to the new adventures that awaited her as she learned the secrets of the learners permit and prepared for a greater quest: the search for an actual driver's license!
Yesterday, as soon as she arrived home from school and had lunch, she armed herself with her hard won certificate, her social security card, her birth certificate, and her heroic chauffeur (and her chauffeur's driver's license and check book) and together they set off on the quest. They arrived at the Department of Motor Vehicles, easily found a parking space and entered the building to find only a half dozen people sitting in comfortable chairs waiting a chance to speak with the guardians at the desk. With a sense that something was not quite right, the chauffeur spoke to an armed security guard standing by the door.
"Can we get a learner's permit here?"
"No." The guard replied. "You have to go to the DMV on 120th and Washington. They are the only ones who do licences."
Frustrated, but still undaunted, our heroes made their way the nine miles to the other DMV. The parking lot outside this building was crowded, but our heros were able to find a parking space across the parking lot. As they walked across the lot, they heard a loud speaker announcing numbers occasionally, like some monstrous Bingo game: "Now serving A290 at desk 6. A290 at desk 6."
We entered the crowded room. The fifty seats in the center of the room were pretty much filled, and several more people stood around the edges of the room. An official looking lady standing near the entrance nodded towards some kiosk machines. "Take a number" she said.
Just to make sure, the chauffeur again asked, "Can we get a learner's permit here?"
"Yes," the lady looked concerned. "But if you're not up to a desk by 4:30, you'll have to come back another day.
An hour later, they climbed back into the car, made sure they still had their supplies, and headed back to the crowded offices of the DMV. This time, they parked even farther from the entrance. As they entered the room, there didn't appear to be any fewer people there. If anything, the crowds had grown.
The chauffeur talked to the official lady by the door. "Have they called P740 yet?"
"No," The lady said after consulting her computer. "P736 will be the next P number."
A number was called and Hannah and her chauffeur managed to take the seats that were vacated. After about ten minutes, the announcer called P736. Ten minutes later, P737 was called. At about 3:45, an official came out and announced that all written tests would end at 4:30, and that anyone who wasn't called up to a desk by 5pm would have to go home and return another day. Because of that, they were going to do things a little differently. Those who had an arrival time on their number slips of 1:00 to 1:30 were to stand in a line. Two people got in line. Next, those who had arrived between 1:30 and 1:45 were to get in line. Five or six more people got in line. Then 1:45 to 2:00, and Hannah and her chauffeur stood up and got in line, where their number slip was checked and verified. Other times were called, until most of the people were standing in line - a line that wrapped around half of the large room. More desks were opened up, and the line actually moved fairly quickly, and , at about 3:55, Hannah was finally able to approach the desk of the mighty DMV worker.
She presented her credentials: the birth certificate, the social security card, the certificate for competing 30 hours of drivers education. Finally she was told to go to the testing area and use testing machine #1 to take the written test. Ten minutes later, the test completed successfully, they again waited for the same worker they had talked to before. When she was available, they again approached the desk. Forms were filled out - the chauffeur heroically taking full liability for Hannah's driving. Hannah's vision was checked. Other forms were filled out and signed. A check was written.
Then they were sent back to the chairs to wait again. Ten minutes later, Hannah's name was called and she was told to proofread a form and sign it. After another short wait, her fingerprint and photo were taken. Finally, over two and a half hours from when she had first entered the building, as a result of her heroic patience and endurance, a temporary 30 days learner's permit was in her hand! She was assured as she left that the more permanent learners permit should arrive in the mail in the next 30 days, and if not, all she had to do was come back!
Quest accomplished, she returned home triumphant, and looking forward to the new adventures that awaited her as she learned the secrets of the learners permit and prepared for a greater quest: the search for an actual driver's license!
Comments
Post a Comment