Semi-Truck, School Bus and Toyota Camery

There’s nothing like a little neighborhood car drama to get your morning started. Here’s the scenario: Mark and I have just gotten into the car and have pulled out into the street. Toyota Camery is in front of us. School Bus is trying to make a left hand turn onto our street, and Semi-Truck is waiting behind us to see how this will unfold.

Now, because Toyota Camery has pulled up too far, School Bus cannot complete his left hand turn. He opens his window, and starts talking to Toyota Camery. From the looks of it, the two know each other and have simply stopped for a quick morning chat. This is probably not the case, as School Bus is most likely trying to inform Toyota Camery that she needs to move, but this exchange has lasted a little too long for our liking. From inside our car, both Mark and I are coaching the Toyota Camery on what needs to take place in order for the bus to make its turn. I’m sure that was not helpful for Toyota Camery, but it gave us something to do.

Then the movement begins. Toyota Camery starts to back up. One would think that this would solve the problem. The bus would be able to pass and we would be on our way, but here is where things get more complicated. We soon discover that Toyota Camery cannot back up in a straight line. There was much debate as to why this might be, but that will have to wait for later. Toyota Camery has now successfully backed up to the left and is now sitting in the middle of the street still blocking the bus from getting by. After the reality of this has set in, Toyota Camery pulls forward again to try and rectify the situation. Once again, Toyota Camery backs up but this time to the right and it appears as if she is planning on turning around in order to go the opposite direction. This is not the case however, as she once again waits for the bus to move. Toyota Camery is now sitting horizontal in the street still preventing the bus from getting by. Seeing that this is not working, a third attempt is made as she pulls forward once again. It appears as if she might actually make it this time, but at the last moment Toyota Camery turns too far to the right and backs into the car that is parked to the right of us. At this point in time, Mark and I are beside ourselves at the horrendous driving ability of Toyota Camery. Who would have thought that something as simple as backing up in a straight line could prove to be such a difficult task?

By now, Toyota Camery has somehow straightened out in front of us. The School Bus has now completed his turn and there is but a glimmer of hope that we will finally be able to actually leave our housing complex. As we sit there waiting to escape this surreal drama, all glimmer of hope disappears as Toyota Camery puts her hazards on, parks her car, and gets out to survey the damage. This would not be a problem except for the fact that School Bus cannot get past Semi-Truck waiting patiently behind us. We are now officially blocked in. There is nothing left to do but scream and motion furiously for Toyota Camery to park her car on the street in front of the car she hit. After a moment or two, she seems to understand that she is the cause of the traffic jam behind her. Maybe it was Mark’s blaring horn that opened her eyes to this realization. Whatever it was, we were relieved that she got the drift and moved her car so that we could finally be released from the seemingly claustrophobic situation.

Ah…what a way to start out the day!