Wally is seventeen and is hoping to get his learner's permit. The commercial is playing and I'm guessing June won't be happy. I was right. Ward hesitates and June calls Ward out of the room. Yet, even Eddie Haskell has a license. June is adamant, Ward says they promised.
Wally plans to sign up for driver's ed. Mr. Barnsdall is the teacher, but Wally has a backseat driver, Shirley Fletcher. Shirley knows everything, and Wally gets so distracted that he forgets to turn the key to start the car. Poor Wally is off to a questionable start and stop. Mr. Barnsdall has faith in Wally and understands how Shirley can be a distraction. Finally, Wally is ready; he's got the physical part down, now he has to pass the written exam. But in preparing, he has a room of kibitzers: Ward, Beaver, and JUNE.
Even Eddie gets into the act; he's an expert as he's been driving for two months. Wally finally breaks away from June who believes 300 ft. between cars is a safe distance. Bottom line. If Eddie could pass the written exam, anyone could (took Eddie three times).
It is the morning of the exam, Wally is not hungry. Well if your nervous, maybe you should postpone the test. Shirley was there first and the examiner is detailing a long list for her, she failed. She claims the examiner doesn't like teenagers; apparently, he liked Wally. So, Dad can I have the car tonight. Wally has a date, not yet, but when you get your license you know you have to have a date.
Wally is out and Eddie stops by to wait and make June more nervous. Wally makes it home and has an idea; how about a second set of keys. Ward muses about this being a sign that Wally is growing up. Yep, it's car, college, job, marriage, kids . . .No, wait a minute yells June, who is too young to be a grandma.
Upstairs Wally has his own musing which he shares with the brother: the responsibility of driving a car, the need to make sure you never injure anyone, etc. For Wally too the license is a signifier of transition from child to adult.
I read that many young people have put off getting a license and have little interest in cars. I have not seen that among the students I teach. They are still anxious to get a license, but we haven't had a year pass that I can recall we didn't lose at least one student to an accident. I am honestly surprised in it is only one as so many of them admit to texting and driving. I'm not sure getting a license has the significance it had in Wally's day. I remember it well as a big deal in a teen's life.
Wally plans to sign up for driver's ed. Mr. Barnsdall is the teacher, but Wally has a backseat driver, Shirley Fletcher. Shirley knows everything, and Wally gets so distracted that he forgets to turn the key to start the car. Poor Wally is off to a questionable start and stop. Mr. Barnsdall has faith in Wally and understands how Shirley can be a distraction. Finally, Wally is ready; he's got the physical part down, now he has to pass the written exam. But in preparing, he has a room of kibitzers: Ward, Beaver, and JUNE.
Even Eddie gets into the act; he's an expert as he's been driving for two months. Wally finally breaks away from June who believes 300 ft. between cars is a safe distance. Bottom line. If Eddie could pass the written exam, anyone could (took Eddie three times).
It is the morning of the exam, Wally is not hungry. Well if your nervous, maybe you should postpone the test. Shirley was there first and the examiner is detailing a long list for her, she failed. She claims the examiner doesn't like teenagers; apparently, he liked Wally. So, Dad can I have the car tonight. Wally has a date, not yet, but when you get your license you know you have to have a date.
Wally is out and Eddie stops by to wait and make June more nervous. Wally makes it home and has an idea; how about a second set of keys. Ward muses about this being a sign that Wally is growing up. Yep, it's car, college, job, marriage, kids . . .No, wait a minute yells June, who is too young to be a grandma.
Upstairs Wally has his own musing which he shares with the brother: the responsibility of driving a car, the need to make sure you never injure anyone, etc. For Wally too the license is a signifier of transition from child to adult.
I read that many young people have put off getting a license and have little interest in cars. I have not seen that among the students I teach. They are still anxious to get a license, but we haven't had a year pass that I can recall we didn't lose at least one student to an accident. I am honestly surprised in it is only one as so many of them admit to texting and driving. I'm not sure getting a license has the significance it had in Wally's day. I remember it well as a big deal in a teen's life.
