Category : Stories

Sub Category : YoungAdult

Lilly and the Automobile

By: Martha Williamson 

(AKA) M. Lynette Hume


Sometime around 1920, Morgan Lee purchased his first automobile. The moment she saw him pull into the yard Lilly looked at the metal beast and said " You might be a beast from Hell, But, I will drive you ." My mind is set Morgan will teach me to master you." she said as she swatted the contraption with her aoron .

Lilly had forgotten a few minor details one until this very moment , she had never seen an automobile . And second she had no earthly idea how the thing operated . What she did know was if Morgan could drive the thing, he could teach her to drive it too.

Morgan promised , " Someday, when I have time , I will teach you how to drive .

secretly Morgan hoped she would forget this foolishness of a woman driving. A woman's place is in the home cooking, cleaning, raising children and producing more children for her husband so in his old age he won't need to work. Women were to weak ans to emotional to drive . For weeks  it seemed Morgan's wish had come true . Lilly did not mention learning to drive .

Lilly watched in silence and waited as Morgan's mastery of the machine became most expert. He had never broken his word to her so ' someday when he had time ' Morgan , would teach her to drive .  She trusted her husband and she waited while Morgan taught his brothers to drive . She made excuses to herself  " Morgan is still testing the car for safety" when he was 100% positive the car would not harm her , He would keep his promise and teach her to drive .

For months she waited each time she brought the driving lesson to his attention ; Morgan had a " reason " for postponing the driving lesson . Slowly, she began to question " Would Morgan ever teach her to drive ?" In time the devil on her shoulder began to tell her " Lilly, if you want to drive , Find another teacher "  the little devil continued to whisper in her ear you know Morgan should have taught you to drive before he taught the first of his brothers. That little devil continued to taunt her whispering , " Morgan will never teach you to drive . He has no intention of teaching you ever ,

Lilly pondered on all her doubtful nature had whispered to her . She thought about it and she prayed about it . What belonged to Morgan; by the sacred laws of God and man belonged to her . She was  bone of his bone. flesh of his flesh' if it was safe for Morgan and his brothers "blood of his blood " to drive it was safe enough for her .

That evening she secretly asked Rob , Morgan's youger brother to teach her to drive . He asied his sister in law one question , " waht did Morgan say" Lilly explained Morgan said , When he has time , he will teach me to drive. Lilly gazed out the window as she replied " Morgan just can't find the time "

Rob had heard Morgan promise to teach Lilly when he had time . Lilly watched as Rob started the car . She had to learn everything right on the first lesson because once Morgan knew what they were up to there would be no second lesson . Rob was careful to give LIlly exact instructions on what to do and exactly how to do each step properly and safely.

Lilly was attentive to her instructor's directions following every word perfectly . Push in on the clutch ease off , give it very little fuel we want to start off slowly and in time as you become more confident , more comfortable ,then you can increase your speed . Lilly trusted Rob, she listend and obeyed

The beast jerked and roared to life suddenly the metal mechanical beast roared to life like the wind. The car and they were headed straight for a tree. Lilly took her hands off the steering wheel and placed them over her face as if she expected Rob or Jesus to cease control of the contraption. Lilly prayed ," Lord ,Stop this devilish machine PLEASE !

Rob , strained to keep his voice under control as he instructed his terrorfied student " Lilly, take both feet off the pedals  and allow the car to stop itself . Lilly was froze in position with her feet firmly on the pedals . There was no way to avoid hitting the tree. Rob spotted a grassy area and shoved Lilly from the driver's seat.

When word of the accident reached the saw mill Morgan immediately abandoned his saw . The saw , the logs, the mill would all be there . He had to see Lilly , He had to see for himself that she and Rob were  alright . Morgan had to see how bad the damage was to his family and his car.

Morgan scolded his wife severly making her promise she would never again go behind his back and solicit another man to teach her the things she wanted and needed to know . Morgan promised Lilly, if she were caught in another car with a man other than him , he would not hesitate to take a hickory switch to her .

Rob was threatened with the whipping of his life if he dared to give Lilly another driving lesson .

Morgan meant business and Rob Knew it ,