55 Days

I am 17 in a quandary
At 5 pm in the evening
Having invited a pretty
Girl to go to the movies
At the local cinema to
See 55 Days at Peking.
My quandary is not the
Abysmal choice of the
Film but because I have
No car nor do I know how
To drive one which makes
It difficult to pick her up at
Her house at 7:30 pm tonight.
Then, my mother and father
Leave for the evening picked
Up by their friends and having
Left the car keys on the
Dining room table with
Me staring at them
While the land
Yacht of a
Ford
Station
Wagon sits
In the driveway waiting,
At 7:15 pm I cautiously
Back the car out of the
Driveway and manage to
Drive it five blocks to her
House then four blocks to
The cinema where I have
Where I must try to angle
Park it which I do except
I tap the bumper of the
Car in front causing
No damage but
A noisy stop then
Escort my date
Inside to
Watch
The
Movie.
After a half
Hour my date
Excuses herself
To use the ladies
Room but does not
Come back leaving me
Standing by the ladies room
After the show has ended
Wondering where she is
Asking an usherette
To check inside for
Me getting the
Answer no
One is
There.
I drive home
Park in our driveway
And phone my
Date whose
Father asks
Me if I am
Drunk
Eliciting my
Telling the above
Story which he
Finds to be
Believable
And takes
Pity on
Me,
He never
Contacts my
Parents and I
Keep quiet about
My adventure
Which I am
Thinking
Of a
Year later
When I learn
How to drive and
Get my license.
Each time I
See a 55
MPH
Speed limit
Sign I am humbled
At my luck with 55
Days at Peking
And slow
Down.