I wrote about the most boring place on Earth. In any town. In any country really. I didn't think it was possible.. but it happened anyways. - EC
Saturday September 3, 2011
"Are you sure you have everything you need because I really don't like this place." Britt said as they walked into the bland DMV building.
"Yeah I should." Alex said as she shuffled through her folder one more time.
"You should have double checked everything when we were home." Alex stopped shuffling and looked at him.
"It's all here." She said plainly and they got into a line for the counter. Britt looked at all the rows of forms lined up on the counters.
"Why are you getting this now? Don't you usually do this when you're 16?"
"No one ever took me. They didn't offer it through my school and I was never home long enough to say, hey dad, let's go the DMV." Alex answered and Britt nodded.
"Yeah, I didn't really want to ask him to take me. He just kind of brought me one day." Britt said and Alex looked for something in the folder. "Hey, do I have to sign anything?"
"When we get up there, I think you do." Alex looked at the papers in the folder; she had to do a lot just to find half of the things, like her birth certificate and proof of address. She ended up bringing her check from doing some freelance photography at the Sentinel, well just the envelope.
"You're really on top of this." Britt said and he stuck his hands in his pockets. "Did Lenore help you?"
"Maybe." Alex said vaguely and she looked at the line in front of them which still seemed to drag on. Britt took out his phone and started to do something on it.
"Sir," Someone said from behind the counter immediately. "No cell phones." Britt and Alex saw a woman behind the counter point at a huge sign dangling from the ceiling that read 'NO Cell Phones.'
"See," Britt said as he pocketed his phone and Alex only half listened. "I can't even use my phone in this place, it's like behind trapped in the 70's. Between the not using any technology really, the décor, the smell, I just can't stand it."
"Next." Another woman behind the counter said and Alex walked up to her. Britt was so caught up in his rant it took him a moment to realize Alex left.
"And he's," Alex gulped. I can't believe I'm saying this, she thought. "My guardian." She gestured to Britt as he walked up to the counter.
"And what's your relation to her?" The woman asked Britt.
"Uh, I'm her brother." Britt sputtered not really believing it himself either.
"I have the legal papers here." Alex said as she showed her the proof that Britt has custody over her until age 18. The woman looked them over then scribbled something onto another form.
"Sign here." She said in a bored tone and pushed the paper towards Britt. She returned the custody papers to Alex and Alex filed them away as she watched Britt sign his name on the line that read 'parent/legal guardian.' The box next to it read, 'relation to minor Father Mother Other _' ' Other' was checked and 'brother' was scribbled in on the blank.
"That looks marvelous." Britt muttered sarcastically as he admired his signature. The DMV woman ignored him.
"And you sign here," She said to Alex and pointed to a blank under, 'Britt Reid.' Alex signed 'Alex Reid' under it and gave it back to the woman. "Have a seat, and they'll call you to take the knowledge test.
"Let's go." Alex said to Britt as they walked away to sit at some very uncomfortable looking chairs. They both sat down and Alex checked the time on her phone secretly, 10:24 am. She sighed and sat there for what seemed like hours in silence.
"Alex Reid?" A guy behind the counter called.
"Yeah," Alex responded and waved to he saw her, he nodded. "Britt." He didn't respond, he was asleep. "Oh shit." Alex mumbled then thought for a second. She looked back at the counter then quickly jabbed Britt with a pen she was holding.
"Holy shit, ow!" Britt yelled and he grabbed his side where he was poked. Alex shushed him.
"You were sleeping. Hold this." Alex said to a delusional Britt as she handed him her the folder and pen then stood up. She walked behind the counter to take her knowledge test. An elderly couple was still looking at Britt.
"Kids." Britt said and shrugged. The couple looked away and Britt scowled at them. Kids indeed, he thought to himself. I didn't ask to watch her. But I didn't ask for dad to die either though. I guess it makes sense though of mom being really big right before she died. Man, I just thought she was fat Britt thought silently. She was pregnant then apparently, and I guess after Alex was born she was too weak and died. This has to explain why there was a little kid in the house all of a sudden. I thought it was Janet's kid, guess not. Dad must have sent her to boarding school because she reminded him of mom. Well, he was never home anyways so I don't see why he had to,
"I got it!" Alex said as she sat down next to Britt again.
"Got what?" Britt asked coming out of his deep thoughts. Alex gave her, 'are you serious' look again.
"My permit, so I can learn to drive."
"This isn't your license?" Alex shook her head. "Man, you were really fooling me. Well, where is it?"
"Britt, all I did was pass the test. Now I gotta go pay for it then they take my picture then they print it."
"Oh, so that's why you look nice today." Alex glared at him. "But you look nice every day. But I don't really look because that would be weird with us having a sibling relationship."
"Britt?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut. Up."
"Ok."
