Y is for Yielding
--------------------------------------------
Characters: Adam Rove and Grace Polk
Rating: PG
Genre: Gen
Summary: Adam and Grace take a drive
Character Age: roughly 14 1/2
Joaniverse: pre-TV show
Author's Note: Thanks go out to Laura for helping me get inspired for this prompt
--------------------------------------------
"Dude, stop!!" Grace yelled.
Adam hit the brake pedal, but the car didn't stop until a few feet into the crossing. An approaching car swerved to the right to avoid hitting their fender.
He had never been the tallest person, and he didn't want to adjust the seat for fear his father might notice that he'd taken the truck without permission—or a driving license.
"Didn't you see the Yield sign?" Grace chided him.
"What Yield sign?"
Grace shook her head. "You shouldn't be driving. You're 14! There's a good reason why it's not legal to drive if you're under 16."
Adam looked left and right and released the clutch when the road was clear. The truck started moving again.
"You weren't quite so squeamish when we set out to do this."
"Well, I didn't know you couldn't drive when we set out to do this!"
He pulled over on the hard shoulder. Grace looked at him. "What are you doing?"
"If you think you can do it better, why don't you drive?"
Her voice was suddenly exasperated. "Did I say I can do it better?"
"No, but—"
"But what? We have somewhere to be. Drive."
"I don't wanna drive if you think I'm a bad driver."
"Look, here's the thing. I can't drive a stick shift. So I'm stuck here with you. It's either you or walking. Now shut up and drive."
"Okay," he relented. Under his breath he muttered, "I can drive just fine."
The engine made a loud and unhealthy creaking sound as he tried to release the gear without pushing down on the clutch.