Giantess gets a driver's license.
A few days after Freya's 16th birthday, Roger took her to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get her a learner's permit.
She had already taken the written test online and now only needed to get her eyes checked, the permit itself and a photo for her ID.
Roger smiled to himself when they entered the building, he came in first and held the door for her while she bent nearly double to clear the doorway.
Upon her straightening up again, silence fell like a cloak across the office.
Not a peep was heard from either clerk or citizen at the sight of the eight foot nine inch tall, red-gold haired, fair skinned Jotun maiden.
A woman's voice muttered, "Holy shit! Is she for real?!"
"Lookit how tall she is!" whispered a boy.
"Where did she come from?" and many other variations were heard rippling through the assemblage as both clerks and citizens recovered their wits and their voices, to give vent to their feelings.
A giantess was among them.
Ignoring the mutterings, Freya got in line and waited her turn just like anyone else.
When it was her turn, she stepped up to the gaping clerk behind the counter who craned her neck to look up at her and said,"May I help you?"
Freya smiled at the woman and said, "Guid day, Ah'm haur tae get me eyes checked an' th' photo fur me learner's permit as Ah'm sixteen summers auld noo."
The woman blinked a couple of times, then after a moment asked, "You have any form of I.D. And a confirmation number?"
Freya smiled and took out her confirmation number, her school I.D., her Canadian passport and her multiple engine and instrument rated pilot's license.
Placing the items on the counter Freya asked, "Wull these be enaw?"
The woman blinked again then took up the items to look them over.
After a few moments, she held up the pilot's license and remarked, "You've been flying for some time now, haven't you?"
"Four years noo, ma'am."
The woman just shook her head and handed Freya back her items with the comment, "It's kind of ironic that a twelve year old girl can have a pilot's license but she is not allowed to drive a car."
"Excuse me for a moment while I look you up in the system." she said as she turned to her computer.
Roger and Freya stood silently while the clerk looked up Freya's records, then hit 'send' for a print out.
When the documents slid out of the printer, she took them and handed them to Freya with a cheery, "Wait for your number to be called so you can take your eye test and get your photo taken."
A few minutes later, Freya heard her number being called and she stepped up to that counter and smiled at the slack jawed clerk behind the counter.
Handing the man her papers, she said cheerfully, "Ah'm haur fur me eye test!"
The man who seemed to a bit sharper than the other clerks smiled back and replied, "You certainly are!"
He glanced at her papers and remarked, "You're a pilot, multiple engines and instrument rated?"
When she nodded a 'yes' he commented drily, "They should've just issued you a driver's license when you turned sixteen, you'll be a better driver than most of us in here."
Shrugging he said, "If you'll step over here, we'll check your eyes."
Freya stood where she was told, then knelt to make herself much shorter.
With Roger standing nearby, she read off the letters as directed with each eye, then both eyes until the clerk grinned and said, "I knew you would pass this test, you're a pilot!"
Handing her back the papers he said cheerfully, "Now, go get your photo taken and thank you for giving me something to tell my grandchildren about!"
Getting her photo also involved her having to kneel as the camera couldn't be tilted up at an angle that could get her image without distortion.
After her photo was taken, the clerk handed her her interim learner's permit and said a cheery, "Have a nice day!"
As they left the DMV building, Roger grinned at Freya, handed her the keys to their tall van and said cheerfully, "You're driving us home!"
"Whit?! Awreddy? Yoo're makin' me drive?" cried Freya.
Roger grinned at her as he adjusted the driver's side seat to fit her and said, "You'll be fine, after flying that big old sea plane, and driving that big ol' truck, this van'll be a cinch! Besides, you've already driven it all over the neighborhood."
Then he stepped over to the passenger side, adjusted the seat for himself and hopped in while still grinning.
Freya climbed in, buckled in, started up the van then spent a few moments adjusting the seat and mirrors to her liking.
Satisfied that she was ready, she engaged the transmission and eased forwards then exited the parking lot.
Moments later Freya was driving with the flow of traffic like she had been driving for years.
Like she had seen Roger do so many times before, she merged left to enter the long turn pocket for the main street she wanted to take to get back home.
"Noo, whit dae we dae abit thes?" she asked.
Roger smiled and replied, "Well, you get some real world driving experience. When we go on any errands, you'll be driving, that sort of thing. Mind you, you're still not allowed to drive alone and that doesn't mean you can snag Anita and go joyriding with her. You have to have a licensed driver with you."
"Hoo lang afore Ah can tak' th' test?"
"That depends on how quickly you pick up the subtleties of driving. Driving is not like flying, although you still have idiots behind the wheel. It is easier in that you don't have to be quite so vigilant about other airplanes, but you do have other vehicles, cyclists and seemingly suicidal pedestrians, cell phone zombies, those sort of things."
He grinned at her, "You'll be fine, just pay attention as if you're flying and you'll be great!"
For the next few weeks, Roger found numerous reasons why he had to run an errand or two and naturally, Freya drove.
Some of the 'errands' involved threading her way through heavy downtown traffic, jockeying the van into tight parking spaces and dealing with lots of inattentive pedestrians, seemingly bent on self destruction.
A few times he and Warren Johnson loaded up the van with tools and materials, hitched up a trailer loaded up with long poles and with Freya at the wheel, they went down to the park south of Portland, where the Canterbury Shire faire was held each year.
Their 'official' mission was to put up bat boxes, to encourage the local bat population.
What they were really doing in addition to putting up bat boxes, was creating hidey holes for the wild sprites that lived in the area.
As always, tiny April came along with Roger to 'supervise' while they were putting up the hidey holes for the many sprites they'd seen there.
What she really did, was play with her friends at the park while Roger and Warren labored to install the hidey holes they had made for them.
In all it was a good thing.
April got to visit her friends at the faire grounds, Roger and Warren got the bat boxes and sprite hidey holes put up and Freya gained more driving experience, this time while towing a trailer.
Four months later they returned to the DMV for Freya's driving test.
She was a bit nervous as this time, it was official.
She had to make sure she wore her seat belt, used the mirrors and the turn signals and turned her head in the direction of the lane change and all the things experienced drivers largely ignored in their daily travels.
Parking where the signs directed them to, Freya shut off the van and they waited, she got out her driver's handbook and went over it yet one more time while Roger sipped at his coffee and enjoyed a pleasant morning.
His monthly report on how the faun named Flora Oakenwood was getting along could wait a few more hours, this was more important.
An officious looking Filipino came up to Freya's side of the van and said, "Learner's permit and insurance please..."
While Freya was producing the said items he glanced over his mirrored sunglasses at Roger and said, "You'll have to wait here, sir."
Roger smiled at the man and exited the van.
There was a brief moment when the tester looked at Freya's paperwork, then her and remarked, "It says here you're eight foot nine?"
Freya smiled at him and nodded a 'yes'.
He muttered, "This, I gotta see. Would you step out of the vehicle for me please?"
Still smiling, Freya got out of the van and stood beside it.
The man started laughing and said, "I know you must be tired of hearing this, but can I get a picture of me standing next to you? My kids won't believe me otherwise!"
Freya simply shrugged and said, "'Tis nae problem, Ah 'ear thes aw th' time."
The man took out his own cell phone and beckoned to Roger, "Would you mind?"
Roger shrugged and replied, "Not a bit, we do this all the time when we're out."
Taking the man's cell phone, Roger snapped off a few photos of him standing next to Freya's towering form as she smiled at the cell phone.
Roger handed him back his cell phone and a few moments later, the tester and Freya were sitting in the van going over the paperwork.
They chatted for a few moments, then after a show of engaging the seat belts and checking the mirrors and signals.
Freya started up the van and drove off with the tester and his clip board.
Roger simply sat on the bench and enjoyed the morning.
Some forty five minutes later, much longer than usual, she pulled back into the parking lot and shut off the van.
Roger waited while she and the tester chatted for a few minutes longer.
The tester shook hands with Freya and exited the van, as he walked back to the office he grinned at Roger and said, "She passed with flying colors! Congratulations!"
Roger laughed and said, "I knew she would pass, I made her do all the driving ever since she got her permit."
Getting back into the van, Roger smiled at his towering companion, "You did it as I knew you would, congratulations!"
He grinned at her, "Lunch is on me, where do you want to eat?"
Freya smiled and said one word, "Ramen!"
"Ramen it is!" and with that, they left the DMV and headed down town.
As she drove Roger asked, "Why did it take so long? Your test, I mean."
Freya smiled and replied, "Ah tauld heem Ah was a pilot an' he wanted tae see uir plane, sae Ah drove by th' airport an' showed heem Moby Dick."
Roger laughed and said cheerfully, "He's going to be talking about you for years to come, the day he tested a giantess for her driver's license."
Freya merely shrugged and remarked, "In a few year's time me kin' willnae seem sae unusual onie maur. Ah'm jist a pioneer fur me fowk."
"Ah, haur we ur, Yamada Ramen hoose, won't Lorna be surprised!"
Moments later, the two were entering the Yamada's ramen house where they encountered Lorna who was filling in as the hostess for the day.
"Roger? Freya? What're you guys doing here during the lunch hour?" she cried as soon as they entered.
Freya grinned at her school chum and declared, "Ah passed me drivin' test an' Roger asked me whaur Ah wanted tae eat, his treat!"
Lorna grinned, "Congratulations! Now I'm not the only one of my friends who can drive!"
"Come with me, " she said and led them to a raised table where Freya could sit in comfort while Roger perched on a stool.
Seated nearby was a group of Japanese college students visiting Portland, Oregon.
They paused in their eating and socializing to see the gigantic girl sit nearby and talk so casually with their youthful hostess, clearly they knew each other.
Freya asked, "Wa ur ye at wark oan a day aff frae skale?"
Lorna grinned, "You might've gotten the day off, me? I go to work during pupil free days and the money I get goes to pay for gas."
"Och aye!"
In sotto voce Lorna said, "Now, place your orders before my dad sees you guys and comes out with his awful dad jokes!"
From out of nowhere they heard, "Roger? Freya? What're you two doing here? Not that I'm complaining, you're good for business y'know?"
Lorna muttered, "Too late, he's seen you."
Tohru came up to their table wiping his hands on a dish towel and as he and Roger shook hands, Roger said, "We're here because Freya just passed her driving test and now she is a licensed driver in the great state of Oregon and she wanted to eat here as a reward."
Tohru grinned and said, "Of course she did and we're always happy to see her!"
He smiled at Freya and said, "Congratulations on your new found mobility and responsibility. I know you passed the test with flying colors, I'll bet your flying experience came in real handy!"
Freya smiled at him and replied, "Aye, 'at it did, drivin' a car is much easier Ah hae tae say."
He grinned at her reply, then glanced around and said, "Welp, I've gotta get back to work and make money!"
As he scurried off he paused a moment to chat with the Japanese college students then sped back to the kitchen.
Lorna muttered, "Wow! That was weird, I fully expected my dad to make all the jokes about not driving on the sidewalks and hide all the nice cars 'cos you might crunch them remarks. He sure did it with me!"
Freya grinned and remarked, "'at's coz yoo're his dochter an' Ah'm nae. Roger hud me daein' aw kinds ay drivin', runnin' errands, haulin' trailers an' th' loch. By th' time Ah took th' test it'was naethin', easy peasy!"
Lorna smiled at her and remarked, "You also have a pilot's license, I don't know anyone else with one. I'm sure that made a real difference in your learning speed."
"Anyway, order up and congratulations!"
As always, Freya ordered enough food to feed a small family, her favorites being a large pork bone ramen with extra bean sprouts and an order of pork fried rice.
Roger contented himself with a beef curry ramen with extra bean sprouts and green tea to wash it all down.
Driving home afterwards, Freya narrowly avoided colliding with a young man driving a large pickup truck who was evidently texting while driving from the way he reacted when Freya laid on the horn while he drifted into her lane.
He started shouting and waving his hand in a one finger salute and when Freya sped past, he gave chase while blowing his horn and flashing his high beams, even though it was early afternoon.
Freya glanced at Roger and said, "Noo whit dae Ah dae? Ah darenae lead heem haem he'll dae somethin' verra stupid."
Roger glanced back at the red faced young man still rudely gesturing in his anger and said, "Don't let him rattle you for starters, just keep driving steadily and hopefully he'll calm down or attract the attention of a cop."
Moments later Roger said, "Turn right here, don't signal, just turn!"
Freya did so and the van's tires protested in vain at the sudden maneuver, accelerating after the turn, Freya looked up at the mirror to see the truck still following her and gaining on them now, horn still blaring.
Continuing on her way, Freya stayed in front of her pursuer while glancing around in search of a patrol car in need to something to do.
Luck was with them as a patrol car going in the opposite direction noticed what was happening, executed a perfect 180 degree turn and gave chase with all the lights flashing.
Seeing this, Freya slowed to a stop suddenly and the pickup truck screeched its tires to avoid colliding with her van.
Seconds later, the patrol car's siren wailed briefly as a second patrol car made its appearance along side the pickup truck, effectively blocking any escape attempt.
Freya shut off the van and got out her paperwork and insurance card.
Moments later, one of the cops approached the passenger side of the van and she asked for Freya's paperwork.
Dutifully handing it over Freya smiled at the police officer and asked, "Am Ah in onie sort ay trooble? He started tae chase me blowin' hees horn an' shoutin' aw crazy."
The police woman glanced over Freya's papers and said, "No, you aren't any trouble, he is though. Just wait here and we'll get your statement in a little bit."
Handing Freya's papers back the woman said, "You had a hell of a first day as a licensed driver, I gotta say."
As Freya reached for her papers the police woman first noticed the size of her hands then noted the overall size of Freya and remarked, "Our little hot headed driver would've regretted taking a swing at you, you're huge!"
She grinned, "Wait'll I tell my sergeant about you, he's mentioned a really big girl in his old beat."
Roger asked, "What is your sergeant's name, if I may ask?"
"Raul Tovar, why, do you know him?"
Roger grinned and replied, "We met him when he was a patrolman riding with sergeant Jonas, glad to see he's moved up in the world."
The woman grinned and said, "Sergeant Jonas is now lieutenant Jonas and he's on the captain's list."
Roger smiled, "Good for him! So what's up with hot head boy? He was drifting into our lane while texting when Freya tooted the horn, then he just went nuts and gave chase."
The woman glanced back at the officers dealing with the truck driver and said quietly, "We've had dealings with him before, he's got a history of getting into altercations with people, has a real short fuse that one."
She shook her head and muttered, "He's gotten his ass kicked a couple of times but hasn't learned anything from it. I don't see a happy ending for him if he continues going the way he is."
Roger could only shake his head at her remark and say, "Life will sort him out sooner or later, hopefully he won't take anyone with him when he goes."
The police woman nodded her head in agreement then excused herself to help deal with the irate truck driver.
As she walked away Freya asked, "Noo whit dae we dae?" Roger shrugged and remarked, "We just relax and enjoy the moment. He's the one in trouble apparently, not us, or you for that matter."
The two of them watched while the police placed the truck driver, a small white man wearing a red ball cap under arrest and placed him in the nearest squad car.
A police garage tow truck arrived and hauled away his truck to the impound yard.
Finally, the police woman returned and said apologetically, "Sorry about the wait, you are free to go. It turns out we didn't need a statement from you after all, there was a warrant out for his arrest for a different incident in another state."
She smiled and said, "Before you go, I gotta ask because when I tell sergeant Tovar about meeting you, he's gonna ask how tall you are now and I want to have an answer for him."
Freya smiled at the police woman and replied, "Ah'm aicht feit nine inches taa noo."
The woman gaped then started laughing, after a few moments of mirth she commented, "It is a good thing our little friend didn't try to pick a fight with you, you could've just stepped on him!"
Roger grinned at the police woman and said, "If you ask nicely, Freya would be willing to pose for a picture with you, that way sergeant Tovar will have definite proof you met Freya."
Freya rolled her bright blue eyes and stepped out of the van.
Towering over the police woman by some three feet she smiled and said, "Whaur dae ye want me tae stand?"
The woman laughed and called out to her squad mates, "Hey guys! Y'gotta see this!"
Moments later the four police officers took turns standing next to Freya and getting their pictures taken while the prisoner sat stewing in the squad car.
After a final group photo was taken by Roger, they thanked Freya for her time, got back in their patrol cars and drove off, leaving the two standing beside the road.
Roger grinned at his towering companion and said, "Head home, or stop for ice cream and then, head home?"
Freya smiled at him and replied cheerfully, "Ay coorse Ah want some ice cream afore headin' haem, Ah canne believe ye e'en asked!"
"Just checkin'" said Roger with a grin as he climbed into the passenger side of the tall van. "Next stop, ice cream parlour!"
A few minutes later, Freya parked the van in front of the ice cream parlor they had patronized since she was in grade school.
As always, Sophie Lambert was on duty behind the gleaming white marble counter top of her family's ice cream parlour.
Her nicely rounded face beamed a welcome as the two entered her shop and when Freya straightened up again she smiled and said, "Guid morrow Mrs. Lambert!"
And as always Sophie Lambert replied, "You can call me Sophie you know, everyone else does."
Again as always, Freya replied cheerfully, "Ah cannae dae 'at Mrs Lambert, Ah'm nae auld enaw fur sooch familiarity."
Sophie chuckled softly and asked, "And what would you two like today?"
Roger smiled and replied, "You know me, a cup of your French Vanilla is all I want and I'll get a half gallon of the same for home."
Freya cheerfully ordered a large banana split with four scoops of ice cream and extra whipped cream topping.
While they enjoyed their frozen treats, Sophie hand packed a half gallon container of French Vanilla for them to take home.
She smiled at Roger as she packed the container and said, "You must really like French Vanilla!"
Roger grinned and replied, "Well, you are just about the only place that carries the Oak View dairy ice cream, aside from their own store and since we were in the area, what better excuse do we need to stop in and have a bit of their ice cream?"
Sophie laughed and retorted, "And we do appreciate your custom!"
As they drove home, Freya commented, "Yoo're a spoilin' 'at hoose spirit ay uirs e'en though yoo're nae supposed tae."
Roger grinned at his towering life mate and replied, "Well, you are right as usual and ordinarily, I would observe the rules. However in Silky's case, we share a bond that began when I first saw her as a heap of sorrow dressed in ragged clothing, sitting in that hallway at the fae hospital and I offered her a few comforting words."
Freya merely smiled, Roger always found a way to bend the rules to his liking, and today was merely another example of his skills.
Freya knew that tonight, a little bowl holding a scoop of the French vanilla ice cream would find itself placed on the mantel for Silky's eating pleasure.
Pulling into the driveway and parking next to Roger's tiny Japanese truck, Freya shut off the van and smiled.
Today, she had become a licensed driver and had taken a big step towards adulthood. In two more years she would be declaring her heart's desire before all her people, would he accept her, she wondered.
Time would tell.