Country Courtesy

Country people are more laid back

than are those from the city

so some say, and I agree.

They seem so much more friendly.

What may have boys from the big smoke

pulling out their well-groomed hair

is shrugged off as a part of living

out in the country air.

I have a few good anecdotes

regarding driving incidents

that exemplify what I’m saying

when it comes to accidents.

I’ve pulled this short story

from encounters with country blokes.

And it comes to you from my store of those

and passed down family jokes.

It is a story from earlier years

and a classic against women drivers.

So I’m loath to tell it, but find that I must

for it depicts best rural behaviours.

One day our mum, on a wide gravel road,

was driving the family car.

Now she was a pretty good driver you know

but we talk of her early career
 

A couple of young local farmers,

one headed to, one going home,

had stopped to talk business or gossip

on the road a few miles out of town.

Each vehicle was parked well off the verge,

ample road between the two.

They stood chatting between the two cars

as Mum came into view.

When she appeared they moved back to their motors

and, standing each in his place,

they patiently waited for her to drive through.

As said, there was plenty of space.

But Mum being new to the game, she panicked

and hit the brakes really hard.

The sedan, it started a long slow skid

straight towards the left hand side.

And the poor man standing that side by his transport

had no chance to recognise

that, wide eyed, my mother was heading for him

with locked wheels and squealing tyres.

With gravel stones erupting out,

in an amazing spectacular feat,

with its owner holding fast to his door,

Mum dragged his car right off the street.

She pushed them both down into the ditch

that dipped from the road a full yard.

And as he grimly for his life held on tight

on the ground his feet left long drag marks.

His friend, on the other side verge

looking on with his mouth agape,

could do nothing to stop it, could only stand there

and watch what Mum did to his mate.

But he righted himself very quickly.

He brushed off sand and grass spores.

Then limping to Mum’s vehicle

opened up the driver’s door.

Once he’d assessed that she was alright

in a gentle voice he said,

with wry country humour and a winning smile,

“Did’n we leave enough room for yuh Peg?”