Wednesday morning Tina took Bette for a drive and then let her practice. After almost crushing Tina’s car into the tree, Bette finally mastered the driving technique and learned the rules. She experienced the importance of rules first hand when they were pulled over by a female police officer for speeding. Bette just smiled while Tina was trying to explain why Bette didn’t have her driving license. The officer didn’t even listen, mesmerized by Bette’s smile and let them off with a warning.

When they came home, laughing at the expression on the cop’s face when Bette got out of the car and gave her a hug as a ‘thank you’ gesture, Alice was already waiting for them on the porch. After a quick lunch Tina went to work, leaving Bette and Alice to entertain themselves. They settled in the living room and Alice got herself a beer while Bette was munching on some of Tina’s cookies.

“So Bette, how’s everything?” Alice asked casually, sipping her beer and flipping through the pages of ‘LA Magazine’.

“It’s good, it’s going good. I learned how to drive today,” Bette said excitedly. She sounded like a kid who got her favorite Christmas present and Alice couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s excitement.

“You drove? How much damage did you do?” Alice asked curiously, putting the magazine back on the coffee table.

“Not that much…surprisingly. Three cars got wrecked, scratches and a dent on Tina’s left front door, broken windshield and I think we lost that big metal pipe that makes the loudest noise.”

“Muffler?”

“Yes, that’s the thing,” Bette said with a serious face.

Alice looked at her incredulously and saw an almost imperceptible smile that touched Bette’s lips. “Wait,” Alice exclaimed, “You’re joking right? Because I didn’t noticed any damage to Tina’s car when she left.”

“I guess I’m a quick learner,” Bette smiled, delighted to see Alice’s confusion.

“When did you become such a smart ass…I mean…a teaser? I thought it was my job,” Alice said, shaking her head and smiling as well.

Bette laughed at Alice’s attempt to change her language habits out of respect for her, “Alice, you don’t have to change they way you talk. As I told Tina before, I’m a big girl, I can handle it. It might take some time to get use to a lot of things but I’m willing to try.”