AS TOLD BY DAVID NINOMIYA
I tried to study the whole day, drive there a bit early, study some more and take the exam. It didn't quite work out how I planned. I set my alarm for like 9AM, got up at 10:30AM. I couldn't use the computer cause brother was on, so I couldn't study the online practice tests. I was relegated to just reading a study book. My brother said he would pay me a penny a week to stop bothering him so he can use the computer. He then threw me a nickel. I asked about all the other times I let him use the comp, so he threw me a quarter. Hey, free money =)
Anyway, I then try studying, worked a bit, and then my brother finally gets off the computer. He's calling his friend about going to play basketball, go to the movies or to the zoo. Eventually they ended up going to the movies. Apparently his friends didn't want to go to the zoo.
I then try going to the library to see if they have another study book, but it's an under funded public library, so there's no new books. There is the Barnes & Noble “library” with all the latest books that I went to the day before. You just gotta sit down in some aisle and hope the staff people don't catch you just reading books for hours and not paying. That's kinda unlikely though cause there's usually about 50 other people in the store doing the exact same thing.
Anyway, I'm at our under funded public library and see my friend jack whom I haven't seen in years. Rather than brush him off cause I have to study, I talk for like half an hour. He looks at my book, tells me how easy the subject matter is, and I'm just like uh huh . . . he goes on about his job or some random news, video games, gosh I wanted to shut him up. Eventually he goes away. it's like 4PM, test is at 5:30PM. I drive there, and see the place is in downtown.
I get all frustrated and confused driving around in downtown since I'm not used to this area. I go the wrong way on a one way street, the other driver wasn't too pleased. At least he didn't sound so when he yelled at me that I was going the wrong way. Sigh. Anyway, I eventually find street parking 4 blocks away, but only 2 hour parking. Since this is downtown, it's a dollar an hour, and it only accepts coins obviously.
I think I need 15 minutes to walk there, 45 minutes to take the test, and 15 minutes to walk back. I check the coin holder thing in my car, arg, only like 10 cents. I check my bag, maybe 50 cents. I check my wallet, maybe another 50 cents. I'm so happy I got those coins from my brother, sure came in handy. =)
Since I'm super early (4:30PM now, test at 5:30PM), I study for half an hour, trying to kill time cause I don't have enough money to put in and walk down. Just enough to leave at 5:00PM and return around 6:15PM. I study under a tree as passersby look at this weirdo who was standing outside his car, studying, with a bag, papers and a book on the trunk of his car. Since my car was parked, but no coins currently in the meter, I didn't want a cop to think I was parking illegally.
Anyway, walk down to the testing place, see the administrator playing hearts on his computer. It's a very comforting sight. I take test, and it's really hard. I BARELY pass, but I pass, so I'm happy.
I then walk back to the car, and just as I get there, the meter expires, heh, what timing. Driving home, and I get a call on my cell. I think for a second whether to answer cause I heard of the dangers of talking on a cell phone and driving from some Dateline special. To top it off, I'm on the freeway, but the lanes are pretty clear. I answer, thinking the whole time I just got certified, but that whole happiness feeling might get kinda ruined if I were to die here. Manage to stay alive, and drive safely home. Fun fun.