My First Summer Job ...

Norm is fifteen going on twenty-one and could hardly wait until he is old enough to go to university. He is also anxious about getting his driving license and living away from home ... as far away as possible!

He claims that God, Family and Education are very important to him but spends a lot of his time playing video games, reading about cars and exercising. He is not a man of many words and depending on the situation, you could hear him say, "Man, that's sweet!" or "Everything is just purr-fect!"

When Norm was only four years old, Buddy took him to the park to play in the sandbox. Buddy sat on a nearby bench to read his newspaper and keep an eye on Norman. Shortly thereafter, Tommy came along with his bright yellow Little Tyke truck and started playing in the sand.

Norm quietly reached over and took away Tommy's truck. Tommy was not impressed. He started crying and his dad came to his rescue. After a quick survey, he bellowed, "Why did you take Tommy's truck?"

Without hesitation, Norm replied, "Because my dad said I could have anything I want."
"Your dad said that, did he? Where is your dad?"

While Norm was growing up, he loved to go driving with Buddy and ask questions like, "What does that lever do?" or "Which pedal do you use to stop the car?" He also spent many hours reading about cars and how they operate.

Today, he knows all the different manufacturers and the models they make. He sits in the car with Buddy and says, "I could drive this car, just like you." Then, without skipping a beat, he slips in an imaginary gear and practice driving. He is waiting patiently for the opportunity to present itself.

The day after Norm had his bracers removed, his mother commented on his new million-dollar smile. Then, referring to the cost of the bracers, she said, "I hope those girls will appreciate your expensive kiss." He replied, "If they don't, I'll just have to keep on kissing them until they appreciate it."

Norm landed his first summer job the day after he celebrated his fifteenth birthday. He also started an earnest countdown to the day he could apply for his driving license. Nothing was more important. That is, nothing except what he wanted to buy with his first pay cheque.

The excitement got the better of him and he went shopping two days before he received his first pay cheque. He bought a brand new MP3 player complete with carrying case and battery charger. He had Buddy put it on his credit card and said, "I'll pay you back as soon as I receive my first pay cheque."

The MP3 player produced a crisp, clear sound. It was puur-fect but the first pay cheque fell short by a few dollars ... before taxes. "Why do I have to pay taxes?" he asked.

One fine summer day Norm was listening to his MP3 player while walking to work. He noticed that the area was busier than usual but did not pay much attention to it. He was preoccupied with the music he downloaded from the Internet.

As he crossed the street, he saw a young man get out of his car and push a beautiful young lady against the fence. He then tried to kiss her but she was calling for help and frantically trying to free herself.

Norm did not like what he was seeing but noticed that the young man was very big. In fact, he looked like a wrestler. Norm tried to continue walking but a little voice inside kept saying; "You can't just leave the lady at the mercy of that uncouth stranger!"

Without realizing it, he jumped into the man's car, reversed it and revved it up like a bull ready to charge. Then it dawned on him, the moment had finally presented itself. He was driving, just like Buddy, even thought he did not yet have a driving license. All that imaginary practicing sure paid off, he thought.

When the stranger heard the engine revving and realized that it was his own car, he quickly released the girl and started towards the car. Norm's hands started sweating but he confidently moved the car forward and the man moved backwards until he was up against the fence.

Norm continued on until he was close enough to keep the man there without breaking his legs. A warm feeling of accomplishment swept over him as he applied the emergency brake. The young woman rushed up to the window and verbally abused Norm for interfering.

When he looked out the other window he saw a number of men running towards him. One man with a large wiry moustache was carrying a camera. Another man wearing a large straw hat was shouting, "Cut. Cut." That's when Norm realized that they were filming a movie.