Driving Mrs. Day
Tucker
Day was my best friend during my teenage years. We were
always welcome in each other’s home and our friendship was
special. He was nearest to a brother that I ever had.
In 1949 Tucker was attending GMA, today’s Woodward Academy,
and was on the junior football team. They were playing one
afternoon at Russell High in East Point and Tucker’s mother
wanted to see him play. Tucker’s family had just purchased
a new 88 Oldsmobile and Mrs. Day asked if I would drive her
and Tucker’s baby brother, Kerry, to the game. I had just
gotten my driver’s license although I’d been driving around
town for some time. (Back then young folks were permitted
to do that as long as they didn’t break any other laws.) I
was thrilled to get to drive the new Oldsmobile. Traffic in
Atlanta was nothing like it is today and driving to East
Point was fairly safe for me.
We watched the game and started home. Tucker was required
to ride the school bus back to GMA. We were in a long line
of cars leaving the game. As we crossed the railroad track
that ran between Russell High School and Highway 29, the
car immediately in front of us was stopped by a red light
which left us straddling the track. I was startled to see a
train coming around the bend, blowing its whistle. Mrs. Day
grabbed the baby, got out of the car, and ran to the other
side of the track. All I could think about was the train
hitting that new Oldsmobile. I began gently bumping the car
in front. The person in the car saw the situation and ran
the red light. I was just able to pull off the track as the
train whistled by.
Mrs. Day returned to the car with the baby and we just sat
there for a minute. Mrs. Day said. “We won’t tell anyone
about this for they won’t understand.” I think she was
speaking about Dr. Day and that suited me fine.
We had to go to GMA to pick up Tucker. When he got in the
car I asked him to drive for I was a nervous wreck. He
didn’t ask me why. He only had his learner’s license and
was pleased to drive the new Oldsmobile.
As we drove away the baby who was just beginning to talk
said, “Mama, tell Tucker about the choo choo.”