“Well, young lady, are you ready for your test?” The handler said, for the fifth time that day.

“Yes sir,” Esmé said. “I’ve been practicing with a rental dragon all month.”

“Then let’s go,” he said.

As they took off, mom and dad waved nervously. The last four applicants hadn’t done so well.

The dragon looked like he’d been doing this a long time. His scales were pock marked from bumps and thumps. His eyes were red and only a little steam puffed from his nostrils. Esmé gave him a little pat as they took off. The handler sat behind with a clipboard and pen.

“Toward town,” he said. “I’ll tell you what direction after that.”

“Left turn.”

Esmé held up her hand in the correct way.

“Right turn.”

“Reverse.”

“K turn.”

“Swoop.”

“Double curlicue with rebound twist.”

All done perfectly.

“Okay,” the handler said.

“Now it’s time to parallel park.”

This is where everyone usually failed. Of course.

Esmé’s parents waited anxiously for the results.

“I did it!” Esmé cried, flapping her license in the air. “Can I go driving tonight?”

“Ack!” Her parents said.