the anti V brigade

Finally, I completed all the stages and went to the same counter to book a test date. This time I went there expecting something to be wrong and me not being allowed to book a test date again. I was only half disappointed. I was allowed to book a test date (2 and a half months away) but something was wrong. It seemed that according to my booklet I had not gone for two theory lessons. I was very sure that I had merely forgotten to get it signed as I had my advanced theory test result (passed) with me at the moment. She asked me to go to the theory instructor’s office to have it checked out.

I confidently walked into the office brandishing my advanced theory test result. The two guys there didn’t even pretend to be nice or helpful.

When I explained my problem, the shorter one asked,

“When exactly did you come for the theory lesson?”

“ I can’t remember the exact date but I definitely went for it,” I said, showing him the test result. He was not impressed.

“ Test is test. Lesson is lesson. Just because you went for the test doesn’t mean you went for the lesson “ he said with Zen wisdom.

“But what’s the lesson for?” I asked in true wonder.

“It’s the centre’s rules,” he said indignantly.

Ofcourse. The lesson existed because it was the centre’s policy that it exist, not to help anyone pass a test. How silly of me to think otherwise.

“Can you at least tell me which month you went for the lesson “ he asked a little bit more reasonably.

“ I think it was in October” I told him.

“That’s five months ago, “ said the taller one, speaking for the first time.

“Just now you said three or four months ago”

The shorter one began flipping through some files while the taller one began his line of questioning.

“Did you write your name in the attendance sheet?” he asked accusingly.

“I can’t remember but I must have” I answered.

“Did you or didn’t you” he demanded.

“Yeah I think I did”

Once I had said that, he stopped speaking for a while and smiled. Then, he said quietly but with all the triumph and satisfaction of a public prosecutor who just tore down the defense of a rapist, “No one writes their name on the attendance sheet, only their student numbers”

The shorter guy then dramatically put the files he was flipping through down.

“Anyway it’s just two lessons and you already passed the test” he reasoned.

For a moment I thought he was finally beginning to see my point of view. I was wrong

“ So why don’t you just come for the two lessons and get them over with”

Having proved to themselves beyond reasonable doubt that I had not attended the lessons they were trying to console me about the sentence. I felt utterly defeated and knew I couldn’t win this one. Thus, I screamed at them (something about them being the dumbest of all the idiots I knew), slammed the door behind me and left. The next day I came back, booked three extra practical lessons for revision and went for two theory lessons for a test that I had already passed. If you can’t beat them, at least try and get your license-I’m sure that’s what any wise man would have said if he were there.

- The Dentist