The Year Money Grew on Trees - Aaron Hawkins [23]
Amy went in and sat next to her dad.
"Can I try?" she asked, and he handed her the remote. "This is neat," she said after giving it a few clicks and handing it back.
"Daddy?" she asked.
"Yeah, honey?" he said, only half paying attention.
"Remember when you said you were going to teach me how to drive?"
"Uh-huh," he replied without taking his eyes off the TV.
"Well, I was thinking maybe you could show me how to drive the tractor to start, and then I could even use it to help out Jackson with his apple work."
Uncle David now turned his full attention to her.
"Huh? Now, what are you asking?"
"Can I learn to drive the tractor?" Amy repeated in her sweetest voice.
"And what are you planning on using it for?" asked my dad, who had now taken an interest in the conversation.
"If I can drive it, I was going to help out Jackson with his apples."
My dad and Uncle David both looked at each other. I could tell my dad wanted to say no. Uncle David, however, was thinking more about Amy, so he looked away from my dad.
"Well, I think that might be okay. You can't really go too far or too fast on a tractor," he said, looking at his daughter.
"Let's see if you can get it started first. That will prove you're ready to drive it," my dad added.
"Well, how do you start it?" Amy asked.
"We'll tell you, and you go see if you can get it running," my dad said with a little chuckle.
My dad and uncle began to describe things like "put it in neutral" and "pull the throttle all the way down" and "push in the starter button" and "push in the choke." All six kids listened closely, trying to remember all of the instructions.
"All right, you got all that?" They both laughed.
"Got it," Amy said confidently, and the rest of us kids followed her out of the house.
She led the way out to the tractor and climbed up on the bouncy metal seat while we all tried to stand behind her on the rear axle or on the running boards beside the seat.
"Okay, so what are we supposed to do first?" she asked as she grabbed the wheel.
"Put it in neutral," I replied before anyone else.
"Pull the throttle," said Lisa.
"Give it a choke," said Sam.
"Punch the starter," said Michael.
"All right, all right," Amy said, holding up her hands. "I'm not even sure what any of those things are!"
We sent the younger kids back into the house one at a time to ask where to find neutral, the throttle, choke, and starter. After fifteen minutes of confusing answers from our dads, we were ready to give something a try. We all held our breath as Amy reached toward the starter. I grabbed on to the metal wheel wells in case the thing lurched forward.
GRRR, GRRR, GRRR. The tractor made the very familiar sound of a car not starting. I knew it could have been worse, though. It could have made no sound at all.
"Maybe now a little more choke," I said.
Amy pulled the little choke lever all the way out. "All right, it's all choked. What's a choke, anyway?"
"I don't think anyone really knows. Something magic," I replied.
This time when she pushed the starter, there was a little different sound. A slightly faster GRRR. On the third try the engine sputtered a little, trying hard to start.
"Try half choke, half throttle, and hold the starter down for a whole minute," Michael said matter-of-factly, as if he had started tractors hundreds of times.
"Let me go ask them," I said as I climbed down and walked toward the house.
I could tell my dad and uncle were enjoying this. Trying to get them to tell me the right combination of throttle and choke was like trying to get your lunch back from a couple of school bullies. Except that most school bullies are more sympathetic. I walked back to the tractor not sure if I knew any more than when I went into the house.
"Let's try throttle down and full choke. When it starts to turn over, push the choke in and give it full gas."
Amy tried and for a second the engine sputtered and blew out a puff of exhaust.
"I think I just have to be faster,"